Winterhawks Weekly: One Win Away
May 6, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
After a solid week on home ice in front of a raucous crowd at the VMC, the Hawks are back in action tonight with a chance to advance to the WHL Championship! Your Winterhawks took key wins in Games 3 and 4 last week and now battle Prince George in Game 6 at 7:00 P.M. tonight. Get to Cartside to cheer on the team at the Official Watch Party, and Let's Go Hawks!
Hot Hawks:
Forward Nate Danielson led the WHL in scoring last week with seven points (1G, 6A) in three games and became the first Western Conference skater to hit 20 points in the postseason. The Detroit Red Wings prospect has three multi-point performances in his last four games.
Forward Gabe Klassen enters the week with goals in back-to-back games, having opened the scoring on Wednesday and Thursday. The 20-year-old ranks tied for third in team scoring with 14 points (5G, 9A) in 13 games this postseason.
Forward Marcus Nguyen bagged five goals and a helper in three games last week, thriving alongside Danielson and Jack O'Brien. Nguyen has points in nine of 13 playoff contests and ranks tied for third in team scoring with 14 points (6G, 8A) in 13 games.
Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth brings a four-game point streak into the new week, with five assists in that span. Jugnauth, a Seattle Kraken prospect, has recorded points in nine of his last 10 games and ranks third among all WHL defensemen.
Goaltender Jan Špunar posted 25+ saves in all three games last week, picking up wins in two of those with two or fewer goals conceded in both contests. The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder is 11-2-0 in this year's playoffs with a .916 sv% and 2.50 GAA.
Weekly Rewind:
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.
Round 3, Game 4 - Portland 5 vs. Prince George 2 (Wednesday):
Four points from Nate Danielson and three from Marcus Nguyen highlighted Portland's second win of the week as the Hawks took a 5-2 win over the Prince George Cougars in Game 4 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Championship series.
Round 3, Game 5 - Portland 1 vs. Prince George 6 (Thursday):
Gabe Klassen grabbed the game's opening goal but the Prince George Cougars rattled off six straight from there, staving off elimination with a 6-1 win in Game 5 of the best-of-seven Western Conference Championship.
The Week Ahead:
The battle continues on the road tonight in Prince George, as the Hawks look to finish off the series in Game 6! If necessary, Game 7 will take place tomorrow night at the CN Centre in PG at 7:00 P.M.
A Winterhawks win will put them into the WHL Championship series against the Eastern Conference winners starting this weekend - stay tuned for more information this week should the Hawks win the series in Prince George.
Western Conference Championship Remaining Schedule:
Game 6 - Monday, May 6 - @PG - 7:00 P.M.
*Game 7 - Tuesday, May 7 - @PG - 7:00 P.M.
*If Necessary
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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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Western Hockey League Stories from May 6, 2024
- Chiefs Sign 68th-Overall WHL Prospects Pick D Rhett Sather - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Weekly: One Win Away - Portland Winterhawks
- Prospects Draft: NHL Stars Highlight Recent History of 14th Pick - Brandon Wheat Kings
- WHL to Host U.S. Priority and WHL Prospects Draft this Week - Kamloops Blazers
- 2024 WHL Prospects Draft Preview, 2023 Review - Tri-City Americans
- Danielson Named WHL Player of the Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Gardner Named WHL Goalie of the Week for Second Time - Saskatoon Blades
- WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners - WHL
- Game Day Hub: Round 3, Game 6 at Prince George - Portland Winterhawks
- Former Rocket Damon Severson To Represent Canada - Kelowna Rockets
- Iginla Captures Gold With Canada - Kelowna Rockets
- Road to the WHL Draft: 2021 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- TELUS Cup Final Caps Historic, Eventful Season for Turko, Odut, Jacobson - Brandon Wheat Kings
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