The Portland Winterhawks (12-6-0-2) traveled north via I-5 to take on the first place Everett Silvertips (15-6-0-0) at the Angel of the Wings Arena. The Silvertips and Winterhawks entered the contest red-hot with each riding a multi-game winning streak. When the dust settled after three periods, overtime, and a shootout, it was the Silvertips who pushed their winning streak to five in a row.
The first period was fast-paced and Everett had their legs under them early. Less than two minutes into the game, Reece Newkirk committed a cross checking penalty putting Everett on the power play. Connor Dewar received a Jake Christiansen pass and fired a well-placed shot by Winterhawks’ goalie Shane Farkas who was screened on the play. The goal for Dewar was his 16th this season and he has now scored in three straight, and nine of his last 11 games.
Portland would continue to struggle staying out of the box and Everett made them pay a second time. Bryce Kindopp was able to track a loose puck at the side of the net to poke by the sprawled out Farkas. Dewar would contribute the primary assist in what was a strong game for the Minnesota Wild third-round draft pick.
No goals were scored in the second period despite a combined 33 shots by the two U.S. Division rivals. Both Dustin Wolf and Shane Farkas were strong in the net matching each other save for save.
Portland was able to generate momentum to start the third period and matched the quickness shown by the Silvertips in the first 40 minutes. Reece Newkirk, playing on a line with Jaydon Dureau, and the recently back from the U17 World Hockey Challenge, Seth Jarvis, put a backhand shot by Dustin Wolf while on the rush. The Winterhawks bench came to life and pieced together back-to-back strong shifts. 41 seconds after Newkirk’s 13th goal of the season, Ryan Hughes sent a snapshot high over Wolf. Hughes told Winterhawks.com after the game, “it happened pretty fast, Newkirk just scored, so I just blacked out a little bit. I got a good pass down the boards, just went in, saw some net, shot, and was lucky to get that.”
The Winterhawks carried play the next several minutes and had several good chances to take the lead, but Wolf was a rock for the Silvertips. Hughes said, “we kept it simple and just got pucks to the net.” Near the end of regulation Everett had three high quality looks at goal, but Farkas preserved one point for Portland by denying the Silvertip shooters.
The overtime session was pretty even with each team taking turns controlling the play. Portland looked dangerous when Glass, Joachim Blichfeld, and Jared Freadrich were on the ice. Everett enjoyed extended puck possession while Portland’s top line rested. Overtime solved nothing, so the game was decided in the shootout.
At the end of regulation Wolf registered 39 saves and Farkas stopped 41 Silvertips shots.
Both Dewar and Riley Sutter shot blocker side on Farkas, while Blichfeld went backhand-forehand on Wolf. Newkirk was stopped by Wolf in the third round giving the Silvertips the shootout win 3-2.
The same two teams will battle again, and the fifth time already this season, on Friday in Portland at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Notes:
– Joachim Blichfeld was held off the score sheet for the second game in a row against Everett.
– In the last two games against Everett, Portland is a combined 0/13 on the power play. In the four matchups this season, the Winterhawks have only scored one power play goal in 21 attempts.
– Nick Cicek was the 6th defenseman for Portland. Kade Nolan, Nick Perna, and Haydn Delorme were the Portland scratches.
