Hawks Top Seattle for Fifth Straight Win
Published on January 29, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Kent, Wash. - Luca Cagnoni scored twice and Dante Giannuzzi made 36 saves as the Winterhawks (33-8-2-1) took a 5-2 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds (33-8-1-1) to move into first place in the U.S. Division on Saturday night.
The win marks Portland's fifth consecutive victory and their fourth in six games against the Thunderbirds this season.
The Hawks grabbed an early lead on Cagnoni's first of the night at 4:52 as the blueliner - already deep in the offensive zone after a previous rush - received a pass off a Seattle turnover and quickly swept a backhander underneath Thomas Milic. Seattle pushed back to tie things up before the end of the frame, however, and Gracyn Sawchyn managed to get the hosts on the board at 11:15.
Portland was ruthless in the offensive zone during the second stanza, notching three goals despite being outshot. Cagnoni scored on the team's first shot of the frame for the second straight period, firing a wrist shot from range on the power play 25 seconds in. The Winterhawks' scorching All-American line then came alive when Chaz Lucius scored for the third straight game, beating Milic cleanly with a laser from the right circle at 10:07. After Nolan Allan brought the T-Birds back within a goal at 11:42, Lucius again kicked off a scoring play as he set up Jack O'Brien just over a minute later to set up a 4-2 Portland lead heading into the third.
The third period saw the teams trade chances, but neither netminder would yield as the Hawks held on for the 4-2 win.
Portland wraps up its three-in-three weekend with a home game against the Spokane Chiefs tomorrow at 5:00 P.M.
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