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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Late Tally Lifts Cougars Over Hawks, 3-2

January 20, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Gabe Klassen scored twice to take the lead in the third for Portland, but Riley Heidt answered with a pair of his own - including a last-minute game-winner - to give the Prince George Cougars a 3-2 win over the Winterhawks at CN Centre on Friday.

Nick Avakyan put in a solid shift for the Winterhawks with 23 saves on 26 shots, including a number of highlight-reel stops, but Joshua Ravensbergen earned the win with 25 saves on 27 shots. The Winterhawks' record now stands at 27-11-2-1 on the year.

Trailing 1-0 after Bauer Dumanski's opening strike midway through the second, the Winterhawks capitalized on an early third-period power play when Luca Cagnoni wired a shot that Klassen deflected home from the right side of the net at 2:38 to tie the contest. The power play came through again seven minutes later as Nate Danielson fired a seam pass to James Stefan at the right circle, who then dished to Klassen at the left post for a perfect tic-tac-toe goal and a 2-1 lead.

From there, though, Heidt put his stamp on the contest. The Minnesota Wild prospect scored on a PG power play - their only PPG of the night despite plenty of opportunities - when his pass ricocheted in off of Avakyan's stick at 12:37, tying the game at two. Heidt then netted the winner with just 45 seconds remaining, eerily similar to Josh Davies' last-minute dagger in these teams' last meeting - a 4-3 Winterhawks victory on Jan. 6.

Penalty trouble threatened Portland throughout the contest as Prince George received four power plays, but Avakyan and the penalty kill stood tall to keep it scoreless heading into the first break. Portland's PK finished a remarkable 6-for-7 on the night.

The Winterhawks and Cougars face off once again tomorrow night at 6:00 P.M. at CN Centre.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2024


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