The Portland WInterhawks (7-3-0-1) traveled to Langley, British Columbia to conclude their back-to-back games with the Vancouver Giants (9-2-2-0). Coming off a thrilling 5-3 win last night in the Rose City, the Winterhawks looked to take four points on the weekend against the Western Conference leading Giants.
Reece Newkirk continued his hot start in his 17-year-old season as he netted his eighth goal. Rookie Seth Jarvis, the Winterhawks’ first round selection in the 2017 bantam draft, made a cross-ice pass on a 2-on-1 and Newkirk beat Vancouver’s backup goalie Trent Miner giving the Winterhawks a 1-0 lead. Miner kept the Giants in the game stopping 13 shots in the first period.
James Malm, who scored his ninth goal of the season yesterday, started the game for the Giants, but appeared to suffer an injury either late in the first period or early in the second. He was unable to return to the game. Malm has been a key contributor for the Giants especially on the power play as three of his nine goals have come on the man advantage.
Both teams were unsuccessful on their power play opportunities. Portland went 0-for-5 while the Giants failed to score on their three attempts. Both had strong looks at the net, but either Miner or Shane Farkas prevented the red light from coming on.
Yannik Valenti scored his first WHL goal evening the score at one. The Giants selected 18-year-old German Valenti in the second round of the 2017 import draft. After several nice plays by Hunor Torzsok and Lukas Svejkovsky, Yannik was able to beat Farkas.
The two teams were playing a tight checking game, and the offensive talent on both sides struggled to find the space they needed to create plays. The third period saw each goalie make a key save and the post come up with a save as well. Kade Nolan came inches from scoring his first WHL goal, and Shane Farkas was bailed out by his post shortly thereafter. Each team had a power play late in the third, but every opportunity was blocked by a unselfish play from the penalty killers.
As the Giants and Winterhawks prepared for 3-on-3 overtime, both Mike Johnston and Michael Dyck were coaching their players on how best to achieve the extra point. Bowen Byram had the Giants best chance in overtime as he took the puck behind his net, made a quick move around Joachim Blichfeld, and sprinted up the ice. The anticipated first round NHL pick this upcoming summer had a partial breakaway and got a clean shot on Farkas, but Farkas held his ground.
Brendan De Jong saw a lane to the net shortly thereafter and beat his man around the outside. Brendan said, “I tried to slip it five hole” but Trent kept his stick on the ice. However, the rebound went directly to De Jong’s backhand and “smacked it shelf and got kind of lucky and it went in.” The overager’s third goal of the season gave Portland all four points on the weekend. De Jong commented after the game, “It’s exciting to continue to contribute in this way and take down one of the top teams in the league.”
Miner was terrific in net for the Giants after starter David Tendeck played last night. The 17-year-old was the game’s #1 star stopping 30-of-32 shots. Shane Farkas, who has played all 11 games for the Winterhawks stopped 27-of-28.
The Giants will complete their three games in three nights as they take on the Kelowna Rockets tomorrow afternoon. The Winterhawks meanwhile are off until Friday when they travel to Spokane, Washington for their first meeting with the Chiefs this year.
Notes:
– Blichfeld, who suffered a hit on Friday night, wasn’t sure if he would be able to play; however, after warmups Joachim was cleared to start.
– Portland only has 12 healthy forwards with Robbie Fromm-Delorme suffering an injury in practice. Johnston decided to play 11 forwards and 7 defensemen tonight. Among the defensemen who have been rotating in and out, both Nick CIcek and Kade Nolan drew into the lineup. Haydn Delorme was a healthy scratch.
– The Winterhawks’ top line of Ryan Hughes, Joachim Blichfeld, and Cody Glass was held without a point.
– Cody Glass had a strong night in the faceoff circle winning 15/23 draws.
