WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winter Hawks Win in Shoot Out, 3-2

Published on January 11, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Nick Hotson and Viktor Sjodin (SHOW-dean) scored in the shootout as the Portland Winter Hawks beat the Prince George Cougars 3-2 Wednesday in Memorial Coliseum.

Matt Betker and Frazer McLaren also scored goals for the Hawks and goaltender Kurtis Mucha (MOO-kuh) made 30 saves, 14 of those in the third period with Prince George applying a lot of pressure.

Portland, (13-26-1-1), pulled off the win in spite of being really shorthanded after trading two players today at the WHL trading deadline and not having the new acquisitions in town yet. Without Rob Klinkhammer and Sasha Golin, but with Frazer McLaren's return from an injury, the Hawks were down to 10 forwards.

Prince George, (16-19-2-4) came into the game on a 2-game winning streak and off of an 8-3 win in Chilliwack. Even though their record is not the greatest, if the Cougars get all of their players in the lineup at the same time, something they have not been able to do all season with numerous disruptive injuries, they have a highly regarded roster featuring a league-high 9 NHL draft picks.

The Hawks now have back to back games with Everett "" at Everett Friday at 7:35 (Audio Webcast at winterhawks.com) and in Memorial Coliseum Saturday at 7:30 (TV on Comcast CNW-14, audio webcast at winterhawks.,com, In-Arena audio at 96.5 FM). Then, a special 2:00 matinee on Monday against Spokane in Memorial Coliseum for Martin Luther King's birthday. Fans who bring their own skates can skate on the Coliseum ice after that game with one-third of the Hawks on the ice, skating with the fans, and the other two-thirds of the team will be on the Coliseum concourse signing autographs.

The Hawks scratched Colton Sceviour (broken foot) and Scott Gabriel (head). Prince George was without Devin Setoguchi (1st round, San Jose), (knee), day to day; Jesse Dudas (6th round, Columbus), (knee), day to day, and Vladimir Mihalik (2nd round, Tampa Bay), not yet returned from playing for Slovakia in the World Junior Tournament.

Prince George got on the board first as Ty Wishart (1st round, San Jose Sharks) let go of a floating shot from the right point that was deflected by Greg Gardiner, past Mucha, at 7:42. McLaren's return to the lineup certainly took some of the sting out of missing Klinkhammer. The forward line of McLaren, Viktor Sjodin and Matt Betker was physical right from the get go and helped Portland establish a forecheck. The Cougars spent some time in their own end, and, as a result, took quite a few penalties. Portland had five first period power plays and McLaren filed a backhand of a nice, low entry shot from Stefan Langwieder to tie the game at 16:41. Shots were 10-10 in the period, but Portland actually had more time in the attacking zone.

The Hawks continued to control the play in the second period as the Cougars were forced to take more penalties as Portland cycled the puck and their young forwards were able to penetrate off the boards to the slot numerous times. Prince George took five straight penalties again in the second period, but the Hawks could not click on back to back 5-on-3 chances. Portland did not let the Cougars get any momentum from their penalty kills and on their last power play of the period, Betker scored the same way McLaren did in the first period on a backhand rebound, this time finishing off a Cameron Cepek entry shot, to make it 2-1. But, the lead didn't last long as Wishart fired a perfectly placed slapshot from the right point, high blocker, top corner, just under the crossbar.

The third period was mostly the Kurtis Mucha show. He stopped all 14 shots he faced and several were scary. Dana Tyrell in the slot, Jordie Deagle from inside the left circle, several good stops on Nick Drazenovic and an excellent right pad save on second chance rebound by Jared Walker were all Mucha victims. Sjodin had a great chance to end the game in the last few minutes of regulation as defenseman Max Gordichuk circled the net and fed him at the top of the crease, Cyr up with a big save. Shots were 14-4, Prince George, in the third period.

The Hawks turned the tables on the Cougars in the five minute, 4-on-4 overtime, outshooting them 7-2 and it was time for Cyr to shine. Portland earned back to back overtime power plays, a rarity, by being first to the puck in the attacking zone. First, Chris Francis was denied on a nifty deflection of a Gordichuk shot. Then, Hotson picked up a loose puck in front, caused by a Gordichuk wrist shot, but he could not lift his backhand shot. Then, Langwieder tattooed Cyr's goaltender mask, but the Hawks could not get the rebound chance with Cyr shaking off the damage.

Dana Tyrell of Prince George started the shootout, Mucha beating him with a blocker save. Then Hotson threaded the needle, short side, on Cyr with a forehand stuff, just inside the right post. It looked like Cougar Captain Eric Hunter was going to score for sure as he make a tremendous move to get Mucha down, but then clanked the post. Sjodin had the chance to win it and as he came down the left side, Cyr aggressively challenged him. Sjodin stickhandled around the goalie, kept his balance as he backhanded it across the goal line, and then crashed into the net.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2007


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.

OurSports Central