Hawks Soar Past Everett 11-4, are One Win From Advanving

Apparently a trip to Everett is just what the Doctor ordered for Portland in this series. The Hawks struggled at times with Everett at home, losing game one. Then they headed up I-5 and outscored them 18-7 in only 2 games.

Portland scored often in this one, opening with a goal from Ty Rattie 8:02 into the game. This was one that Everett goalie Austin Lotz would want back as Rattie shot from a bad angle and banked it off his pad and in. The top line for Portland smelled blood in the water and took advantage on the 5on 3 power play when Brendan Leipsic followed up a Nic Petan shot that Lotz made a great save on, making it 2-0. Then Chase De Leo converted the other power play with his second of the playoffs. Leipsic scored his second of the game with an assist to Rattie and the Hawks had a commanding 4-0l lead. Josh Winquist got one back for Everett when he picked the top glove side corner on Mac Carruth. What life that gave the Tips was short lived however, as Defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon wired one past Lotz to end the first period with a 5-1 lead.

Winquist scored his second of the game on a 5 on 3 power play for Everett only 2 minutes into the second period to get them back within 3 goals. Then the Ty Rattie show happened as he scored off consecutive long outlet passes from Derick Pouliot and Wotherspoon to make it 7-2. That would not be the last goal of the period as Wotherspoon fired home a point shot for his second goal of the game.

Ty Rattie

For the second night in a row Lotz would be pulled heading into the third period for Daniel Cotton. About 10 minutes into the period things got a little hairy, when Ben Betker slashed at Ty Rattie's wrist. Rattie had already hurt the wrist earlier from a Landon Oslanski slash and took exception with this behavior. He slashed Betker back and the game deteriorated from there. Carruth was pulled to keep him from getting injured, as he had already gotten tangled up 2 different times with Everett players. The top line didn't see the ice for the rest of the game and the second line saw very little time. Joey Baker, Taylor Leier and Josh Hanson all scored for the Hawks in the period, while Cole MacDonald and Reid Petryk scored on replacement goalie Brendan Burke to end the game at 11-4.

Carruth stopped 16 of 18 shots, while Burke stopped 3 of the 5 he faced. Austin Lotz made 21 saves on 29 shots, while Daniel Cotton stopped 6 of 9.

The Hawks were 3 of 7 on the power play while Everett converted 1 of the 6 chances they were given.

3 Stars:
#3- Tyler Wotherspoon- Lobbied for some late power play time in hopes of getting his first career hat trick, but was turned down by Coach Travis Green. He ended the night with 2 goals and 2 assists.
#2- Brendan Leipsic- 2 goals and 3 assists in the game. He really seems to have been woken up by some of the rough treatment he received in game 3.

Brendan Leipsic

#1- Ty Rattie- 3 goals and 2 assists. Everett's defense could not keep up with the speed the top line brought.

Random Notes:
-Carruth had a better game in this one, making several solid stops.
-Keegan Iverson threw a late hit after the final buzzer starting a late melee that ended with Nikkel throwing several punches at a prone Shawn MacPherson.
-Edmonton eliminated Kootenay with a 4-1 victory.
-Everett fans threw many items on the ice and at officials, seemingly more over frustration with the scoreboard then actual perceived missed calls.
-Leipsic's 4 first period points tied a franchise record held by Adam Deadmarsh and Ray Ferraro.
-Rattie now has 69 career playoff points, only 2 shy of Randy Heath's team record.
-The Tips gamble in putting two of their experienced defensemen up front seems to have backfired as Portland's relentless fore-check was more then their young d-men could handle.
-Game 5 goes tonight at the Coliseum in Portland.