The Portland Winterhawks have to think they deserved a better fate after controlling much of play on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. David Tendeck stole the show though and got the Vancouver Giants their second win over the Winterhawks in four days, with a stellar 37-save performance. 
Tendeck earned his first career shutout Friday and won his third consecutive start. Tendeck’s play in the preseason and potential, were key reasons the Giants felt they could deal away returning starter Ryan Kubic before the season started. His play this season has given them no reason to second guess this decision. He has now turned away 80 of the last 83 Portland shots sent his way.
Perhaps the player who has been most frustrated by Tendeck was Portland’s Kieffer Bellows. He had six shots on net Friday after having six on Tuesday in Portland’s 5-3 loss to the Giants in Langley. Several of Bellows’ six attempts were of the high quality variety. Portland also found a post in behind Tendeck thanks to defenseman Keoni Texeira, but they could not find the net.
Portland’s lack of offense would leave the door wide open for the Giants to steal a big road win. Brendan Semchuk provided all the offense they would need as he took a cross-ice pass from Dylan Plouffe with 7:44 left in regulation and slid the puck along the ice and between Portland goalie Cole Kehler’s pads. Kehler seemed to be expecting Semchuk to lift the puck and was surprised by the low shot.
Portland had some quality looks to tie, but Tendeck stood tall. Both teams failed to net power play goals, with Vancouver having five chances and Portland three.
The loss was Portland’s fourth straight. Despite 160 shots on net in those four games, the Winterhawks have just four goals. That is a shooting percentage of just 0.025.
Notes:
-Cole Kehler, who was just singed to an entry-level contract by the L.A. Kings stopped 16 of 17 in defeat.
-Alex Overhardt won 15 of 19 draws for Portland, while Cody Glass took 6/15 and Jake Gricius 6/9.
-Skyler McKenzie also had six shots in the loss, but his best look went wide of the net altogether. He took a slick feed from Cody Glass and wired a shot well wide of the net with Tendeck out of position.
-Portland hosts the red-hot Everett Silvertips on Saturday, hoping to snap the losing streak.
