Hawks hold fast for 2-1 win in game 2
Behind goals from a pair of defensemen, the Winterhawks held off the Cougars for a 2-1 win and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Round 1, Game 2: Portland (2) vs Prince George (1) [Portland leads series 2-0]
SOG: POR (46) – PG (23)
PP: POR (0/5) – PG (0/0)
Saves: Gauthier (22/23) – Brennan (44/46)
COMPLETE BOX SCORE
SCORING:
- POR – 13:09 – First Period – Kurtis Smythe (1) from Robbie Fromm-Delorme and Cross Hanas
- POR – 13:54 – Second Period – Luca Cagnoni (1) from Tyson Kozak and Robbie Fromm-Delorme
- PG – 16:29 – Second Period – Jonas Brøndberg (1) from Koehn Ziemmer and Riley Heidt
The Story:
Defensemen scored all three goals in a tight-checking game two on Saturday, and Portland’s blueliners gave them the edge as goals from Kurtis Smythe and Luca Cagnoni carried the Winterhawks past the Prince George Cougars 2-1 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
With the win, Portland now owns a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Just as they did in game one, Portland opened the scoring in the first period on a long-range shot from Smythe. Smythe – who notched his first 2021-22 regular-season goal in the final game of the campaign last Friday – collected a pass at the blue line from Robbie Fromm-Delorme and unleashed a quick shot that eluded Tyler Brennan for an early Hawks lead.
The Winterhawks doubled their advantage just past the midway point of the second period as Cagnoni converted off the rush to make it 2-0. Tyson Kozak carried the puck over the blue line, then found Cagnoni streaking through the middle lane for a quick snap shot over Brennan’s shoulder. Prince George continued to press, though, and former Winterhawk Jonas Brøndberg potted a bouncing shot to get his team on the board and halve the Hawks’ lead before the end of the frame.
A scoreless third period was not without its chances both ways, but the two former teammates between the pipes each turned aside every puck that came their way. Portland’s Taylor Gauthier finished with 22 saves on 23 shots, while Tyler Brennan stopped 44 of 46 for the Cougars.
The series now shifts to CN Centre in Prince George, B.C. for game three on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 P.M.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:
“I think our depth (is what’s working for us). We’re rolling four lines most of the game and (Head Coach Mike Johnston) trusts us to do the right things every shift. Obviously, sometimes you’ve got to step up if someone’s in the box or if someone’s hurt, and I thought we did a really good job of that tonight.”
Winterhawks defenseman Luca Cagnoni
