Strong Start Secures the Hawks’ Victory
Portland Winterhawks (5) vs Prince George Cougars(2)
Moda Center, Portland, OR– Friday, December 7th
The Winterhawks scored five goals in the first 40 minutes of play to cruise to a 5-2 home win against Prince George.
In the first period, the Hawks found the back of the net twice on back-to-back power play opportunities. Nearly 15 minutes into the game, Joachim Blichfeld was given space in the slot and he riffled it to the top left corner to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Just under two minutes later, Jake Gricius pushed the face-off forward and it ricocheted off a Cougar skate during the scrum for possession. Seth Jarvis picked up the puck and slipped passed the defense to beat Taylor Gauthier on his glove side. The Hawks took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission break and they finished 2-for-2 on the power play as those were the only man advantage opportunities the Hawks would see in the night.
Portland stretched their lead to begin the second period. Robbie Fromm-Delorme capitalized on a rebound chance in front of a scrambling Gauthier and he roofed a backhander over the glove to make it 3-0. Prince George responded on the power play. Josh Maser redirected a blue line shot at the top of the crease for his team-leading ninth goal of the season to bring the game back within two goals.
The game shifted in the Hawks’ favor during a 5-on-3 Prince George power play a few minutes later. Jake Gricius stripped the puck high in the defensive zone and batted it out to Cody Glass for a clean breakaway. Glass’ first attempt was denied, but he would not be stopped on the second shot. Glass made it a 4-1 game, becoming the fourth Winterhawk to ever score a 5-on-3 shorthanded goal.
Nearing the end of the second period, Cross Hanas sustained the offensive zone and found John Ludvig at the blue line. After a nice shot fake, Ludvig fired in his second goal of the season through a screen to give the Hawks a 5-1 lead after two period. Portland chased starting goaltender Taylor Gauthier out of the game after 40 minutes of hockey. He made 25 saves on 30 shots.
The Cougars would score the lone goal in the third period, on the power play, but the Hawks ended victorious. Shane Farkas stopped 23 of 25 shots in the win and the Winterhawks have now won three straight games to begin December. Jake Gricius was recognized as the first star of the game after collecting his first three assist performance in his WHL career.
Portland continues their weekend set against Prince George Saturday night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The puck drops at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to visit winterhawks.com/tickets for full details on pricing and availability.
Scoring Summary:
- 1st @ 14:52 – POR – Joachim Blichfeld (26), Ryan Hughes, Cody Glass (PP)
- 1st @ 16:51 – POR – Seth Jarvis (5), Jake Gricius (PP)
- 2nd @ 2:58 – POR – Robbie Fromm-Delorme (2), Lane Gilliss, Michal Kvasnica
- 2nd @ 8:54 – PG – Josh Maser (9), Ryan Schoettler, Vladislav Mikhalchuk (PP)
- 2nd @ 11:06 – POR – Cody Glass (12), Jake Gricius (Short-handed)
- 2nd @ 17:34 – POR – John Ludvig (2), Cross Hanas, Jake Gricius
SHOTS ON GOAL:
POR: 35
PG: 25
POWER-PLAY:
POR: 2/2
PG: 2/8
SAVES:
POR: Shane Farkas with 23 saves
PG: Taylor Gauthier 25 with saves
Isaiah DiLaura with 5 saves
