WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Seattle - Game #22

Published on November 17, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Winterhawks and Thunderbirds meet tonight for the third time this year. The Hawks look to improve upon their season-high seven game point streak heading into Seattle.

Puck Drop: 6:05 p.m.

Venue: Accesso ShoWare Center

Listen: winterhawks.com/listen

Watch: Portland's CW32 and WHL Live

PREVIOUS GAME - Winterhawks 5 vs. Silvertips 2: Joachim Blichfeld's hat trick performance help propel the Winterhawks past the Silvertips 5-2 at home.

The goal scoring started early on Friday night at the Rose Plaza. The Hawks drew a penalty three minutes into the game and scored early in the man advantage to take a 1-0 lead. Joachim Blichfeld fired a shot from the right circle off the post and Jake Gricius swatted it in for the team's first goal of the night. It was Gricius' eighth power play goal of the year.

Everett was able to tie the game at 1-1 roughly five minutes later when Jalen Price wedged it inside the right post. Blichfeld responded with the go-ahead goal at the midway portion of the frame, marking his sixth multi-point performance in his last seven games. The Hawks would carry a 2-1 lead with them into the first intermission break.

It was Blichfeld again who scored late in the middle period. After an extended offensive zone possession, the former San Jose Sharks draft pick drove home a wrist shot blocker side to make it a 3-1 game after 40 minutes.

In the opening minutes of the third period, Blichfeld completed the hat trick as Cody Glass sprung him for a breakaway through center ice. With a 4-1 lead in tact, the Hawks muscled up in the third period and withheld a feisty Everett team.

Shane Farkas stopped 17 of 18 shots he faced in the third period to help the Hawks win their 13th game of the season. Everett got within two goals, but Mason Mannek sealed the victory with an empty net goal. Friday night was the first time the Silvertips had allowed an opponent to score five times in a game.

TODAY'S OPPONENT:

Seattle has struggled to get things going in its last handful of games. The Thunderbirds are winless in their last seven games (0-6-1) and have only generated eight goals during that stretch. Though Seattle has been a better home team this year than on the road, they have the tough task of stopping a talented Winterhawks lineup with momentum.

Andrej Kukuca is one to watch tonight. The WHL rookie ranks fifth among first year players in scoring with 15 points. The Slovakian forward was Seattle's first round selection in the CHL Import Draft. Zack Andrusiak, Noah Philp and Dillon Hamaliuk lead the charge in goal scoring this season, but only Andrusiak has scored in November. Philp has been sidelined with an injury and that has taken a tole on the Seattle offense.

The NHL's Central Scouting announced Hamaliuk and defenseman Jake Lee as B-rated prospects for the upcoming NHL Draft in Vancouver. Lee, with 15 points on the young season, already surpassed his point totals from a season ago. The Alberta native does not have a point this season against the Hawks.

Goaltender Liam Hughes has been a busy beaver in net for the T-Birds. In his last three starts, he has faced 38, 37 and 40 shots against. Portland enters the night averaging over 35 shots a contest, so it may be another tested night for the veteran goaltender.

WATCH PARTY:

Be sure to join the Hawks at the Ice House in Oregon City for tonight's televised game. Fans 21 and over can enjoy the CW32 broadcast while they root on the Hawks. You'll also have a chance to win a game-used, autographed stick from Winterhawks alumnus Derrick Pouliot who now plays for the Vancouver Canucks.

Nightly coverage of the game will start a few minutes prior to the 6:05 pm scheduled puck drop.

Portland will be back home to take on the Calgary Hitmen on November 21 at the Moda Center. Individual tickets are now on sale. Be sure to visit winterhawks.com/tickets for full details on pricing and availability.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2018


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.

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