Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins

Boyko makes 45 saves as Americans defeat Winterhawks 3-2

On Sunday the Tri-City Americans (24-16-2-1) visited Veterans Memorial Coliseum to face-off against the Portland Winterhawks (27-13-3-2) for the fifth time this season. The previous four games all required overtime or a shootout to decide the winner. Once again, the Americans emerged victorious, but on Sunday they only needed 60 minutes to get the two points. 16-year-old rookie goalie Talyn Boyko stopped 45 Winterhawks shots en route to a 3-2 victory for Tri-City.

Tri-City Americans Head Coach Kelly Buchberger said after the game, “We put Talyn in tonight, and he played unreal for us. When we have a young goalie come in, it was his fifth [appearance] of the year, he played extremely well for us.”

The Americans took a 2-0 lead to the locker room despite being out shot 15-8 in the first period.

Kyle Olson was the most noticeable player in the first. The 19-year-old assistant captain for the Americans committed two hooking penalties, but atoned for both scoring twice in the first 20 minutes.

Portland’s Cross Hanas was called for hooking at 10:29 and Olson used his speed through the neutral zone creating space for himself to Shane Farkas’ right side. The Calgary, AB native shot provided the opening goal of the game.

Kyle Olson (Portland Winterhawks/Ben Ludeman)

Just over six minutes later, Olson’s second hooking infraction put his team shorthanded again. However, with their sticks in passing and shooting lanes, the Americans penalty killers went two-for-two killing the Winterhawks power play.

Olson came out of the box and retrieved the puck just inside his own zone. The Anaheim Ducks fourth round draft pick faked a pass on a two-on-one and fired a shot at Farkas. The 19-year-old goalie made the initial save, but the rebound went directly to Olson for his 13th goal of the season.

After the game Kyle spoke about his eventful first period, “I think it was a couple of lucky bounces. The second goal bounced right back to my stick. I couldn’t stay out of the penalty box either taking a couple of penalties. I think it [his second goal] gave us momentum for the next guys to come out and have another good shift.”

His coach, Buchberger said, “One thing about Kyle is he brings it every night. He plays hard and is a leader on this team. He doesn’t take a shift off which gives us a chance to win. Obviously getting two goals in the first period helps out a lot.”

Don Hay (Photo – Portland Winterhawks)

Don Hay, Winterhawks assistant coach, described the first period, “We had some great looks on the power play. They then came down and were able to score. That kind of set us back a little bit, but I thought we came out and stuck with it throughout the game. We created opportunities and chances. Let’s give their team credit. Their goalie hung in there and played a really good game for a young guy. They really just tried to defend us from getting second and third opportunities. They gave us some first shots, but they really worked hard to not give us second and third shots.”

Portland responded in the second period with a strong shift from the Cross Hanas, Jake Gricius, and Mason Mannek line. Hanas scored his sixth goal of the season 2:49 into the second period.

“We made an entry into the zone,” Hanas said when describing his goal. “I tried to slip into the middle and got to the front of the net. Manny [Mannek] made a really nice pass, and I just had to deflect it. Feels greta scoring; never want to go that long without scoring. Getting a win is more important that any goal though.

“It was nice to see Cross score” Don Hay said. “He went to the net and that is what he has to do in this league to score goals. He has been creating chances so it is finally good to see him get rewarded with a goal. I thought Mannek made a great play on that goal. He came around, held onto it, and then put it in a position for Cross to put it away.”

Talyn Boyko (Photo: Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins)

Boyko faced another 14 Winterhawks shots in the second period and credited his teammates after the game, “I think the boys did a great job of boxing out and letting me see through lanes. It was a great defensive game from them.”

Tensions were high at the conclusion of the second period as 10 minutes of penalties were assessed after the horn sounded.

Hay describing the incident said, “I think it was probably a little frustration on our part not being able to score on the power play. Two teams playing hard. They are playing hard as were we. Emotions brew over there.”

In the third period Portland continued firing shots at the Americans rookie goal with another 18 directed on the Tri-City net.

The Winterhawks created a scramble in front of Boyko, but the Americans cleared the puck to Paycen Bjorklund. The 18-year-old raced up the ice and extended the Tri-City lead to 3-1 going blocker side on Farkas.

Portland had their fifth power play opportunity of the game in the third period, but once again failed to convert. The Americans penalty killers kept the Winterhawks to the outside and Kyle Olson said, “I think staying tight and playing to what we teach” when asked what made them successful. “They have a lot of good, skilled players on that team. We stayed with them and shut them down.”

Buchberger also said, “We have been playing hard and the guys are sacrificing themselves. The goalies are reading the plays and we are getting the right clears.”

Shortly thereafter Joachim Blichfeld scored his 40th goal of the season to give Portland life for one final push in the final five minutes.

Robbie Fromm-Delorme (Photo: Portland Winterhawks/Megan Connelly)

Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston juggled the forward lines and Hay said, “I think Mike was looking to find ways to create a goal. We didn’t want to leave it to the end. He just thought needed to reward guys who had been playing well by giving them different line combinations. I thought a guy like Robbie Fromm-Delorme had a really solid game tonight.”

In the end, the Americans held on for the 3-2 victory after Parker AuCoin blocked several shots in the final minutes of the game.

Boyko appreciated the effort, “That means so much to have a guy like that blocking the puck. You give him a pat when he wears one of those because you know he will do it the next night too.”

Buchberger also said, “Parker is another one that every night he brings his best game. He has been on a roll of getting a lot of points lately, but at the same point he hasn’t forgot what got him here. That is sacrificing himself and putting the team first.”

As the final horn sounded, the Americans rushed off their bench to surround Boyko. The victory was his second in the WHL.

Olson said, “He was really good. This was only his fourth start or around there. Talyn was solid in net. He faced a lot of shots against a top team; he was great.”

The final shot tally showed 47 shots for Portland and 45 saves for the six-foot-six, 167 pound netminder.

Boyko after the game spoke about his relationship with starter Beck Warm, “Beck is a great guy. I’ve learned so much from him, and he is always there to support me when I get my chances. Any questions I have he is always there and so supportive. He is a great goalie partner and even better goalie.”

Roman Kalinichenko (Photo: Portland Winterhawks/Matthew Wolfe)

Buchberger was pleased his team found a way to win but said, “I think we got outplayed. There is no question if you look at the shots for them 47-18. Our penalty kill was outstanding and we capitalized on our power play chance. Overall we know we got out played and had a lot of bad examples of defensive zone coverage out there. They are a dangerous team.”

For Hay, “We are having trouble getting a win against these guys. What we really want to do is to get the lead and build off the lead; not play from behind and chase the game. Probably that second goal set us back probably a little more than it should have. I thought we came out in the second and responded with a really good start. Cross getting the goal gave us life. I’m just glad we stuck with it.”

The two teams play again right back at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday evening.

Hay feels, “we have to be ready to start [on Wednesday], we can’t get behind.”

Buchberger said, “I think the biggest thing for us is our defensive zone coverage. We gave up a lot of opportunities and odd man rushes. We have to make sure we tighten that up.”

 

Notes:

– In his fifth appearance of the season Talyn Boyko commented about he stays mentally prepared, “You just have to treat your practices like games and take every opportunity you have to get better. When you get called on you do those little things to be ready.”

– Josh Paterson played in his 250th career WHL game, 246 came with the Saskatoon Blades.

– 17 of the 18 Portland skaters were credited with at least one shot.  

– Don Hay when asked about a starting goalie for Wednesday said, “That is a question for Mike, but I think that [Hofer] is the plan for the rotation we have.”

– Blichfeld continues to lead the WHL in goals (40) and points (83). Cody Glass is two assists (49) behind Trey Fix-Wolansky (51) for the league lead in assists. Glass has played in 13 less games.