WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks' Season Ends in Game 4

Published on April 20, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - Another stout offensive showing from the Kamloops Blazers saw them wrap up a four-game sweep with a 10-4 victory over the Winterhawks on Thursday.

Portland's season ends with a second-place regular-season finish in the U.S. Division (40-20-5-3) and a 4-5 record during its 12th consecutive playoff run.

For the fourth straight game, Kamloops opened the scoring and quickly took a 3-0 lead on goals from Matthew Seminoff, Kyle Masters and Logan Stankoven. Portland responded, though, with quick strikes by Ryan McCleary - a long-range wrister that eluded Dylan Ernst - at 14:20, and Diego Buttazzoni at 15:52. Buttazzoni grabbed his first career playoff goal after poking home his own rebound on a partial breakaway.

The game was up for grabs at 3-2 heading into the second, but the Blazers' potent attack netted five goals in the middle frame to take control. Seminoff tallied twice to complete his hat-trick and was joined by Olen Zellweger (2) and Logan Stankoven in the goal column. A goal from Jack O'Brien at 6:47 and Buttazzoni's second strike of the game at 17:57 broke up the barrage for the Hawks.

Zellweger wrapped up his own hat-trick just under two minutes into the third and Caedan Bankier added another late in the contest.

Kamloops' Dylan Ernst finished with 23 saves in his team's eighth consecutive win. Portland's Dante Giannuzzi and Jan Špunar combined for 38 saves in the game.

-- WINTERHAWKS.COM -

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2023


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