Larry Brunt

Portland extends points streak to 11 games with 6-4 win in Spokane

(Spokane, WA) Friday night in U.S. Division action saw two familiar playoff foes meet for the third time this season. The Spokane Chiefs (20-12-4-1) hosted the division leading Portland Winterhawks (26-6-1-3) at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Once again, the two put on a show. 

Portland left eastern Washington with a 6-4 victory with help from scoring four straight goals after Spokane opened the scoring. 

Both teams were without several normal starters as they were away representing their respective country at the World Junior Championships. The Chiefs are missing Ty Smith (Canada) and Lukáš Pařík (Czech Republic) while Portland has Joel Hofer (Canada) and Simon Knak (Switzerland) out of their lineup. 

The Chiefs started the scoring 3:32 into the opening frame. 

Cordel Larson (Photo- Larry Brunt)

Winterhawks goalie Isaiah DiLaura had a puck bounce over his stick behind the net leading to a wraparound goal by Cordel Larson. The 2001-born forward registered his 10th goal of the 2019-2020 season. 

The goal woke up the visitors as they proceeded to score three times before the first period horn sounded. 

Lane Gilliss capitalized on the power play with a backhanded shot off a rebound out front of starter Mason Beaupit. The puck appeared to bank in off a defender’s skate for the overager’s eighth goal of the year.

Less than two minutes later fellow 20-year-old Matthew Quigley kept a bouncing puck in the offensive zone. The Chestermere, Alberta, native got the puck to rookie Gabe Klassen who fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot. His shot went glove side on Beaupit for a 2-1 Winterhawks lead. 

A little over eight minutes later New York Islanders 2019 draft pick Reece Newkirk extended his point streak to 12 games with his 15th goal of the season. Jake Gricius picked up the secondary assist extending his run of points to five straight games. 

The goal was the second to best Beaupit from the right circle. 

James Porter (Photo- Larry Brunt)

In the second period Manny Viveiros, Spokane’s head coach, put newly acquired James Porter Jr. in net. Earlier on Friday, the Chiefs traded an eighth round pick to Moose Jaw for the 19-year-old. 

Newkirk greeted the former Kelowna Rocket netminder with a slap-shot goal just 92 seconds into his first action with Spokane. 

With his 16th goal of the season Newkirk passed Seth Jarvis for the team lead in goals.

Porter settled in and ended his evening with 15 saves on 17 shots. 

Spokane pushed hard in the third period behind two of their top performers this season. 

Jack Finley started the comeback trail picking up his eighth goal of the season, and third against the Winterhawks. The 2020 top NHL Draft prospect corralled a loose puck along the wall and powered his way down the ice before going top shelf. 

Eli Zummack (Photo- Larry Brunt)

Eli Zummack entered the game on a WHL-leading 13 game point streak. The 5-foot-10, 178 pound forward got behind the Portland defense for a breakaway. DiLaura kept the initial shot out of the net before Luke Toporowski poked home the rebound, his 12th of the year. The Chiefs had all the momentum and their 6,680 fans were back into the game. 

Before the fans could settle back into their seats, Jaydon Dureau scored his second goal in as many games. Jarvis and Jack O’Brien combined to spot the 18-year-old on the far side of the ice. 

The beauty of junior hockey continued as Spokane scored the fourth goal in less than five minutes on their only power play of the game. 

Adam Beckman (Photo- Larry Brunt)

Clay Hanus was whistled for interference off a defensive-zone faceoff sending the Chiefs to the man advantage. Zummack did what he does best, set up goals. A perfect, flat pass was in the wheelhouse of Adam Beckman who scored in his franchise best 10th straight contest. The Minnesota Wild draft selection entered the night tied with Bryce Kindopp for the WHL lead in goals. 

Once again Spokane was back within one with 5:34 to play. 

The Chiefs pulled Porter for the extra attacker, but were unable to find the equalizer. 

Cross Hanas (Photo- Larry Brunt)

After Portland failed to hit the empty net on several chances, Cross Hanas finally found the yawning cage. The Highland Village, Texas, native’s 11th of the season meant Spokane’s comeback would fall short. 

The Winterhawks picked up their 26th win of the 2019-2020 campaign, 10 in their last 11 games. Starting on November 9, the young Portland team also has points in 19-of-20 games. 

Mike Johnston’s group heads back home to the Moda Center to face the busy Tri-City Americans. With the upcoming trade deadline (January 10), Bob Tory and the Americans have been busy the last several days making four trades

On Saturday Portland is looking for their fourth win in as many games this season against Tri-City. 

 

Game Notes:

– With James Porter and Mason Beaupit both appearing, Portland has faced four different Spokane goalies in three games. Lukáš Pařík and Campbell Arnold both saw time against the Winterhawks. 

– Shots/Saves – Isaiah DiLaura: 31-of-35, Mason Beaupit 12-of-15, James Porter 15-of-17. 

– Spokane won the faceoff battle 40-28 behind 11 wins from Bear Hughes and Jack Finley’s game leading 17. 

– Friday’s game was a milestone evening for Cross Hanas and Matthew Quigley who appeared in their 100th and 200th WHL regular season games respectively. 

– Portland’s depth once again showed through as 11-of-18 Portland skaters registered a point, but no player had more than two – Reece Newkirk (2G), Lane Gilliss (1G, 1A), Cross Hanas (1G, 1A), and Robbie Fromm-Delorme (2A).

– Portland has yet to lose in regulation against the U.S. Division as they are 11-0-1-2.