
Winterhawks Weekly: Portland Opens Playoffs with 2-0 Series Lead
Published on April 25, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
As the playoffs returned to Portland, the Winterhawks rose to the occasion with two wins to open up their first-round series against the Prince George Cougars.
With a 2-0 lead in hand, the Hawks now head north to battle the Cougars on their turf in games three and four.
Hot Hawks:
Forward Cross Hanas made his return to postseason play in style with the game-winning goal and an assist on Friday followed a six-shot performance on Saturday.
Forward Robbie Fromm-Delorme fired five pucks on net on Friday, then found the scoresheet with assists on each of Portland's pair of goals in Saturday's 2-1 victory.
Forward Gabe Klassen came out of the gates firing with a goal and an assist in the Hawks' game one win. Dating back to the regular season, Klassen now has four points (1G, 3A) in his last three games.
Defenseman Luca Cagnoni was the only Winterhawk to record a point in both games one and two, setting up a pair of goals on Friday and scoring the game-winner on Saturday.
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier backstopped both Portland victories with 32 saves on Friday and 22 on Saturday, allowing just three goals across his first two WHL Playoff appearances.
Play of the Week:
Luca Cagnoni came in hot for his first taste of WHL Playoff action, notching three points in the first two games of this series. His third point came as the game-winner on Saturday as he perfectly played a give-and-go with Tyson Kozak before snapping a lightning-quick shot over the shoulder of Tyler Brennan.
Weekly Rewind:
Game 1: Portland 5 vs Prince George 2 (POR leads 1-0)
Four different Winterhawks recorded multiple points and Taylor Gauthier stopped 32 of 34 shots in his postseason debut as Portland took down the Prince George Cougars 5-2 in game one of their first-round WHL Playoff series on Friday night.
Game 2: Portland 2 vs Prince George 1 (POR leads 2-0)
Defensemen scored all three goals in a tight-checking game two on Saturday, and Portland's blueliners gave them the edge as goals from Kurtis Smythe and Luca Cagnoni carried the Winterhawks past the Prince George Cougars 2-1 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Week Ahead:
The first round of the WHL Playoffs rolls on as the series shifts to B.C. for games three and four at CN Centre in Prince George! The puck drops for game three on Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. as the Hawks look for a 3-0 stranglehold on the series, then 24 hours later on Wednesday for game four. Should the Cougars win one of those two games, game five of the series will be right back at the VMC on Saturday night.
Want to catch all the action? Get your WHL Live All-Access Pass today and don't miss a second of Winterhawks playoff hockey!
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It's playoff season! Winterhawks single-game tickets and playoff packages are on-sale NOW! Be there for every thrilling moment as the Hawks make their 11th consecutive postseason appearance. Call 503-236-4295 to speak to a Winterhawks ticket-sales representative today!
Western Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2022
- Preview Game 3 - ICE at Prince Albert - Winnipeg Ice
- Royals Sign Defenceman Matthew Keller - Victoria Royals
- Salame Leaves Pats with Lasting Impact on Young Core - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Weekly: Portland Opens Playoffs with 2-0 Series Lead - Portland Winterhawks
- Sebastian Cossa Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Look To Get Back Into Series On Home Ice - Kelowna Rockets
- Red Wings Prospect Cossa Named WHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Thunderbirds Defenceman Korchinski Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Queen City Sports & Entertainment Group Appoint Gord Pritchard, First Ever CEO - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Seek First Playoff Win in Game Three against Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Set for Upcoming Home Games April 26th & 27th - Prince George Cougars
- Bedard Breaks Canadian U18 Records in Win over Germany - Regina Pats
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