WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Earn 3-2 Win In Spokane Wednesday

Published on December 16, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Ryan Johansen-Nino Niederreiter-Brad Ross line came up big again as the Portland Winterhawks went into Spokane Wednesday and regained second place in the U.S. Division with a 3-2 win over the Chiefs.

Spokane's Mitch Wahl opened the scoring 3:25 into the game when he beat Portland netminder Ian Curtis to make it 1-0. The Winterhawks responded at the 10:30 mark when Ross scored his 17th goal of the season on assists from linemates Johansen and Niederreiter to even the game. The score would remain 1-1 through the end of the period.

Portland took a 2-1 lead just over 14 minutes into the second period when Stefan Schneider put one past Spokane goaltender James Reid while shorthanded, giving the Winterhawks a one-goal lead heading into the third period.

In the third Wahl scored 4:41 into the frame to tie the game, his second goal on the night, to make it 2-2. But the Johansen-Niederreiter-Ross line struck again at the 13:50 mark on a power play, as this time it was Niederreiter getting the goal with a low shot to Reid's stick side with assists going to Ross and Johansen to make it 3-2.

Late in the game the Chiefs had goaltender Reid on the bench for the extra attacker as they tried to tie the game, with a faceoff set for the Portland zone with just under six seconds remaining. But Spokane forward Kyle Beach was assessed a misconduct penalty for arguing with the referee. In addition to the 10-minute misconduct he was also given a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. That infraction brought the faceoff all the way back to the Spokane zone, and once the puck was dropped with under six seconds remaining, time ran out before the Chiefs could mount a rush, securing the win for Portland.

Ross and Niederreiter each have points in seven of their last eight games (Niederreiter has 14 points in that span, Ross 13) while Johansen has points in six of eight games (for 13 points). Niederreiter also has the game-winning goal in three straight Portland wins.

With the win, the Winterhawks are now 3-2 this season against Spokane, with the road team winning all five games in the season series thus far. Ian Curtis made 31 saves on 33 shots to earn the win, improving his record to 12-4-0-1.

The Winterhawks return home for two games this weekend: hosting the Swift Current Broncos Friday night and the Tri-City Americans Saturday in the $10,000 Great Airplane Toss. Both games will be at the Rose Garden. Following Saturday's game the Winterhawks will be off for a week for the WHL's winter break.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2009


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