Winterhawks Open New Decade with a Win
The Portland Winterhawks start 2020 on a high note, scoring early, and often to beat the Spokane Chiefs 6-4 on the road.
Once the Winterhawks got their engine churning, they found their scoring touch. For the third consecutive game, the Hawks surrendered the first goal, but they responded by scoring three unanswered to take a 3-1 lead into the intermission. Lane Gilliss, Gabe Klassen and Reece Newkirk provided the first period offense.
Reece Newkirk extended the lead to 4-1 with his second goal of the night on a takeaway to take the game into the third period, but things got interesting down the stretch. Midway through the final frame, Spokane scored a pair of goals in a three minute stretch to cut the lead to one at 4-3. That situation would last only 32 seconds as Jaydon Dureau netted his second goal in as many nights to increase the Hawks lead back to two.
Spokane had one more surge and the WHL’s leading scorer Adam Beckman scored on the Chief’s lone power play chance of the night, but the Winterhawks quickly scored in the empty net to seal their WHL leading 26th win of the season.
NOTABLES:
- It is starting to become a trend. Eleven different Winterhawks registered a point in the win.
- Reece Newkirk extended his point streak to a career-best 12 straight. He has 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points during the streak.
- Matthew Quigley skated in his 200th career WHL game and Cross Hanas dressed in his 100th Winterhawk game. Both players recorded at least one point tonight and they celebrate birthdays this weekend.
- Isaiah DiLaura’s 31 save performance was his third highest total of the season. He now has wins in three straight starts.
- Portland improves to 11-0-1-2 against the division.
Box Score (Click the hyperlink to find all the scoring details)
SHOTS ON GOAL:
POR: 33
SPO: 35
POWER PLAY:
POR: 1/4
SPO: 1/1
SAVES:
POR: Isaiah DiLaura stopped 31-of-35 shots.
SPO: Mason Beaupit stopped 12-of-15 shots and James Porter Jr. stopped 15-of-17 shots.
