In the final matchup of the season between the Portland Winterhawks and Everett Silvertips, the team from Portland walked away with the win. While the Silvertips came out and scored the only two goals through the first twenty minutes, the Winterhawks went on to score five unanswered goals to win 5-2. The final four goals all came in the last seven minutes of game time.
Winterhawks saw many notable moments
Rookie defenseman Brody Tallman found himself dropping the gloves with Everett forward Brendan Lee.
Simon Knak got the ball rolling for Portland, scoring the team’s first two goals in the second and third periods. The Swiss-born forward came into the season on a mission and has worked to prove his case regarding the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
2021 #NHLDraft prospect Simon Knak with the hand-eye, he's got a pair tonight!@pdxwinterhawks pic.twitter.com/yI7q1k3yN3
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 1, 2021
Tallying an assist in his first game back from the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, Jack O’Brien pitched in on Knak’s first goal of the game.
Per Andy Kemper, Mason Mannek‘s game-winner was goal number 13,500 in franchise history. The game also happens to be the last time Mannek will face off against the Silvertips in his WHL career.
As is often the case when it comes to these two teams, the goaltenders both had great performances. For Portland, Knak gave some credit to his team’s starting netminder, Dante Giannuzzi.
“We were letting up a lot of chances. We were lucky we were just 2-0 down and Giannuzzi was keeping us in the game.”
The end is near
The Silvertips remain safely atop the US Division standings with a nine-point lead over the Winterhawks. While they missed out on their first opportunity to clinch the division title, they still have the ability to clinch with just one more win should there also be another Winterhawks loss. However, it is difficult to say that the title is a sure thing for Everett.
It is so odd to think that we are just six games away from the end of the season. With the official cancellation of any WHL playoff hopes for this year, the end of the season for both teams is far too close for comfort.
