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PORTLAND, OR – The Portland Winterhawks scored three powerplay goals on eight opportunities in a 4-2 defeat of the Everett Silvertips Friday night at the Rose Garden. The game opened a home-and-home weekend series between the teams that concludes with the Silvertips hosting the Winterhawks Sunday afternoon at Comcast Arena.
Landon Oslanski scored both Silvertips goals to reach ten for the season, increasing his career-high total and bringing him within one score of Josh Winquist’s team lead. The ‘Tips converted one of seven powerplay chances in defeat, falling behind 3-0 before scoring two of the last three goals in the contest.
Portland jumped out to an early lead with a pair of powerplay goals in the first five minutes. Brendan Leipsic tapped in a back-door feed from Taylor Leier at 1:46 and then Adam De Champlain sent a cross-ice pass into the top corner at 5:06 to make it 2-0 Winterhawks. The Silvertips battled back on the shot clock as the period progressed, but weren’t able to score on two powerplays of their own despite 1:33 of 5-on-3 time and trailed 2-0 after one.
Nic Petan added another powerplay goal early in the middle frame, following two Austin Lotz saves by stuffing the puck in after a scramble in front. Everett got on the scoreboard during another 5-on-3 advantage when Landon Oslanski beat Brendan Burke with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle at 9:48. Portland re-gained the three-goal edge a few minutes later however as Taylor Leier received a pass off the rush and deposited a shot into the top corner from the faceoff circle to make it 4-1 after two periods.
The teams each had another powerplay during a relatively quiet third period; with Oslanski netting his second goal just after the Everett chance expired. Oslanski skated in off the rush and blasted a slapshot into the top right corner with just under two minutes remaining to provide the final 4-2 margin.
Austin Lotz (5-11-0-1) took the loss in goal, stopping 22 of 26 shots through two periods before Daniel Cotton came in to stop 12 shots in the third for the ‘Tips. Brendan Burke (10-3-1-0) improved to 4-0 against the Silvertips this season with 24 saves as Portland outshot Everett 38-26 in total.
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The Silvertips will now return to Everett for a rare Saturday night off before hosting the Winterhawks again Sunday afternoon at Comcast Arena. Opening faceoff is set for 5:05 pm as the Silvertips battle Portland in their last game before the WHL’s holiday break and the finale of our Christmas House Holiday Drive.
Season tickets, mini-game packages and single-game tickets for the Silvertips’ 10th Anniversary season at Comcast Arena are on sale now. For more information call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
