RECAP: Hawks drop tight overtime contest as Wild complete comeback
Nathan Free and Luke Wilfley found the back of the net for a second straight game, but the Winterhawks fell to Wenatchee in a tight overtime contest.
Game #48: Portland (2) vs. Wenatchee (3) OT
SOG: POR (37) – WEN (29)
PP: POR (0/2) – WEN (1/6)
Saves: Štěbeták (26) – Conway (35)
SCORING:
POR – Nathan Free (21) from Cole Slobodian and Nathan Brown
POR – Luke Wilfley (5) from Griffin Darby and Kyle McDonough
WEN – Mason Kraft (9) from Nolan Caffey and Josh Toll (power play)
WEN – Caelan Joudrey (12) from Josh Toll and Mason Kraft
WEN – Rui Han (6) from Josh Toll and Luka Shcherbyna
GAME SUMMARY:
The energy was electric in Portland as the Winterhawks hosted Pacific Islander Celebration Night at the Glass Palace, and the home side came out flying. Nathan Free opened the scoring 4:29 into the game, jamming home a loose puck on the doorstep after Kyle McDonough crashed the net. Just under 11 minutes later, Griffin Darby fired a point shot that found Luke Wilfley at the near-side circle, where he finished the play for his fifth of the season to give Portland a 2-0 lead.
Portland kept its foot on the gas, outshooting Wenatchee 29-11 through two periods and carrying a 2-0 advantage into the final frame.
The Wild responded with a power-play goal six minutes into the third, then tied the game at two with 11:26 remaining. After chances at both ends, overtime was needed to decide the outcome. Rui Han scored the game-winner in the extra frame as Wenatchee escaped Portland with a 3-2 overtime victory.
UP NEXT:
The Winterhawks are road-bound Saturday, visiting the Okanagan Valley for a 6:05 p.m. matchup with the Penticton Vees.
Reminder, you can watch all Portland Winterhawks games on Victory+ for free all season long! Click here to visit the Winterhawks hub or download the Victory+ app on your smartphone or connected device.
The Portland Winterhawks are commemorating 50 Years of Hawkey this season with a year-long tribute to the team’s rich history and legendary players. As part of the celebration, the Top 50 Winterhawks of All Time will be unveiled throughout the season—starting with an alphabetical reveal on October 25, and culminating in the announcement of the Top 10 on March 7, 2026. Fans can look forward to special events, tributes, and a season full of memories honoring five decades of Winterhawks hockey.
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