Hawks Wrap Up Home Slate With 7-4 Win Over Seattle
March 24, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Led by a five-goal first period, the Winterhawks routed the Seattle Thunderbirds 7-3 in front of a crowd of 8,474 at the VMC on Saturday. The Winterhawks' next home game comes on Friday, March 29 as they open the WHL Playoffs against the Victoria Royals.
Portland's record now stands at 47-15-4-1 on the year (99pts, 2nd Western Conference).
As he did last night in Kennewick, Diego Buttazzoni nabbed the first goal of the game for Portland with a wrister off the rush at 2:03. Four minutes later, Tyson Yaremko piled on after his centering pass deflected home off a Seattle defender. Luca Cagnoni made it 3-0 with his first of two on the night, stunning T-Birds goalie Spencer Michnik with a fake dump-in attempt straight to the back of the net from center ice.
With momentum firmly in hand, Portland rattled off two more goals in a 2:19 span before the break and the rout was on. Marek Alscher potted the first of those with a long-range wrister to become the Winterhawks' all-time leader in goals among import defensemen. Jack O'Brien - one of three Portland 20-year-olds skating in his final regular-season home game - then capitalized on a rush chance with a one-time blast from the right circle.
Seattle's response came in the form of two goals from Simon Lovsin and Jeremy Hanzel to start the second period, but the Winterhawks quickly snuffed out any hope of a comeback. Cagnoni posted his second of the night at 14:13, followed two minutes later by James Stefan, another Hawks 20-year-old, with his 100th point of the campaign on a slap shot from the top of the right circle.
With that goal, Stefan became the 20th American all-time to score 100 points in a WHL season and the first since Emerson Etem in 2011-12.
Two more T-Birds goals in the third cut Portland's lead to three, but the Hawks had long since sealed the win. Jan Špunar finished with 20 saves for the win, while Michnik (8/13) and Ratzlaff (24/26) pooled their efforts in Seattle's loss.
These two teams meet again tomorrow in Kent in the final game of the regular season. Seattle's season will end, but Portland embarks on a first-round 2024 WHL Playoffs series against Victoria starting next Friday and Saturday in the VMC.
- Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale NOW! With single-game seats, season tickets, flex packs, group tickets and more, there's an option for every fan.
- The Winterhawks trust Riverside Payments for all of their credit card processing as the team's official credit card processors.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2024
- Cougars Earn Top Seed in West with 5-2 Win over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Preview: Oil Kings vs Red Deer Rebels 3.24.24 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Drop Regular Season Finale to Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: March 24 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Set Playoff Matchup With Wenatchee In Victory Over Vancouver - Kelowna Rockets
- Chiefs Cap Regular Season with 6-3 Win Over Rival Americans - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Close out the Season with 6-3 Win over Broncos - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants to Face Silvertips in First Round of 2024 Playoffs - Vancouver Giants
- Tigers Fall in Regular Season Finale to Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pats End 2023-24 Season with Loss in Moose Jaw - Regina Pats
- Warriors Dominate Pats in Regular Season Finale Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wild Drop 6-2 Decision at Everett Saturday as Inaugural WHL Regular Season Ends - Wenatchee Wild
- Rockets Defeat Giants 5-2 in Regular Season Finale - Vancouver Giants
- Blades Reach 50 Wins to Cap off Historic Night - Saskatoon Blades
- Portland Seals #2 Playoff Seed with 7-4 Win Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Warriors Honour 2024 Award Winners on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hawks Wrap Up Home Slate With 7-4 Win Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
