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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Advance to Fifth Straight Conference Final

April 19, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland Winterhawks vs. Everett Silvertips
Portland Winterhawks vs. Everett Silvertips
(Portland Winterhawks)

For the fifth straight season, the Portland Winterhawks are going to the Western Conference Final.

The Hawks earned a 3-2 road win Sunday over the Everett Silvertips to win the series 4-1.

Portland advances to take on the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Conference Final in a series that starts Friday in Kelowna. The Hawks held a 3-1 advantage in the regular season series between the two teams.

Portland opened the scoring on a power play 6:43 into the game when Nic Petan fired a shot from the right faceoff circle past Everett goaltender Carter Hart for a 1-0 lead. The Silvertips tied it at 12:10 on a goal from Jordan Wharrie to even it at 1-1, which remained the score going into the second.

Portland regained a lead 3:19 into the second when Oliver Bjorkstrand scored for a 2-1 advantage. He Dane struck again at the 8:40 mark when his shot from the high slot beat Hart to give Portland a 3-1 lead. With 1:07 to go in the frame, Everett's Cole MacDonald scored to cut the Hawks' lead to 3-2 going into the third.

The two teams battled throughout the third, with Portland looking for an insurance goal and Everett fighting to extend their season. Winterhawks netminder Adin Hill was tremendous in the third, stopping all 12 Silvertips shots in the third to help Portland close out the series and advance to the conference final.

Hill finished with 31 saves on 33 Everett shots. Hart allowed three goals on 31 Portland shots.

Nic Petan finished with a goal and two assists, and has points in all 11 playoff games thus far, with 19 in total, second in the league in postseason scoring. Bjorkstrand had two goals and is third with 18 points.

The five straight appearances in the conference final tie the Hawks for the second longest streak in WHL history, a feat accomplished by the Medicine Hat Tigers and New Westminster Bruins. The Kamloops Blazers hold the record with 13 straight from 1984-1996.

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Portland Winterhawks vs. Everett Silvertips
Portland Winterhawks vs. Everett Silvertips
   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2015


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