On Tuesday evening the Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs needed extra time to solve Game 3. The teams exchanged the lead three times before 1998-born Riley Woods won the game for the Chiefs in overtime.
Portland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as rookie forward Robbie Fromm-Delorme opened the scoring just 1:39 into the contest.
The strong start for Portland continued as Joachim Blichfeld extended the Winterhawks advantage to two after receiving a pass from Reece Newkirk.
“I definitely liked our start” Mike Johnston said. “I thought we had some jump and energy. We caught them a little bit early, but it’s been that type of series. It’s been a really tight series every night we play them.”
After falling behind, the Chiefs pushed back in the second half of the first period. 2019 NHL Draft Eligible forward Luke Toporowski put the Chiefs on the board with his first of the playoffs. Defenseman Ty Smith started the play possessing the puck while the rest of his linemates changed behind the play.
Game 1 of the series saw a combined 13 power plays while in Game 2 neither team had an opportunity on the man advantage.
Game 3 continued that trend as each team was only assessed one infraction.
Mike Johnston commented on the officiating saying, “I think the refs have done a good job to be honest. Last game they could have called one or two. Tonight, they could have called one or two. They just know that there is no reason to. If it takes away a scoring chance they have to call it, like they would have in overtime there. Other than that, they’ve done a good job.”
The Chiefs used their power play effectively as Luc Smith tied the game. The overage forward found a loose puck at the top of the circles and buried his chance.
Spokane’s power play generated momentum and the Chiefs capitalized on the following shift. Jack Finley and Ethan McIndoe entered the Portland zone on a two-on-one. Finley’s pass hit McIndoe in stride for the 19-year-olds’ second goal of the series.
The Chiefs’ power play is now four-for-six in the three games against Portland. Including the regular season, Spokane is 14-for-34 (41.2%) in nine games.
Portland’s top line started generating chances midway through the second period and Jared Freadrich scored his first goal of the 2019 playoffs evening the score at three. The overage defenseman also has three assists in the series as well.
With the game tied heading into the final frame Portland’s depth provided additional offensive support.
Defenseman Nick Cicek’s shot from the point went to Fromm-Delorme who put the puck behind Brkin for his second goal of the game. During the regular season the rookie found the net three times. Nolan also picked up his second assist of the series after having one in his first 36 games in the WHL.
Fromm-Delorme said, “It was coming up pretty close to my face, but sort of protecting myself. It went off of my stick so obviously it was a bit lucky, but that is where you have to go to score goals, the front of the net.”
Robbie described his two goal night saying, “Inside it’s a good feeling, but you can’t look at it that way. It is a team game and you aren’t going to win with just one guy. Obviously it sucks that we lost, but we just have to come back and forget what happened today.”
Spokane tied the game with 12:12 left in regulation as fellow 16-year-old rookie Jack Finley got on the scoresheet for the first time in the postseason.
The play started with McIndoe beating out an icing call. The puck was left for Adam Beckman who centered to net-driving Finley who simply directed the puck into the net.
After 60 minutes of play, the U.S. Division rivals were tied at four. Spokane controlled the offensive zone time as they outshot Portland 36-27 through regulation.
In overtime each team created several chances to end the game early, but both goalies, and a post, kept the game going.
Jack McGrew, who missed Game 1 due to illness, forced a turnover as Portland attempted to exit their zone. Beckman, for the second straight goal, sent a perfect pass to a driving forward. Riley Woods held off two Winterhawks backcheckers and went backhand five hole on Joel Hofer giving the Chiefs the 5-4 victory and 2-1 series lead.
Spokane and Portland play Game 4 on Wednesday in Portland before the series shifts back to Spokane on Saturday.
Portland will get a boost on their blue line as defenseman John Ludvig completed serving his two-game suspension he received after Game 1.
Johnston commented on Ludvig saying, “He won an award for our best defenseman, so a guy like that is going to be really key to have back in the lineup. He’s a physical presence, he’s a calming presence, and really Cicek and [Clay] Hanus are playing as three-four, but they are just first and second year guys.”
Portland will look to leverage Ludvig as they continue to play the matchup game with the Chiefs. Both teams’ top lines have produced at times in the series, but have also canceled each other out as well.
Johnston said, “You saw that [Spokane’s] third or fourth line contributed two goals tonight, so the depth of scoring on both teams is probably going to have to be there. We said when the series began, the top two lines might neutralize each other, and that’s what they’re doing.”
