(Kennewick, Washington) – Inside the Toyota Center on Saturday was an exciting U.S. Division matchup. The Tri-City Americans (16-12-1-1), and Nolan Yaremko scored twice in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime against the Portland Winterhawks (19-11-1-2). Aaron Hyman completed the comeback with just over 90 seconds to play in the 3-on-3 overtime session.
The Americans started the night without a full complement of the traditional 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Only 19 players were in uniform, but head coach Kelly Buchberger was impressed with his team’s effort, “We played shorthanded tonight. From the effort we had from our 19 players was unreal. Obviously, goaltending was huge, and just the effort from everybody every shift. We never quit. You could see right from the end we kept battling and found a way to win.”
Buchberger’s Americans fell behind on a shorthanded goal by Winterhawks overage, import forward Joachim Blichfeld after a scoreless first period. Jake Gricius sent an area pass to an open wing for Blichfeld to skate into space. He took a slap shot beating 19-year-old Tri-City goalie Beck Warm.
Portland’s advantage heading into the final 20 minutes was the single Blichfeld goal, but the Winterhawks came out firing early in the third period. Ryan Hughes and Michal Kvasnica each had a breakaway stopped by Warm. Kvasnica hit the post the next shift. These three missed opportunities came back to haunt the Winterhawks.
Warm said after the game, “When you are down by any number of goals you have to take risks to score goals. I just try to hold the team in there, we are a resilient team.”
Both newly acquired overage defenseman Aaron Hyman and Buchberger praised their netminder. First, Hyman said, “He was huge tonight and bailed us out big time. He has been really good for us, and now we need to help him out a little bit.”
Buchberger talked about how Warm has been like this since day one, “He is such a professional at such a young age. The way he prepares and everything else. We were talking about it before the game. He gives us a chance to win every night. He is our MVP so far this season the way he’s played.”
Michal Kvasnica scored his fourth goal of the season on a partial breakaway with a well placed snap shot, and Portland looked destined to leave Kennewick with two points. However, the Americans never went away.
Tri-City put several strong shifts together back-to-back. By simply getting the puck to the net, Nolan Yaremko, captain and four-year-player, scored his first of two goals. The puck took a fortunate bounce for the Americans as the deflection off rookie Winterhawks’ defenseman Nick Perna’s skate got the Americans within one.
Down by a goal with 1:41 to play, and an offensive zone faceoff, the Americans used their timeout. After several chances at Shane Farkas’ net, Joachim Blichfeld attempted to clear the zone, but the puck sailed on him causing a delay of game penalty. Tri-City had only 60 seconds to work with, but only needed 50. Yaremko again came up huge for his team, he one-timed a pass from Parker AuCoin to bring the 4,321 Americans’ fans to their feet and force overtime.
Warm made several big saves early giving his forwards and defense an opportunity to push the other way.
Aaron Hyman described his winning goal, “I had it in our zone, I saw they were changing and thought ‘I might have a chance to go through.’ I gave it to Bouchard, and he put it right on my stick; felt great to finish.”
Aaron credited the leadership of his captain though, “Our captain led us off there, leading by example as usual. He leads; we follow.”
Buchberger joked after the game saying, “He owes us a goal after the shorthanded one they scored.” Buchberger continued in a more serious tone, “He came up, he stepped up big for the team. He is a big part of our team ever since he came here a couple of weeks ago. We don’t have a guy like what he has. When we got him it was fresh air for all of us; a huge addition for us.”
Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston felt, “We did a lot of good things in the game tonight. We had four lines that were playing well. We got the 2-0 lead and some great chances in the third early.” Johnston though continued, “Obviously they got the bounce, the on hit our skate and went into the net. Then they got the late goal with nine seconds left.”
Over the last three games the Winterhawks have experienced a larger than normal amount of pucks deflecting in off their own players, but Johnston is not as worried, “Those things happen, nothing you can do about that. As long as we are not making mistakes defensively, or breakdowns, that is what you worry about more than someone taking a shot and it hits his leg.”
Mason Mannek feels, “We had a lot of positives from [tonight]. It is the time of the year where we have to buckle down in the third period; had a two goal lead and we didn’t secure that. We saw that in Victoria and they came back on us there too. We need to keep a positive mindset and rebound tomorrow.”
The same two teams play again tomorrow night, but back in Portland at the Moda Center. The game marks the last game before the Holiday break for both teams.
Notes:
– Tri-City played with 17 skaters due to injuries, a family emergency, and Krystof Hrabik away at WJC selection camp for Czech Republic.
– Cody Glass, Winterhawks’ captain, is away at WJC selection camp for Canada
– The shots finished even with each team hitting the net 34 times. Portland with the advantage in the first period, a relatively even second period, and Tri-City doubled Portland’s shots in the third. The Winterhawks had four shots in overtime to Tri-City’s one. Unfortunately for the Winterhawks, the one shot ended the game.
– Mason Mannek and Paycen Bjorklund fought with just over two minutes remaining in the second period. Mannek described the situation, “It was one of those hits that both teams react. It was a 0-0 game and trying to spark the team. We had two guys who wanted to go and was a good momentum changer as Blichfeld scored seconds later. I was happy to be that guy tonight.”
– Haydn Delorme, an 18-year-old rookie for the Winterhawks, drew back into the lineup playing on Portland’s top line with Hughes and Blichfeld. Johnston after the game, “I want to roll four lines. I like the other lines the way they’ve been put together. Trying to keep lines together like that was important.” For Haydn, he saw this “as exciting and a good opportunity for me. I just tried to play simple and smart. We didn’t score, but had some good chances.”
In remembrance of Jordan Herrick, June 27 2002 – November 18 2018:
The Portland fanbase on Saturday paid respects at Jordan Herrick’s Celebration of Life service. Jordan, a lifelong Winterhawks fan, passed away on November 18th 2018.
As a season ticket holder for many years, Jordan was often seen on the glass by the penalty boxes while the Winterhawks warmed up. Her father Jeff would take her on the concourse during intermissions. The Portland Winterhawks organization stepped in and provided the family with a jersey with Jordan’s name sewn on the back, a game used hockey stick, and tickets to future games during this challenging time.
Jordan’s spirit lives on every time the Winterhawks take to the ice and will always be remembered for her smiling face.
