There’s something about the long, Eastern Conference road trip that sits well with Cody Glass. Last year, as his Portland Winterhawks (20-4-0-1) traveled through Sakatchewan and Manitoba, Glass propelled himself to among the elite point getters in the league, with nine points over the six games played against the East Division.
This year, Glass bested himself with 15 points over the six games his Winterhawks played against the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. He scored twice on Wednesday night as the Hawks concluded their six games over eight night trip, with a 5-2 win over the Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers (15-10).
Portland went 5-0-0-1 on their excursion with the lone loss coming thanks to a heroic effort by Stuart Skinner the previous night.
Cole Kehler, after a somewhat rough night where he was in his own worst enemy at a couple moments, rebound to the tune of 29 saves on 31 shots. He earned his 18th win this year.
Mason Mannek, in possibly his best game yet in the WHL, potted a goal and added an assist for two points to help pace the Hawks.
After watching a ceremony honoring former Tigers goalie Kelly Hrudey, Glass got things started. He fired home Portland’s fourth power play goal in less than four periods as he beat Medicine Hat goalie Jordan Hollett with a nice wrist shot. This extended his point streak out to 12 games.
The Tigers, as they have done so often this year, bounced back. Gary Haden potted his seventh on the season just over two minutes later.
Just over halfway through the first, Jake Gricius best Hollett for the 2-1 Portland lead and his second marker on the trip.
It looked like me might enter the third with all-too-familiar 2-1 Portland lead on the scoreboard, but the Tigers had other plans. They tied the game on the power play with 2:08 left in the second period. David Quenneville teed up a slap shot and fired it towards the net. Before it found its way to Kehler, Max Gerlach got his stick on it and redirected the puck past the Portland netminder.
Joachim Blichfeld, who has found another gear on the road trip, like Glass, scored the eventual winner early in the third period.
After uncharacteristically blowing a lead on Tuesday night in the third period, the Hawks would lock down and not give the Tigers too many good looks at Kehler and their net.
Bellows then nearly iced it as he fired on at the Tigers empty net. He missed, but his linemate had his back and found the puck on the half-boards before firing it in. The goal was Glass’s second of the night and 19th on the year.
Mason Mannek then added another empty netter to make it a 5-2 final.
Portland finds themselves taking on another Eastern Conference team in their next outing, but it will come on the familiar Moda Center ice. The Saskatoon Blades will visit the Rose City on Sunday for a 5pm match up.
