Game 3 between the Portland Winterhawks (1-3) and Spokane Chiefs (3-1) resembled Game 3 a night prior. The Chiefs erased a two-goal deficit to force overtime. In the extra period Spokane found the winner, Wednesday’s hero being 17-year-old rookie Adam Beckman.
The Chiefs carried the momentum they earned after a Game 3 overtime victory on Tuesday into the start of Game 4. Ty Smith held the puck in the zone and sent a shot towards Winterhawks goaltender Joel Hofer. The New Jersey Devils prospect’s shot got through with Eli Zummack standing right in front of Hofer.
The Winterhawks answered with two goals before the first period expired.
John Ludvig, who returned after serving a two-game suspension from Game 1, drew a penalty. Brendan De Jong picked up the puck and entered the Chiefs’ zone. The overage defenseman made a move around Noah King before shooting far side on Spokane’s netminder Bailey Brkin evening the score at one.
The Winterhawks took the lead in the final 90 seconds of the opening frame. Rookie Seth Jarvis created time and space with a clean zone entry before handing off to Clay Hanus. Hanus put a backhand towards the net which Josh Paterson cleaned up for his third goal of the series.
In the second period Paterson struck again backhanding a rebound past Brkin.
Portland Winterhawks Head Coach Mike Johnston said, “I thought we did a good job around the crease trying to find some rebounds and there were loose rebounds there.”
“Paterson is great in that ten-foot area around the net. He is smart with the puck, always knows how to find pucks, he’s had a really good series right now” Johnston commented.
Portland took a two-goal lead to the third period.
Jake McGrew’s shot a little over three minutes into the final frame went off the end boards and came out front. Luke Toporowski, perfectly positioned, deposited the puck into the half-empty net.
Spokane continued to push hard in the third period for the equalizer. The Chiefs sent 11 shots onto Hofer in the final 20 minutes.
With 1:47 to play in regulation, Spokane Chiefs Head Coach Dan Lambert pulled Brkin for the extra attacker.
The Chiefs used the extra man to their advantage pinning Portland in their own zone and forced a turnover near the blue line.
Riley Woods got the puck near the goal line and spotted Zummack in the slot. A perfect pass from Woods allowed Zummack to pick his spot on the blocker side of Hofer. The tying goal came with exactly one minute left in regulation.
Zummack’s tying goal was his first of the series; however, the Kelowna, British Columbia native also has four assists in the four games this postseason.
In overtime, Portland received a delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass in their defensive zone.
The Chiefs’ power play once again proved to be the difference in the contest. Jake McGrew’s initial shot was saved by Hofer, and Ethan McIndoe backhanded the rebound over to Beckman. The 2019 NHL Draft eligible forward one-timed the pass for the sudden-death winning goal.
Through four games, Spokane’s power play converted on five-of-nine (55.6%) opportunities. Portland did not receive a power play chance in Game 4.
When asked about the lack of power play opportunities for his team Johnston felt this is “a series where both teams don’t want to put the other team on the power play. They are playing good defensively and good with their sticks; the refs aren’t over calling it. It has been a very unique series that way where playoff hockey with lots of battles but not a lot of penalties.”
The series and attention now shifts to Saturday evening back in Spokane, Washington when Game 5 is played at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
“We played well tonight is what I told them, we played really well” Mike Johnston said. “All we have to do is play well the next game. We are going to be fine in the series. Last year we were ahead 3-1 in the series and it goes to Game 7. We know if we win in Spokane we come back here. They don’t want to come back here, that is a tough way to play. I think as the series has gone along I really think our team has gotten better, and better, and better every game.”
Notes:
– Winterhawks defenseman John Ludvig returned after serving his two game suspension and Mike Johnston commented on Ludvig’s return, “I thought he was really, really good tonight. He adds a physical force and is hard on guys. I know he took the one penalty, but he probably set the tone for the game, ‘you are not going to fool around in our zone.’ He is a hard guy to play against.”
– Cody Glass was scratched and has yet to play in the series for Portland.
– Josh Paterson and Riley Woods are tied for second in the WHL for the points lead in the 2019 Playoffs. Each player has six, one back of Vancouver’s Davis Koch.
