WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Turn the Page, Beat Cougars for Rare Road Win

Published on February 23, 2006 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Prince George, BC - There was a playoff-like atmosphere in Prince George on Wednesday night, as the Winter Hawks, looking to secure their playoff future, faced the Cougars, a team competing for the final playoff spot in the B.C. Division. And following back-to-back shoot-out losses, Portland was due for a win and they got it. 16-year-old rookie goalie, Kurtis Mucha, made 30 saves and Jon Bubnick scored the game-winning goal as the Hawks beat the Cougars 3-2 at the CN Centre for their first road win since January 6th. Jannik Hansen assisted on two of Portland's goals and was selected as the first star of the game.

Portland moves to 23-29-3-4 on the season, good for 53 points and fourth place in the U.S. Division. With the Spokane Chiefs losing 5-2 in Kelowna on Wednesday night, the Winter Hawks extend their cushion to three points over Spokane for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Winter Hawks had shared many long and lonesome highways of late, as Portland hadn't won on the road since January 6th, a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, and had lost 12 consecutive road games. The victory was Portland's tenth road win of the season, giving them a road record of 10-17-1-3. The Hawks now have points in four of their last five games (2-1- 0-2); three of Portland's previous four games had gone to a shoot-out and the Hawks lost back-to-back shoot-outs to Tri-City and Everett last weekend. The Hawks never trailed in their two shoot-out losses last weekend and didn't trail at any point in Wednesday game, so they have not trailed in their last three games despite losing two of them.

Wednesday was the fourth and final regular season meeting between the Hawks and Cougars and with the win the Hawks evened the series, 2-2. The Cougars won the only previous game in the CN Centre, 6-1, back on December 14th and the teams split the two games in Portland. The Winter Hawks first ever shoot-out win came against the Cougars back on November 8th in Memorial Coliseum. Jannik Hansen scored the winner in the fourth round of the shoot-out, giving the Hawks a 4-3 win.

The Winter Hawks, who had just one power play goal in their last three games (1-for-19), earned the first power play of the night and quickly capitalized to take a 1-0 lead. Michael Sauer finished a big hit near center ice and then was rudely greeted by Myles Zimmer and a fight brief ensued. Zimmer received an additional two minutes for instigating and Portland's special teams converted on the man-advantage 21 seconds later. Stan Balan, operating from behind the Cougar net, found Nick Hotson in the slot and Hotson blistered a shot past the glove of one-time Portland Bantam Draft Pick, Scott Bowles, at 9:41 of the first period. Jannik Hansen and Stan Balan assisted on Nick Hotson's ninth goal of the season. The Winter Hawks scored one goal on six shots in the first period and Portland netminder Kurtis Mucha, who made his fifth straight start, denied all three Prince George shots.

Another Nick, Prince George's Nicholas Drazenovic, setup the Cougars tying goal in the second period. Nick Drazenovic powered around Hawks' defenseman, Scott Gabriel, and muscled the puck to Eric Hunter, who retrieved his own rebound and scored his 33rd goal of the season at 14:46. Mucha and Bowles exchanged big saves late in the second period to maintain the 1-1 tie. In the period, Bowles turned away all 11 Portland shots and Mucha stopped 14-of-15 Prince George shots.

The Winter Hawks regained the lead on a bouncing-puck goal in the third period. Defenseman, Michael Funk, made what appeared to be a harmless shot from the point and it bounced through the Cougar defense and past goaltender Bowles at 5:30. The goal was Funk's ninth of the season and third in five games. Exactly two minutes later, Portland took their first two-goal lead of the game. The Hawks, who had been filling shooting lanes and blocking shots all game, were rewarded for their sacrifice with their third goal of the game. Jannik Hansen blocked a perimeter shot just inside Portland's blueline and the puck deflected out to a streaking Jon Bubnick. Bubnick downshifted through center ice and beat Bowles with a backhand at 7:30 to give Portland a 3-1 lead. Bubnick's breakaway goal was his 26th tally of the season and second in as many games. Cody McMullin cut Portland's lead in half when he labeled a deep angle shot over Mucha's shoulder at 13:43. Due to some pesky forechecking, the Cougars couldn't pull goaltender Scott Bowles until 19:24 of the third period and the Hawks held of Prince George and their extra attacker for the last 36 seconds. Kurtis Mucha had a fabulous third period; making 13 saves on 14 shots in the third period. Portland scored two goals on 15 shots in the third period and each team finished with 32 shots in the game.

Portland continued to play disciplined hockey on Wednesday night, going short-handed just twice and earning the penalty kill both times. The Winter Hawks have allowed just 14 opposition power plays in their last five games.

Brandon Dubinsky picked up his fourth assist in his third game back from injury. Dubinsky has 4 goals and 11 assists in his last 11 games played.

Defenseman, Cameron Cepek, missed his 40th game with a wrist injury and is still week-to-week. Goaltender, Dustin Butler, is week-to-week with a leg injury (missed nine games).

The Hawks wrap up their 5-game road trip this weekend. Portland is at Kamloops on Friday, February 24th at 7 PM. Then the Winter Hawks and Silvertips play for the third Saturday in four weeks and second straight Saturday in Everett, February 25th at 7:05 PM. Everett and Portland play six times in six weeks from the first week of February to the first week in March, including three games in five days on February 25th, February 28th, and March 1st. Portland's next home game is against Everett, Tuesday, February 28th at 7 PM in Memorial Coliseum.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2006


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