RECAP: Hawks earn 6-4 win over Americans in U.S. Division matchup
The Portland Winterhawks held off a late surge from the Tri-City Americans to secure a 6-4 victory at home on Friday night. Josh Zakreski’s empty-net goal in the final minute sealed the win after a strong offensive performance led by Diego Buttazzoni, Tyson Jugnauth, and Alex Weiermair.
Game #45: Portland (6) vs. Tri-City (4)
SOG: POR (50) – TC (41)
PP: POR (2/4) – TC (2/4)
Saves: Štěbeták (37/41) – Matecha (44/49)
GAME NOTES:
Max Pšenička tallied his first WHL point on an assist in the first period and his first multi-point game (2A) in the league.
Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth extended his point streak (6G, 13A) to nine games, as Kyle Chyzowski increased his to seven games (3G, 10A).
Josh Zakreski scored in back-to-back games for the ninth time this season.
The Portland Winterhawks recorded 21 shots on goal in the first period for a season-high period shot count.
SCORING:
- POR – Diego Buttazzoni (23) from Tyson Jugnauth and Kyle Chyzowski (Power Play)
- TC – Brandon Whynott (22) from Max Curran and Charlie Elick (Power Play)
- POR – Josh Zakreski (26) from Joel Plante and Max Pšenička
- TC – Cash Koch (9) from Jackson Smith and Savin Virk
- POR – Tyson Jugnauth (12) from Kyle Chyzowski and Josh Zakreski (Power Play)
- POR – Alex Weiermair (10) from Kyle Chyzowski and Carter Sotheran
- TC – Cruz Pavao (7) from Jackson Smith
- POR – Carysn Dyck (7) from Tyson Jugnauth and Ryan Miller
GAME SUMMARY:
The Winterhawks struck first at home with a power-play one-timer from Diego Buttazzoni at 9:02 of the first period. Tri-City responded quickly, tying it up just four minutes later, but Josh Zakreski found a bouncing puck in the slot and wristed it over the glove of the Americans’ goalie for a 2-1 lead at 16:35.
The Americans leveled the score midway through the second period, but Tyson Jugnauth rifled a wrist shot past the netminder on the power play with just six seconds left in the period, putting the Hawks up 3-2 heading into the third. Alex Weiermair extended the lead to 4-2 just 1:37 into the final frame, jumping over a defender before burying a blocker-side snipe.
Tri-City answered a few minutes later, pulling within one at 4-3, but Carysn Dyck’s redirection off a Jugnauth shot from the point restored the Hawks’ two-goal lead halfway through the third. Despite a power-play goal from Tri-City pulling them back to 5-4, Josh Zakreski sealed the 6-4 win with an empty-netter at 19:05.
UP NEXT:
The Portland Winterhawks make a quick stop in Wenatchee to take on the Wild on Saturday, January 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Town Toyota Center.
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