Winterhawks Take Down Blazers 3-2 in a Shoot Out, then Fall to High-Powered Rockets 4-2

Portland 3 Kamloops 2 (SO)

The Portland Winterhwks responded well after losing three straight to B.C. Division opponents, as they outshot the host Blazers 44-34 and controlled most of the game form the third period on for a 3-2 win in the shoot out. 

Unfortunately for Portland, they were without the services of forwards Colton Veloso, Paul Bittner and Keegan Iverson, who were all out with injuries. Alex Schoenborn was forced into playing, due to the numbers and he skated limited minutes. The low numbers necessitated Portland to call-up 16-year-old defenseman Jackson Caller, who was dressed as a seventh d-man.

Kamloops got the scoring started in the game, during the first period, with an auspicious marker. While on the power play, the Blazers' Jake Kryski fired a shot on Adin Hill from Hill's left and the rebound rode his right pad. Kamloops' Nick Chyzowski used his stick to push Hill's pad and the rest of him into his net. The puck then slipped to Matt Revel who scored on a backhand with Hill incapacitated. The officials took a look at the goal, but ultimately left it as a good goal. Portland coach Jamie Kompon was extremely upset after the goal and his team fed off of his energy. They responded only 12 seconds later with Cody Glass deftly deflecting a Jackson Caller point shot past Conor Ingram. The assist for Caller, was his first career WHL point, in his very first game. The first would end with the two sides knotted at one.

Matt Revel had his second goal of the game, in the second period, when Nolan Kneen, Collin Shirley and Revel connected on a tic-tac-toe play in Portland's zone. Revel had an open net to shoot at after the great pass from Shirley. The Blazer pumped 15 other shots on Hill, but were not able to find the net again.

By my count, Portland had 18 shots on Conor Ingram, but were only able to beat him in the third, until Rihards Bukarts scored on the power play with only 55 seconds left and Hill vacating the net for a sixth attacker. The goal for Bukarts was on his 11th shot on net, a Portland season-high.

The best look for either team in the three-on-three overtime session was on a Rodrigo Abols, Bukarts two-on-none that Ingram was able to make a dandy of a save on.

In the shoot out, Portland won it in the fifth round off a simple looking goal from Abols. Bukarts and Jack Dougherty were also successful for Portland on far fancier looking moves.

Game Stats:

Player	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots	F/O	F/O %	Hits	B/S	PIM
McKenzie	0	0	0	2	-	-	4	0	2
Turgeon	0	1	1	5	16/32	50%	3	2	0
Weinger	0	0	0	3	1/1	100%	5	0	0
Bukarts	1	0	1	11	-	-	4	0	2
Abols	0	0	0	5	13/17	76.5%	2	1	0
Glass	1	0	1	2	0/1	0%	2	1	0
Clayton	0	0	0	0	-	-	4	1	0
Overhardt	0	0	0	1	2/9	22.2%	4	2	0
Nagel	0	0	0	0	-	-	1	2	0
Hughes	0	0	0	0	3/8	37.5%	1	2	2
Schoenborn	0	0	0	4	-	-	2	1	0
Heinrich	0	0	0	6	-	-	3	1	0
Dougherty	1	0	1	4	-	-	10	2	2
Jones	0	0	0	0	-	-	3	2	0
Texeira	0	0	0	0	0/1	0%	4	0	0
MacEachern	0	0	0	0	-	-	2	0	0
De Jong	0	0	0	1	-	-	3	0	0
Caller	0	1	1	0	-	-	2	0	0

Notes:
-Perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of this rash of injuries to Portland's forwards, is the fact that from the second period on in this game, they used Keoni Texeira as their top left winger. Texeira skated with Dominic Turgeon and Evan Weinger and for the most part looked good. While he skated as a forward for most of the game, he also mixed in a few shifts in his normal spot on the blue line with Caleb Jones. This is likely something they only wanted to use for emergency situations, but if there is one d-man on the team that could move back and forth, it would be Keoni.
-Alex Schoenborn was clearly playing with a bum shoulder. During one sequence, he threw a jumping hit on a Blazer's d-man, with his back instead of left shoulder (which is the one he hurt). While I admire the fact that he played through this injury, I sincerely hope it does not lead to further issues down the road for him. The fact that Portland played Nick Heid with a shoulder injury last year for several games before having to shut him down, does not give me a lot of faith in Portland making the right decision with Alex.
-Having, even an injured Schoenborn in the lineup, made a big difference though. He has to be the fastest Hawk on the team and him taking a pass and bursting down the right wing is a sure way to get pucks going at the opponent's net and driving possession (something they really lacked in Prince George).
-Another aspect he brings is the after-the-scrum shenanigans. Portland, in the absence of him and Iverson, was missing someone who would not shy away from taking liberties after the whistle. They do not really have an enforcer anymore, so someone like Schoenborn is an important piece for a team to have in the lineup.
-This was possibly Bukarts' best game as a Hawk. He was constantly making plays and his 11 shots on net are a sign that he was committing to getting shots through and creating traffic in front of the Blazers' net (which he did).
-I really like how Tanner Nagel has performed in his first four games with Portland. This was the first game in which he started to really slow down and play the system. In his first three games, he would just get the puck deep, but in this one, he slowed down and made a pass into the zone to a teammate, more often than not.
-Jackson Caller looks like, potentially great d-man for Portland. For his first game, he did not make any real bad plays and most of the negatives of his game looked ot be because he was smaller than his opponents. His shot/pass from the point was something a far more experienced d-man would've made. Despite how good he looked, I would not expect him to stay with the team past the weekend. However, if Caleb Jones and Jack Dougherty leave the team to represent the U.S. for World Juniors', he would be a good call-up.
-Adin Hill was much better in this one, after a few rather poor outings. Hopefully, he has put his horrendous (for him) November behind him.

Kelowna 4 Portland 2

The Kelowna Rockets beat Portland for the third time in three tries this season on Saturday night, demonstrating to them, what it takes to win games on a consistent basis. Kelowna was pushed by Portland late in the second period, clinging to a 3-2 lead, with the Winterhawks circling and the tying goal looking invitable. The Rockets as a group, sacrificed their bodies, stopping three straight point shots from getting on net and causing trouble and then desperately cleared the zone a couple of times. The Rockets regrouped and took advantage of four straight power plays in the third period to secure their WHL-leading 22nd win of the year.

After a smooth flowing first period that looked like it was going to end with a 0-0 tie, the Rockets truck first. With only eight seconds remaining in the first period, Lucas Johansen made a slick no-look pass on the power play to Dillon Dube at the left faceoff circle. He beat Adin Hill on the one-timer. Dube's goal was the teddy bear toss goal at Prospera Place and a cascade of stuffed animals rained down.

In the second period, Portland failed to score on another power play but still were able to tie the game when, Colton Veloso drove wide on the left wing and fired a backhand shot with a rolling puck. The puck rolled up Jackson Whistle's left pad and behind him to tie the score at one. The Rockets swiftly responded when Calvin Thurkauf threw a big hit in on Blake Heinrich, causing him to turn the puck over to Rourke Chartier. Chartier found a waiting Nick Merkley in the slot for the goal and the 2-1 lead. The Rockets extended that lead around two minutes later, when Alex Overhardt lost a battle behind his own net to Justin Kirkland, who got it to a wide open Dillon Dube in front for his second of the game and 12th of the year. Rookie d-man Jackson Caller was slow in covering Dube on the play. Portland was able to swing the momentum back their way late in the second though, due to three straight power plays, including a five-on-three that they would score on. The goal would, come, as they often do on the man-advantage, from the stick of Jack Dougherty. After exchanging looks from the point with Caleb Jones, before powering one over the right shoulder of Jackson Whistle, cutting the lead down to 3-2, heading to the third.

In the game's final session though, Portland's comeback attempt would be negated as Joe Gatenby's point shot on the power play, squeezed through Adin Hill's arm and gave the Rockets the insurance they needed. After several highlight reel saves to keep the game close, Hill and Portland were undone by one that he would assuredly be shaking his head at, if he ever actually showed emotion after giving up a weak-looking goal.
Game Stats:

Player	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots	F/O	F/O %	Hits	B/S	PIM
McKenzie	0	0	0	3	0/1	0%	2	1	0
Turgeon	0	0	0	3	17/35	48.6%	0	0	2
Weinger	0	0	0	3	-	-	1	0	0
Bukarts	0	1	1	6	-	-	0	1	0
Abols	0	0	0	1	7/20	35%	1	0	2
Glass	0	0	0	0		-	0	1	0
Clayton	0	0	0	0	-	-	1	0	2
Overhardt	0	1	1	1	4/9	44.4%	1	0	2
Nagel	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0	0
Hughes	0	0	0	0	5/6	83.3%	3	0	0
Schoenborn	0	0	0	4	-	-	3	1	0
Veloso	1	0	1	2	-	-	1	1	0
Heinrich	0	0	0	2	-	-	4	4	0
Dougherty	1	0	1	2	-	-	2	2	4
Jones	0	1	1	5	-	-	3	3	2
Texeira	0	0	0	0	-	-	9	3	2
Caller	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0	0
De Jong	0	0	0		-	-	2	0	2

Notes:
-More and more trust being put on the Abols unit, as they are the only one consistently playing together.
-Portland failed to capitalize on some good looks while on two different power plays in the first period, despite some good puck movement. With how tight the game was being called at the time, they had to feel like they needed ot score on the man-advantage or Keowna surely would (and they did).
-Blake Heinrich made an incredible play in the second period, while on the penalty kill. Adin Hill had just made a save and the rebound came out to Rourke Chartier in tight. Chartier chipped it over a down Hill and the puck seemingly should have wound up in the net. Instead, despite being cross-checked from behind by Nick Merkley, Heinrich used a combination of his stick  and left glove to get it out of harm's way.
-Portland has been pretty good at what I call the "response shift" all year. They usually put sustained pressure on the other team after giving up a goal, especially when it's a soft one. In this game, Kelowna was the one who had the great response though. After Whistle gave up a pretty weak goal on one end, Kelowna went right down, threw hits and got the puck to one of their premier goal-scorers to take their lead back.
-The strength difference between a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old in the WHL, was on display when Tyson Baillie was able to legally manhandle Ryan Hughes off of the puck twice in a row, creating a scoring look for Kelowna. One has to think that by the time, Hughes is 20, he will be doing very similar things to 2003 born players.
-After being out of position on Dube's second goal, I do not think I saw Jackson Caller take another shift. A 16-year-old d-man is going to have some ups and downs, so it was somewhat surprising that coach Jamie Kompon did not put him back out on the ice. However, it also illustrates how important he felt this game was to Portland.
-Keoni Texeira played the first two periods on Dominic Turgeon's left wing, before being moved back to defense. Alex Schoenborn was moved up to the Turgeon line in his place, but still looked like he was battling through some pain in his shoulder.
-Portland next plays on Wednesday night in Everett.

Winterhawks in the NHL:

Saturday:

-Paul Gaustad made his return to the lineup after missing the last two weeks with an upper body injury. He skated 15:42 worth of ice-time and had one shot in the Predators' 5-4 loss to Detroit.

-Matt Dumba scored his fourth of the year, one game after scoring his third. He is thus currently riding a two-game goal streak. Minnesota beat Colorado 3-0 in the game.

Sunday:

-Marian Hossa scored career goal number 491 and added an assist in a 3-1 Chicago win over Winnipeg.

-Andrew Ference joins Rob Klinkhammer on the Edmonton Oilers' injured reserve. 

Winterhawks in the AHL:

Friday:

-Craig Cunningham had an assist for Springfield in a 4-0 win over Bridgeport.

-Travis Ehrhardt, had for Utica an assist in a 2-1 loss to St. John's. 

-Taylor Leier found his scoring touch, after his return to the AHL, as he notched an empty net/short handed goal in a 3-1 Lehigh Valley win over Wilkes Barre/Scranton.

Saturday:

-Nic Petan assisted on the lone Manitoba goal, as they fell to Toronto 3-1.

-Another assist for Travis Ehrhardt in a 4-2 Utica win over Syracuse.

-Ty Rattie assisted on the first two come-from-behind goals that allowed Chicago to force overtime with Milwaukee. He did not score on his shootout chance though and they fell 3-2.

Sunday:

-Brendan Leipsic scored the fifth goal of the game for Toronto as they routed Manitoba 7-0.

-Taylor Aronson had an assist in a 5-2 Milwaukee win over Texas.

Winterhawks in the ECHL:

Friday:

-Gasper Kopitar had an assist in a 3-2 Manchester win over Reading. Kevin Young had another assist in the loss for the Royals.

-Mac Carruth was handed the loss as he gave up four goals on 23 shots and Indy fell to Toledo 5-2.

-Tristan King had an assist as Allen beat Rapid City 3-1.

-Two points each from William Wrenn and Patrick Wellar as Alaska edged Colorado 6-4. Garrett Haar was scratched in the loss. Wrenn is tied for sixth in ECHL scoring for d-men with 15 points in 22 games.

Saturday:

-Another assist for Tristan King as Allen blew the doors off of Utah 7-3.

Sunday:

-Two goals for Thomas Frazee as Atlanta built a 4-1 lead over Orlando and hung on for the 4-3 victory.