RECAP: Warriors’ late goal stymies Hawks’ rally in Game 1
A valiant Portland comeback was spoiled by Matthew Savoie’s goal for Moose Jaw in the waning moments of the game.
WHL Championship, Game 1: Portland (2) vs. Moose Jaw (3) [MJ leads series 1-0]
SOG: POR (33) – MJ (37)
PP: POR (0/1) – MJ (0/3)
Saves: Špunar (34/37) – Unger (31/33)
COMPLETE BOX SCORE
SCORING:
- MJ – Second Period – 1:17 – Atley Calvert (7) [Penalty Shot]
- MJ – Second Period – 5:42 – Denton Mateychuk (9) from Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager
- POR – Second Period – 9:00 – Diego Buttazzoni (3) from Jan Špunar
- POR – Third Period – 4:14 – Gabe Klassen (6) from Josh Davies and Luca Cagnoni
- MJ – Third Period – 16:58 – Matthew Savoie (9) from Atley Calvert
The Story:
The Winterhawks rallied to erase a two-goal hole in the final 40 minutes, but a late strike from Matthew Savoie helped the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors take a tight 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the 2024 WHL Championship presented by Nutrien.
Moose Jaw owns a 1-0 series lead after the late win.
Savoie found twine with just 3:02 remaining in the game to put the Warriors ahead, one-timing an Atley Calvert pass off the post and in.
Moose Jaw opened the scoring on a Calvert penalty shot 1:17 into the second period, then doubled its lead four minutes later as Denton Mateychuk found space in the slot and converted a Jagger Firkus pass from behind the goal line.
Portland pushed back later in the frame through Diego Buttazzoni’s third of the playoffs. The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible sniper brought the VMC to its feet with a wrist shot to the far-side top shelf from the right wing after being set up by a home-run breakout pass by Jan Špunar. Entering the third in search of a goal, Portland tied the game at two 4:14 into the final frame as Josh Davies’ forechecking led to Gabe Klassen chipping a shot in at the right post.
Jan Špunar finished with 34 saves on 37 shots, while Jackson Unger turned aside 31 of 33 for Moose Jaw.
The puck drops for Game 2 at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday night at the VMC.
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“I thought it was a close game overall. Unfortunate that they got that late one, but we’ll just be better tomorrow.”
Mike Johnston, Gabe Klassen & Diego Buttazzoni spoke to the media following Game 1.#WHLChampionship | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/ySYEn4G1Zr
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) May 11, 2024
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