Winterhawks Enter Win Column With Johnston’s 400th Win
The Skinny:
Outshot 16-4 in the first period, Winterhawks goaltender Dante Giannuzzi kept his team in it until the offense got going.
Game #2: Portland (4) at Seattle (1)
SOG: POR (29) – SEA (33)
PP: SEA (1/5) – SEA (2/5)
SCORING:
- POR – 3:50 – Second Period – Kade Nolan (1) assisted by Seth Jarvis and Gabe Klassen.
- POR – 8:53 – Second Period – Reece Newkirk (2) assisted by Nick Cicek and Jaydon Dureau (Power Play)
- POR – 9:24 – Second Period – Aidan Litle (1) assisted by Jonas Brondberg and Mason Mannek
- SEA – 0:49 – Third Period – Jordan Gustafson (1) assisted by Kevin Korchinski and Keltie Jeri-Leon
- POR – 17:37 – Third Period – Mason Mannek (2) assisted by Reece Newkirk and Kade Nolan (Empty Net)
The Story:
Thursday night in Kennewick it was the team’s start that led them to some early success. Tonight, the Winterhawks found themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum, being outshot by Seattle 16-4 in the opening 20 minutes.
Goaltender Dante Giannuzzi, starting his second straight game, turned away all Thunderbirds effort in the first period, keeping his team in the game until the offense arrived in the second.
With the momentum trending in Seattle’s favor, a seeing-eye shot from defenseman Kade Nolan that got through traffic was the first tally of the night, perhaps shorting some of the home side’s momentum.
Nolan’s first of the season and first of two points of the night kickstarted the Portland scoring, proving to be their first of three in the middle frame. Reece Newkirk extended the lead to two with a power play goal from the glove-side dot to Seattle netminder Thomas Milic.
Then, just 31 seconds after Newkirk’s second of the year, rookie Aidan Litke threw a puck toward the front of the net that ricocheted off a Seattle defender and in for his first in the WHL.
Taking a 3-0 lead into the third, the only spoiler of the evening was that Seattle was able to get on the board with a power play redirection washing the shutout bid of Giannuzzi.
That would be the only tally for the home Thunderbirds of the evening though, and a 130-foot empty net strike from Mason Mannek for his second of the season polished off the first victory of the season for Portland.
The effort brought a milestone to the franchise, as VP/GM/HC Mike Johnston collected his 400th win with the club.
THEY SAID IT
“I liked the way we played the game. I wasn’t fond of our game against Tri-City but I thought tonight, especially for two periods, we showed some resiliency. We showed some in the first, then we responded with a good two periods. Anytime you win a hockey game, it’s exciting.
Winterhawks Vice President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston following the contest.
NOTES
– Three Winterhawks had multiple point efforts in the win. (Nolan, Mannek, Newkirk)
– Seth Jarvis led all skaters with six shots on goal.
