Dayna Fjord

Winterhawks hold off Americans to earn split

After missing over two months with a leg injury, Portland Winterhawks left wing Ryan Hughes has struggled a bit to regain his form. After potting four goals and two assists over the four games prior to his injury, Hughes has not put up the same production since coming back.

A nearly point-a-game player last year, Hughes had only three goals and nine assists for 12 points over his last 19 games coming into tonight. He has had a hard time getting pucks toward the net and despite playing top-six minutes, had only two games where he eclipsed four shots on goal in that 19-game span.

Saturday night in Portland, with his Winterhawks hosting the Tri-City Americans, Hughes put the rubber on Americans goalie Patrick Dea early and often. He had a season-high seven shots on net and scored a pivotal goal in the first period that put his squad up by one. This was a lead they would nurture until midway through the third period, when Kieffer Bellows added some needed insurance.

Perhaps more impressive then his shooting, was his play with his team short handed late due to a penalty and then Tri-City pulling their goalie for an extra attacker. Hughes forced the puck in deep and killed quality time late in the game, with Portland up 3-2. They would eventually win by that score.

The top line may have again been the ones leading the way offensively as Bellows had two goals and Glass had two assists, but Hughes’ play was key to Portland earning an important two points against a U.S. Division rival that has been breathing down their neck for the second seed and home-ice in the playoffs.

The Americans actually got on board first as Vegas Golden Knights prospect, defenseman Dylan Coghlan took a pass from Nolan Yaremko while on the power play, in the high slot and buried a shot by Portland goalie Shane Farkas.

Then with Portland on a power play of their own, Bellows put his stick on the ice to the right of T.C. goalie Patrick Dea and left Glass hit it with a hard pass. The result was a 1-1 tie.

Hughes then put Portland on top off some fine work from Joachim Blichfeld. The Danish forward broke up an Americans pass and drove hard to the right of Dea, before dropping a pass to an open Hughes. The Alberta-native then one-timed a shot by Dea to make it 2-1 Portland.

That is the the way the score would stand through the entirety of the second period and some of the third as Farkas and Dea provided their teams with stellar netminding.

Then in the third, a light pass from Michael Rasmussen to Morgan Geekie on the rush was broken up with an active stick from Henri Jokiharju. Skyler McKenzie then scooped up the puck and found Cody Glass driving the right wing. Glass then slipped the puck to Bellows filling the lane and the N.Y. Islanders prospect buried his second of the night by Dea.

Before Portland could feel too comfortable, the Americans made it a one-goal game again. With 4:03 left, Isaac Johnson took a pass in some space and fired a low shot that somehow got by Farkas.

The drama would escalate then as Blichfeld was called for playing the puck with his glove off the faceoff dot and the Americans were given a late power play.

Farkas and the Hawks would hold on though and they retake their five point lead for second in the division. The Americans have two games in hand.

Blichfeld returned to the lineup with an assist after serving a two-game suspension for a cross-check he delivered last weekend.

Shane Farkas continued his excellent play recently for Portland, stopping 29 of 31 and making several key saves late in the game.

Portland went 1/4 on the power play, while Tri-City went 1/5.

Glass now has six assists in his three games since returning from injury, while Bellows has four goals and an assist in that same three-game span since coming back himself.

Portland is now off before hosting Victoria next Wednesday. Tri-City heads to Kent to take on Seattle on Tuesday.