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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Take Point in Return to Veterans Memorial Coliseum

March 27, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Returning to Veterans Memorial Coliseum ice for the first time in nearly 400 days, the Winterhawks welcomed an undefeated and yet to be scored upon Everett Silvertips club to Portland on Friday.

With heavy emphasis on the defense and netminding from the visitors coming into the contest, Portland brought their A-game from their same units throughout the contest. The tone was set within the first 20 minutes as Dante Giannuzzi and Dustin Wolf held down the fort for their respect clubs, denying all 16 total shots that came their way.

The scoreless element of the affair gave way just 3:42 into the second when a shot from the right point by Dylan Anderson was redirected on the way toward the net by Gage Concalves to give Everett a 1-0 lead.

Everett's lead in the tightly contested affair lasted for just under ten minutes in the second period before Portland evened the score at one.

A mishandled pass by Everett in their attacking end on the power play allowed Jaydon Dureau to get his feet moving and turn play up ice. As the Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick worked through the neutral zone Simon Knak joined the rush and was floated a beautiful pass that he would bury for his second shorthanded tally in two games. For the Winterhawks, it was their third goal in four games when a man down.

The two second period goals stood as the only marks on the scoreboard until the end of regulation was reached. Giannuzzi (31) and Wolf (30) combined for 61 saves on 63 shots in regulation, both making several highlight reel stops along the way to earn both of their teams a point.

In the five minute extra frame both sides had numerous chances, all of which were shut down by the netminders, until when with 43 seconds left, Everett nabbed the victory. With tired legs on the ice for both sides, Giannuzzi came far out of his net to play a loose puck and some miscommunication led to it being Everett's possession. While Dante was able to recover and make the initial save on a breakaway, the rebound was recovered behind the net by Olen Zellweger and fed out front to Cole Fonstad, who snapped one through the Winterhawks netminder for the win.

THEY SAID IT

"I told the guys after the game - yeah, we lost in overtime - but a bounce here, a bounce there, we could've won the game. It's just how we played the game and for this time of year, that was almost a playoff game tonight. [It was] the feel on the bench, the coaching strategy, how the players knew each other and were willing to play against each other. "

Winterhawks Vice President / General Manager / Head Coach Mike Johnston following the contest.

NOTES

- Prior to the contest the Winterhawks unveiled the "2020" additions to the Division Championship and Scotty Munro Regular Season Championship banners, which were draped over Sections 26 & 2 in the lower bowl. The team announced the banners will be raised when fans are safely able to return inside the arena.

- Forward Reece Newkirk led all Winterhawks with nine shots on goal.

- Forward Kishaun Gervais made his season debut after missing all three games last week with an upper-body injury.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2021


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