WHL Portland Winterhawks

Portland Falls to Everett's Hawk-Trap 4-2

Published on October 31, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


EVERETT, WA-As expected special teams play was the difference on Saturday night. The Portland Winter Hawks entered the game having killed 28 penalties in a row; on the other hand the Everett Silvertips came in having scored 14 power-play goals in ten games. Something had to give and the end result was a 4-2 Everett win led by three power-play goals.

Everett was 3 for 7 on the power-play in the game with their first PPG coming just two minutes into the game when Tyler Dietrich slammed home an Ivan Baranka pass for his seventh goal of the season. While battling the flu, forward Brandon Dubinsky arguably was the best Winter Hawk on the ice Saturday night and he was rewarded with his fourth goal of the season. Dubinsky picked up his second goal in two nights at 6:39 of the first from Darrell May and Dan Da Silva to tie the game at one.

The scoring didn't return until halfway through the second period when Jeremy Creurer picked up his first of the year at 10:48 of the second on the man advantage. Everett would extend their lead to two goals when Torrie Wheat scored at 16:47, again on the power-play. A one minute later the Winter Hawks would take advantage of a Ryan Blatchford interference penalty and add a power-play goal of their own. Feisty winger Cody McLeod tallied his fourth of the season at 17:46 to cut the Silvertips lead in half, making it a 3-2 game. McLeod's goal was setup beautifully by Dubinsky and Michael Sauer and Cody registered his second red lighter in two nights.

Shots on goal were 19-17 in Everett's favor going into the final period, but the Winter Hawks came out gunning as they began the third period on the man advantage. Portland was unable to cash in on the early period power play and subsequently Everett fell back into their fail-safe trap system to stifle Portland's attempt to get into any kind of a rhythm.

Everett's netminder Mike Wall lived up to his name in the closing minutes of the third to deny Portland's late period rally and preserve the one goal lead (Hawks had 12 shots in the third period). Torrie Wheat picked up his second consecutive goal of the night and solidified the win with an empty netter with 14 seconds left.

Portland's goaltender Blake Grenier made back to back to starts for the first time this season. It was his third start for the Winter Hawks this season and second in a row coming off of Friday night's 3-0 shutout win over the Kamloops Blazers.

The Winter Hawks return to the Rose City Wednesday to face the Prince George Cougars for the second time this season. Portland handed the Cougars a 5-0 defeat on October 16th in their last meeting, however Prince George is unbeaten in a half dozen games. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Fred Meyer 2-for-1 nights; get your coupon at participating Fred Meyer or www.winterhawks.com. The Winter Hawks also take on rival Seattle, on Saturday, November 6th at the Rose Garden at 7PM. Saturday's game is the first Winter Hawks game this season to be broadcast on Comcast Northwest; the game will be televised on Comcast channel 14. Don't miss the first WHL game in Portland this season, order your tickets at 236-HAWK or log on to www.winterhawks.com. You can catch also catch all of Winter Hawks action this season on 970 AM KUPL beginning with the pre-game show at 6:35 PM or live on the net at www.winterhawks.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2004


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