Going into this game, Portland's Head Coach: Jamie Kompon had used a top line of Dominic Turgeon centering a line of Keegan Iverson and Paul Bittner. That star studded line had failed to create much offense though as those three NHL drafted players had a combined 2 points, through the first 3 games of the year (all losses). Tonight Kompon switched it up, putting Rodrigo Abols on the top line, centering Bittner and Alex Schoenborn. Abols and Schoenborn had been two of Portland's best forwards through the first three games and they were rewarded with top line time.
This move paid off big early in the game as Schoenborn, Abols and Bittner made a great transitional rush and Bittner sniped a shot over Spokane Goalie: Tyson Verhlest for the opening goal of the game.
Abols kept his strong play going, as right after Portland killed off a penalty, he picked up an Evan Weinger blocked shot near his own blue line and went in on a 2 on 1 with Keegan Iverson, fresh from the box. Abols shot low, like you are supposed to do in that situation and the rebound off the Verhelst save came right to a waiting Iverson who slammed home his first goal of the year.
Portland kept the pressure up in the 2nd period, with Verhlest's several dynamic saves, the only thing keeping the Chiefs close.
Portland's Schoenborn then made a great heads up play in neutral ice in the 3rd period, taking the puck from Spokane's 16 year old Center: Jaret Anderson-Dolan and rushing the other way on a 2 on 1. He never looked to pass, instead beating Verhlest glove side for his 2nd of the year.
With a 3-0 lead, Portland had the game in hand but still had yet to score a PP goal on their first 16 chances on the season. They broke that streak when just a couple minutes after he scored, Schoenborn forced a turnover behind the Chief's net and Bittner made a slick pass to Abols for the marker on the man advantage. Portland's Cody Glass then added another PP goal late in the game, when, during a crazy melee, he dug the puck out of a scrum in front of Verhlest and put it over the down and out Goalie. The goal was the 16 year old's first in his WHL career.
 |
| Bittner had 2 points in the win |
Overall, the new top line had 8 points, as Schoenborn and Abols both had a goal and two assists. Kompon is not likely to go away from those three as a unit for awhile.
Portland's Adin Hill was stellar as he was not asked to make a ton of difficult saves, but the few he made were late in the first period and early in the second, when Spokane could have really changed the dynamic of the whole game with a key goal. Hill stopped all 23 shots he faced for his first shut out of the year and the 4th of his WHL career, including playoffs.
Verhlest, meanwhile stopped 32 out of 37 (my stats).
Portland's PP went 2/4 on the night and is now 2/18 or 11/1% on the year. Spokane was 0/5 on their power plays and Portland's PK is now 21/24 or 87.5% this season.
Stats:
Player
|
Goals
|
Assists
|
Points
|
Shots
|
F/O
|
F/O
%
|
Hits
|
B/S
|
PIM
|
Bittner
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
Abols
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
8/21
|
38.1%
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
Schoenborn
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
- | 10 | 0 | 7 |
McKenzie
|
0 |
0
|
0
|
5 | - | - | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Turgeon | 0 |
0
|
0 | 1 | 14/22 |
63.6%
|
2 | 1 |
0
|
| Iverson | 1 |
0
|
1 | 2 | 0/1 | 0/% | 10 |
0
|
2
|
Overhardt
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5 | 4/8 |
50%
|
1 |
0
|
2
|
| Glass | 1 |
0
|
1
|
2 | 1/3 |
33.3%
|
3 | 0 |
2
|
| Weinger | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
-
|
-
|
6 | 1 |
2
|
| Clayton |
0
|
0 | 0 | 1 |
-
|
-
|
3 |
0
|
2 |
Hughes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1 |
1/5
|
20%
|
5 |
0
|
2
|
Veloso
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
-
|
-
|
2 |
0
|
0
|
| Jones |
0
|
0
|
0
|
2 |
-
|
-
|
3 | 1 |
0
|
| Texeira |
0
|
1 |
0
|
1 |
-
|
-
|
2 |
3
|
0 |
| Heinrich |
0
|
0 | 1 | 1 |
-
|
-
|
5 | 1 |
0
|
Dougherty
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
-
|
-
|
9 | 2 | 2 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
1 |
-
|
-
|
2 | 1 |
0
|
|
| De Jong |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
-
|
4 |
0
|
0
|
Game Notes:
-Both Jack Dougherty and Caleb Jones continue to look more comfortable out there. First Jones started displaying good defensive reads and decision making, when anticipating and intercepting passes last Saturday. This night it was Dougherty who did so, making several great reads in a row and stopping Spokane rushes before they could even get started.
-Rodrigo Abols seems like a much better fit for Bittner as he is a better passer then Turgeon and gets the puck to him in prime shooting areas, something Turgeon has struggled to do so far this season. Abols' first assist on the night was one such pass as he took the defense away from the Columbus 2nd round pick and gave him the room to pick his spot on Vehlest.
-Ryan Hughes got some power play time on the 2nd unit and it defintiely looked like a 16 year old trying to find his way in that role. This move could pay huge dividends down the road next year or even later in the season as Hughes gets used to it.
-Speaking of Hughes, Portland's 4th line was stellar on this night, winning a lot of battles down low and allowing Kompon to cycle the lines and not have to lean so heavily on Bittner and co. for minutes.
-It was great to see Alex Schoenborn utilize his deceptive speed in putting Spokane's D-corps off balance and helping to win 50/50 pucks off simple plays like dumps into the zone. Schoenborn also did not take the bait in a scuffle after a whistle when Spokane had already taken a penalty, something he would have done in previous years.
-Brendan De Jong played so much better then last week, really using his long reach to take away shooting lanes from Spokane shooters. Spokane is known as a team that likes to shoot from all angles and De Jong realized that, often poking the puck loose before they got an open look.
 |
| Overhardt |
-Portland goes next vs. Seattle back in the Moda Center on Sunday night. Here's hoping the ice is in much better condition as there were multiple lengthy delays needed for ice repairs.
Friday's Winterhawks News and Notes:
-Cody Glass Named to Canada's U-17 Hockey Challenge Roster:
Glass will be out of the lineup for a time while this event goes from November 1st-8th. He will play on one of the three Team Canada rosters (Black, Red or White). Ryan Hughes was left off the Team Canada roster(s) as he was eligible. Hopefully, he uses this as motivation going forward.
-Carl Ericson Out for 3-6 months with a hockey related, lower body injury, as reported by Paul Danzer of the Columbian. To me, this has high ankle sprain written all over it as it's something you can easily get, even in practice, which seems to be the case here. Also, they are notorious for taking a hockey player out for long periods of time, due to the amount of pressure an ankle is under in a hockey skate, making the recovery period long. The Hawk's Center depth takes a huge hit here as Ericson was one of their most successful face off takers and also one of their most defensively responsible.
Other Notable Games in the Dub:
-Brandon had a 5 point night from Reid Duke as they trounced Kootenay 13-1.
-Tri City continues to put up goals as they dropped Prince George 5-2 behind 2 point nights from Taylor Vickerman, Michael Rasmussen, Perker Bowles and Beau McCue.
-Coleman Vollrath had 26 saves as the Victoria Royals dropped Kelowna 3-0.
 |
| Hossa |
Hawks in the NHL:
-Marian Hossa assisted on the game winning goal by Patrick Kane as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the New York Islanders in OT: 3-2.
-Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Johansen assisted on each of Columbus' only two goals as they dropped a 4-2 game to Dubinsky's former teammates with the New York Rangers.
Hawks in the AHL:
-Derrick Pouliot, who is out to prove something after narrowly being left off the Pittsburgh Penguins opening day roster, assisted on the OT winner in the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 win over Providence.
Hawks in the ECHL:
-Former Hawk's D-man: Troy Rutowski had an assist in Evansville's 6-5 loss to Fort Wayne in the opening night of the ECHL.
-Taylor Peters scored a goal in the first game of the year as Idaho dumped Utah 7-4.
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