WHL Wenatchee Wild

Wild Fall Victim to Potent Portland Power Play Wednesday in 7-2 Defeat

Published on December 14, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Wenatchee Wild's Graham Sward on game night
Wenatchee Wild's Graham Sward on game night
(Wenatchee Wild, Credit: Kyle Smutzki/Portland Winterhawks)

PORTLAND, Ore. - After Wednesday's Western Hockey League visit to Portland for the Wenatchee Wild, it's home for the holidays...and then some.

Wenatchee will play 12 of its next 14 games on home ice, but the host Winterhawks spoiled the last road trip before Christmas with a potent power play Wednesday, scoring on four of their five chances in a 7-2 win over the Wild. Of the first five goals between the teams, only one was scored 5-on-5.

The two teams almost played through a scoreless first period, but Jack O'Brien tossed a shot down the slot to beat Brendan Gee with 4:16 showing on the clock, giving Portland a 1-0 lead at the break. The Winterhawks took advantage of a 5-on-3 chance to pick up a goal from Josh Davies 41 seconds out of the intermission, and Marcus Nguyen scored on the remaining power play at 1:55 to stretch the lead to three goals.

Graham Sward cut into the lead with a power play goal on a one-timer from the left circle with 12:07 left in the period, but Gabe Klassen's shot from the left wing got through on Gee's stick side for a 4-1 Portland lead with 6:19 on the clock. The Wild grabbed the momentum back going to the third, thanks to a point-blank one-timer on the back post from Luka Shcherbyna off Hayden Moore's pass with 1:50 remaining in the second.

Wenatchee was never able to make the move they needed, though - Josh Zakreski scored at 10:41 of the third on the odd-man rush from a Kyle McDonough pass, and O'Brien walked a second goal into the empty net with 2:07 remaining for a 6-2 Portland lead. Hudson Darby got one more power play goal for the hosts with 1.1 seconds remaining.

"We took too many penalties against a high-powered, skilled team," said Wild head coach Roy Sommer. "We gave all we had to kill them, and they just have too much skill. That was 'game over.'"

Luca Cagnoni led all scorers with four assists, while O'Brien finished with two goals. Zakreski and Klassen had a goal and an assist apiece. Justen Maric stopped 26 of Wenatchee's 28 shots to earn his fourth win of the season, while Gee was tagged for only his third regulation loss despite 32 saves.

Sward's goal extended his point streak to eight straight games, while Kenta Isogai saw his own point streak end at eight games. The Wild wrapped up 1-for-7 on the power play, scoring a goal on the man-advantage for the sixth game in their last seven. The Winterhawks stretched their record to 19-9-1-1 for the season, while Wenatchee slipped to 20-10-3-0 with the loss.

Next up on the Wild schedule is Wenatchee's Ugly Sweater night Friday against the Prince George Cougars, presented by Dick's Heating and Air Conditioning. The opening puck drop at Town Toyota Center is slated for 7 p.m. Tickets for that game and all home regular-season contests are on sale now at 509-888-7825, or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Images from this story

Wenatchee Wild's Graham Sward on game night
Wenatchee Wild's Graham Sward on game night
(Kyle Smutzki/Portland Winterhawks)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2023


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