WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Roll in Game 3, Take 3-0 Series Lead

Published on April 3, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Everett, Wash. - Led by another pair of two-goal efforts from two different forwards, the Winterhawks routed the Silvertips for the second straight game, taking Game 3 by a 6-1 final.

Portland now holds a 3-0 series lead over Everett and can win the series with a victory in Friday's Game 4.

Kyle Chyzowski was one of two that scored twice, and his first of the night kicked off the Winterhawks' onslaught at 7:09 of the opening frame. Josh Zakreski did the heavy lifting, carrying the puck down the right-wing side and past the goal line before finding a trailing Chyzowski in the slot for the finish. The Hawks carried that lead through the intermission, then doubled it early in the second on Gabe Klassen's breakaway strike. Portland's captain received a soaring pass in stride at the center line from Ryder Thompson at the Hawks' goal line, broke into the Everett zone and deftly tucked it under a sliding Tyler Palmer for a 2-0 lead.

The closing moments of the second period and the opening seconds of the third are where Portland took over with three goals in 3:18 of game time. First came a James Stefan strike, a rush chance generated by Jan Špunar's quick pass from the Portland zone and relayed by Luca Cagnoni to a streaking #13 for a laser into the bottom corner at 17:11. Then, Chyzowski's second of the contest made it 4-0 as he corralled a loose puck at the Everett blue line and went five-hole on Palmer at 17:34.

Portland wasted no time adding after intermission as Stefan bagged his second of the contest, a power-play one-timer from the left circle set up by Robbie Fromm-Delorme just 29 seconds into the final frame. Wrapping up the Winterhawks' scoring for the evening, Nick Johnson joined the fun after some slick passing with Aidan Litke and Kyle McDonough left him wide open in the right circle for a quick one-timer and a 6-0 lead. The goal marked his first WHL Playoff goal and McDonough's first point in a WHL game.

Jackson Berezowski spoiled the shutout with just under three minutes to play, but Jan Špunar was spectacular again for Portland with 38 saves on 39 shots for his third straight playoff win. The 2023 NHL Draft prospect went 120 minutes and 18 seconds without allowing a goal between Games 1 and 3.

The Winterhawks return to Everett on Friday with a chance to sweep the series in Game 4 at 7:05 P.M.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2023


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