Winter Hawks Beat Tri-City, 3-1
Published on February 1, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Portland Winter Hawks headed down I-84 tonight to face the first place U.S. Division leading Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington and return home with a 3-1 win over the Americans, to move within three points of first place.
The Portland Winter Hawks opened up the scoring at 7:59 of the second period, getting a power play goal from 17-year old Brandon Dubinsky, who scored his 25th goal of the season, from Dan Da Silva and Alex Aldred. Cody McLeod then gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the third period at 3:38, with his 8th goal of the season with Aldred on the assist. Aldred then added the empty netter with 35 seconds remaining in the game for his 10th goal of the season, from Darrell May and team captain Braydon Coburn, and finished the night with a goal and two assists as the Winter Hawks moved within 3-points of the U.S. Division leading Americans with the 3-1 win. Ryan Costanzo scored Tri-Cities lone goal at 17:13 of the second period, with Luke Hewitt and Marc Connors on the assists.
The Tri-City Americans carried much of the play during the first period and out shot the Hawks 20-14 while Winter Hawks starting goaltender, Krister Toews did a good job at keeping shots on the outside and controlling his own rebounds. Tri-City opened up the period, .51 seconds in, with their first power play attempt, as Portland's defenseman Michael Funk was called for slashing, as he took down American's overage right-winger Cam McCaffrey in front of Toews following a good scoring chance by Tri-City's Shawn Belle. At 13:56 of the period, Belle was called for cross checking as he and Portland's Cody McLeod mixed it up a bit, which lead to the Hawks receiving 19-seconds of 5-on-3 man advantage, but the Winter Hawks were unable to capitalize. Portland nor the Americans, were able to create many good scoring chances as both teams skated in to the locker room scoreless at the end of the period.
The Winter Hawks came out in the second period playing better territorially hockey and were able to create more scoring chances, which began at 7:59 with Brandon Dubinsky getting the Hawks on the board first. Portland's Dan Da Silva was able to mussel the puck out of the corner and get it to the front of the net where Da Silva saw that Dubinsky was wide open at the back door and was able to tip it over to "Dubi", who was able to hammer it past American's starting goaltender, Tyler Weiman, for his 25th goal of the season from just inside the right circle, off the cross bar. The Hawks had a great chance to take a 2-0 lead as Darrell May picked up the loose puck, while on the power play and sent a forehand shot in on Weimen, only to be robbed, keeping the Hawks with a one goal lead. At 17:13, Tri-Cities Ryan Costanzo tied things up as he picked up a bouncing puck off the end-wall and put it past Toews with a backhanded shot at the goal line for his 7th of the season, heading into the third period tied at 1-1. Krister Toews stopped a total of 14 shots in the second period, while Tri-Cities Tyler Weiman stopped 6 shots.
Portland dominated the third period and took a 2-1 lead at 3:38 as Alex Aldred beat Tri-Cities Shawn Belle defensively to gain control of the puck and Winter Hawk Cody McLeod was there
to break in and send a blistering shot past Weiman, high blocker side off an end to end rush, for his 8th of the season. Aldred then added the empty netter as Tri-City pulled goaltender Tyler Weiman for the extra attacker, as Hawks team captain Braydon Coburn forced the turnover off the glass and was able to flip the puck to center ice, to Aldred, for a 2-on-1 breakaway empty net goal, scoring his 10th goal of the season with 35-seconds remaining in regulation to give the Hawks the 3-1 win and advancing their record to 25-21-4-1 on the season. Tonight's win now puts the Hawks within 3-points of the first place U.S. Division leading Americans, where Portland still has five games in hand and has gone on to win 6 of their last 7 games and 8 of their last 11 on the road. Toews faced a total of 43 shots, while the Hawks generated 39 shots and Weiman making 37 saves on the night.
The Portland Winter Hawks were without (RW) C.J. Jackson, (LW) Frazer McLaren and (D) Taylor Sutherlin tonight, who were all healthy scratches. The Hawks will now return back to Portland and practice on Monday and Tuesday from 2:00-3:30pm at the Memorial Coliseum before playing host to the Prince George Cougars for the final time in regular season on Wednesday at 7:00pm in Memorial Coliseum.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2004
- Chiefs Education Fund raises over $16,000 in jersey auction - Spokane Chiefs
- Winter Hawks Beat Tri-City, 3-1 - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Close Gap on Playoffs - Seattle Thunderbirds
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