Winterhawks Weekly: Home Ice Advantage
The Western Conference Championship is in full swing, with the Winterhawks taking a 2-1 series lead through the first three games against the Prince George Cougars. After falling in Game 1 – just their first loss this postseason – the Hawks roared back with a 5-3 win in Game 2 at the CN Centre, then put on quite the show on home ice in Game 3 with a 4-1 victory on Monday night.
The action continues in the Rose City this week with Games 4 and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday – two more wins will send Portland to the WHL Championship! Bring the noise, Hawks fans!
Hot Hawks:
- Forward Nate Danielson posted back-to-back three-assist outings in Games 2 and 3 to pace victories in both tilts. The Detroit Red Wings first-rounder leads all Winterhawks with 16 points (3G, 13A) in 11 games played during the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
- Forward Marcus Nguyen has four goals and five points in his last two games following Monday’s hat-trick effort. The 19-year-old is playing at a point-per-game pace this postseason and has registered a point in eight of 11 games played.
- Forward Diego Buttazzoni bagged the game-winner and an assist in Game 2, then picked up an assist on Nguyen’s hat-trick goal on Monday. Buttazzoni has points in six of his last eight games and is up to seven points in 11 postseason contests.
- Defenseman Marek Alscher scored his second goal of the playoffs on Monday, wiring a wrister off the rush into the top corner to put Portland up 3-0 at the time. The Florida Panthers prospect has four points and a +2 rating in postseason while logging key minutes against opposing top lines.
- Goaltender Jan Špunar bounced back from his first defeat with 29/32 saves in Game 2 and 30/31 in Game 3, plus an assist on countryman Alscher’s tally. The Czech backstop has started every 2024 playoff game for Portland with a sterling 10-1-0 record, .924 sv% and 2.23 GAA.
Play of the Week:
Marcus Nguyen (3G) and Nate Danielson (3A) were in rare form in Game 3, but it’s time to show a little love to Jan Špunar between the pipes! The 19-year-old netminder was locked in with 30 saves on 31 shots on Monday, including this gem to keep Zac Funk off the scoreboard in period two. Enjoy! ⤵️
GIMME DAT ❌#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/mUVlPoxOkz
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) April 30, 2024
Weekly Rewind:
Round 3, Game 1 – Portland 0 at Prince George 5 (Friday):
Jan Špunar turned aside 30 of 35 shots for Portland, but the Winterhawks couldn’t solve Josh Ravensbergen and suffered their first loss of the postseason, 5-0 in Prince George.
Round 3, Game 2 – Portland 5 at Prince George 3 (Saturday):
James Stefan, Diego Buttazzoni and Marcus Nguyen (EN) each scored in the third period to break open a tied game and lift the Winterhawks to a 5-3 victory over the Prince George Cougars in Game 2 of their Western Conference Championship series.
Round 3, Game 3 – Portland 4 vs. Prince George 1 (Monday):
Marcus Nguyen’s hat-trick and a 30-save showing from Jan Špunar paced a second straight win for the Winterhawks as they knocked off the Prince George Cougars 4-1 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Championship series.
The Week Ahead:
Keep the energy rolling in the Rose City all week! The Hawks are back in action tomorrow night and Thursday night for Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference Championship. After back-to-back wins in Games 2 and 3, Portland sits just two wins shy of a berth in the WHL Championship. Be there to cheer on your hometown Hawks as they look to finish off the series at home!
Western Conference Championship Remaining Schedule:
Game 4 – Wednesday, May 1 – @POR – 7:00 P.M. – BUY TICKETS
Game 5 – Thursday, May 2 – @POR – 7:00 P.M. – BUY TICKETS
*Game 6 – Monday, May 6 – @PG – 7:00 P.M.
*Game 7 – Tuesday, May 7 – @PG – 7:00 P.M.
*If Necessary | HOME
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Tickets for the Winterhawks 2024 WHL Playoffs run are on sale NOW! Click here to purchase single-game tickets as they become available and be there as your hometown Hawks chase a fourth WHL Championship!
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