Game Day Hub: January 20 at Prince George
Portland Winterhawks at Prince George Cougars
After a thrilling contest last night, the Winterhawks and Cougars hit the ice for a Saturday night rematch.
Puck Drop: 6:00 P.M.
Venue: CN Centre – Prince George, B.C.
Uniforms: White
2023-24 Season Series: Portland is 1-2-0-0 against Prince George
Portland 2 @ Prince George 3 (Jan 19 2024)
Prince George 3 @ Portland 4 (Jan 6 2024)
Prince George 4 @ Portland 0 (Dec 3 2023)
Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App
Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV
Game Notes: Winterhawks Game Notes
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Upcoming Promo Games:
Friday, February 2 – Pride Night – BUY TICKETS
Sunday, February 4 – Hawks Fight Cancer Night – BUY TICKETS
Saturday, February 10 – Black Hockey History Night – BUY TICKETS
Saturday, February 17 – Mascot Night – BUY TICKETS
FOLLOW ALONG: Box Score
On The Rebound
Despite the frustrating result, last night’s game looked every bit the potential playoff preview it was hyped up to be. Neither team gave an inch, with Riley Heidt’s last-minute goal all that separated these two heavyweights.
But it’s a new day, and we’re set to do this dance all over again. As the Winterhawks seek revenge, look for increased focus on 5-on-5 execution. Portland put on a power-play clinic in the third, riding two Gabe Klassen goals to a 2-1 lead before Heidt’s late heroics. Sometimes, special teams can be the difference, especially in playoff-like battles. But a team with the talent and depth of the Winterhawks will want to establish its identity at even strength and dictate the pace of play, something they didn’t get the opportunity to do last night after a penalty-filled first period.
Awesome Avakyan
The result was harsh on Nick Avakyan, who did yeoman’s work to keep the Hawks in the contest through several tense penalty-kill sequences and finished with 23 saves. Portland killed four penalties and coughed up a handful of Grade-A’s in the opening 20 minutes, which the California native deftly defied, and his calm demeanor nearly helped the Hawks weather a stiff storm in the final minutes of play.
We’ll have to wait and see who gets the nod tonight, but it’s a great time to give Avakyan a hand for quite the shift he put in between the pipes last night.
Start ‘Em Up
It was always to be expected that Prince George would be raring to go last night. Couple their stinging defeat in the Rose City the last time they met the Winterhawks with the fact that they’re kicking off one of their biggest homestands of the season, and an early push was certainly on the cards. Credit the Hawks – through the aforementioned Avakyan and a sturdy PK group, they kept things tidy and allowed just one goal through 40 minutes, giving themselves a chance in the final frame.
Tonight could see more of the same with an expected sell-out crowd on hand at the CN Centre, but the Hawks know they have the talent and the work ethic to get the jump on their hosts. A quicker start (or at least one spent playing more 5-on-5 hockey) would do wonders for Portland, who plays best when scoring first and rolling four lines to create havoc on the forecheck.
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