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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Stun Ams in 6-5 OT Win

December 28, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Kennewick, Wash. - Two goals in the final 1:03 of regulation and a Marcus Nguyen laser 1:22 into overtime helped the Winterhawks overcome a late deficit to win 6-5 over the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick on Wednesday.

With Portland trailing 5-3 in the waning moments of play, Diego Buttazzoni netted his second goal of the night at 18:57 of the final frame to bring the Hawks within one. The Hawks continued to press and found the tying tally with 14 seconds remaining as Jack O'Brien whacked home a loose puck in the crease to force overtime. O'Brien then turned playmaker, setting up Nguyen with a perfect pass for a one-time blast into the upper part of the net early in overtime.

The Hawks' three-goal turnaround took just 2:25 of game time as they stunned the Kennewick crowd, but Portland was held at bay for much of the game despite repeatedly finding themselves within a goal of tying things up.

After the Ams took a 2-0 lead in the first period, Tyson Jugnauth got Portland on the board with his first Western Hockey League goal at 1:05 of the second period with a backdoor tap-in of a James Stefan setup. When Carter MacAdams restored Tri-City's two-goal lead 1:37 later, Buttazzoni's first of the night again narrowed the gap. Carrying the puck across the top of the offensive zone, Buttazzoni deftly pulled the puck from behind his body through his legs to bypass defenseman Jackson Smith before wiring a wrister from the right circle past TC netminder Kyle Kelsey.

Lukas Dragicevic knocked a bit of wind from Portland's sail with a late second-period strike, but again the Hawks bounced back with a Gabe Klassen goal 3:45 into the third. Dragicevic's second of the night, a power-play goal at 9:10 of the final frame, gave Tri-City its fourth two-goal lead of the evening, but Portland finally broke the dam with that flurry in the final 1:03 of the third.

Winterhawks goaltender Nick Avakyan stopped 23 of 26 in relief of Justen Maric, who left the game just under five minutes in with three saves on five shots. Tri-City's Kelsey turned aside 41 saves on 47 shots.

Portland is back in action on home ice Thursday night against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Puck drop is set for 7:00 P.M. for that contest.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2023


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