DUBNetwork Game of the Night: Portland Winterhawks @ Everett Silvertips 4:05 PM
With nine games remaining for each team, the push for the US Division title gets tighter by the day. One point separates these teams in the overall standings with Portland holding the edge.
This race was made possible by a nine-game win streak for the Silvertips. The streak includes two wins over the Winterhawks, giving them a slight lead in the season series. Everett is 3-2-1-0 to Portland’s 3-3-0-0. They will also meet one more time before the season closes out, on March 14th.
In the six games, it’s Everett’s Bryce Kindopp leading all scorers with four goals and four assists. Gage Goncalves has the most goals with five to go along with two assists. Portland’s Seth Jarvis has seven points as well on two goals and five assists. Reece Newkirk has five points on a goal and four assists.
Both teams have very good power plays and it shows when they meet each other. Everett is 7-of-24 (29.2%) against Portland this season and the Winterhawks are 5-of-20 (25.0%). Overall, Everett is first in the WHL at 28.4%, while Portland is third at 24.1%.
The two teams have two of the best goalies in all of the WHL; it is expected that both will suit up this afternoon. Everett has Calgary Flames draft pick Dustin Wolf between the pipes. He is 32-9-2-0 this season with a 1.85 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. Portland counters with signed St. Louis Blues prospect Joel Hofer. He is 31-7-3-2 with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
As always, you can watch the game on WHL Live or you can tune in to Nick Marek on the Winterhawks App for your Portland coverage. Mike Benton, the voice of the Silvertips, goes on air for 95.3 FM KRKO.
In other WHL action (all times local):
Lethbridge Hurricanes @ Calgary Hitmen 4:00 PM
Both teams are coming off a loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings — Calgary on Friday and Lethbridge on Saturday. The Hurricanes have gotten the best of the Hitmen this season. They lead the season series 4-1-1-0. Calgary is 2-3-1-0. The Hitmen are just four points back of the Medicine Hat Tigers for third in the Central Division.
Vancouver Giants @ Victoria Royals 3:05 PM
With two games already played against each other this weekend, the Giants and Royals head into their final regular-season matchup. Vancouver has taken both games already this weekend, extending its record against Victoria to 6-3-0-0. Victoria is dealing with a string of injuries as the team limps towards the playoffs. The Royals are 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 games and are just seven points ahead of Kelowna with eight games to play.
Moose Jaw Warriors @ Prince Albert Raiders 4:00 PM
The Warriors have strung together a couple of wins and the Raiders got to avenge a Friday night loss to the Blades by taking them out on Saturday night. Prince Albert has won all three previous meetings between the two teams and has outscored the Warriors 18-6. The Raiders will use one of their games in hand over the Brandon Wheat Kings and would like to open up their lead for the division to more than a single point.
