WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Weekly: Home Ice Advantage

Published on April 30, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Western Conference Championship is in full swing, with the Winterhawks taking a 2-1 series lead through the first three games against the Prince George Cougars. After falling in Game 1 - just their first loss this postseason - the Hawks roared back with a 5-3 win in Game 2 at the CN Centre, then put on quite the show on home ice in Game 3 with a 4-1 victory on Monday night.

The action continues in the Rose City this week with Games 4 and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday - two more wins will send Portland to the WHL Championship! Bring the noise, Hawks fans!

Hot Hawks:

Forward Nate Danielson posted back-to-back three-assist outings in Games 2 and 3 to pace victories in both tilts. The Detroit Red Wings first-rounder leads all Winterhawks with 16 points (3G, 13A) in 11 games played during the 2024 WHL Playoffs.

Forward Marcus Nguyen has four goals and five points in his last two games following Monday's hat-trick effort. The 19-year-old is playing at a point-per-game pace this postseason and has registered a point in eight of 11 games played.

Forward Diego Buttazzoni bagged the game-winner and an assist in Game 2, then picked up an assist on Nguyen's hat-trick goal on Monday. Buttazzoni has points in six of his last eight games and is up to seven points in 11 postseason contests.

Defenseman Marek Alscher scored his second goal of the playoffs on Monday, wiring a wrister off the rush into the top corner to put Portland up 3-0 at the time. The Florida Panthers prospect has four points and a +2 rating in postseason while logging key minutes against opposing top lines.

Goaltender Jan Špunar bounced back from his first defeat with 29/32 saves in Game 2 and 30/31 in Game 3, plus an assist on countryman Alscher's tally. The Czech backstop has started every 2024 playoff game for Portland with a sterling 10-1-0 record, .924 sv% and 2.23 GAA.

Weekly Rewind:

Round 3, Game 1 - Portland 0 at Prince George 5 (Friday):

Jan Špunar turned aside 30 of 35 shots for Portland, but the Winterhawks couldn't solve Josh Ravensbergen and suffered their first loss of the postseason, 5-0 in Prince George.

Round 3, Game 2 - Portland 5 at Prince George 3 (Saturday):

James Stefan, Diego Buttazzoni and Marcus Nguyen (EN) each scored in the third period to break open a tied game and lift the Winterhawks to a 5-3 victory over the Prince George Cougars in Game 2 of their Western Conference Championship series.

Round 3, Game 3 - Portland 4 vs. Prince George 1 (Monday):

Marcus Nguyen's hat-trick and a 30-save showing from Jan Špunar paced a second straight win for the Winterhawks as they knocked off the Prince George Cougars 4-1 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Championship series.

The Week Ahead:

Keep the energy rolling in the Rose City all week! The Hawks are back in action tomorrow night and Thursday night for Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference Championship. After back-to-back wins in Games 2 and 3, Portland sits just two wins shy of a berth in the WHL Championship. Be there to cheer on your hometown Hawks as they look to finish off the series at home!

Western Conference Championship Remaining Schedule:

Game 4 - Wednesday, May 1 - @POR - 7:00 P.M. - BUY TICKETS

Game 5 - Thursday, May 2 - @POR - 7:00 P.M. - BUY TICKETS

*Game 6 - Monday, May 6 - @PG - 7:00 P.M.

*Game 7 - Tuesday, May 7 - @PG - 7:00 P.M.

*If Necessary | HOME

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Tickets for the Winterhawks 2024 WHL Playoffs run are on sale NOW! Click here to purchase single-game tickets as they become available and be there as your hometown Hawks chase a fourth WHL Championship!

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Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 30, 2024


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