Hawks sweep weekend set with 8-7 shootout win over Spokane

Wrapping up a busy weekend, the Winterhawks outlasted a spunky Spokane side for an 8-7 shootout win.

Game #14: Portland (8) vs Spokane (7) SO

SOG: POR (41) – SPO (39)

PP: POR (4/6) – SPO (2/4)

Saves: Giannuzzi (32/39) – Beaupit (7/11), Michaluk (27/30)

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

SCORING:

• POR – 2:52 – First Period – Jack O’Brien (3) from Gabe Klassen and James Stefan
• POR – 6:28 – First Period – Ryan McCleary (2) from James Stefan and Dawson Pasternak
• POR – 9:28 – First Period – Luca Cagnoni (5) from Jack O’Brien and James Stefan
• POR – 13:28 – First Period – Jack O’Brien (4) from Robbie Fromm-Delorme and Luca Cagnoni
• SPO – 17:06 – First Period – Raegan Wiles (5) from Jake Gudelj and Blake Swetlikoff
• SPO – 0:42 – Second Period – Blake Swetlikoff (2) from Chase Bertholet and Jaren Brinson
• SPO – 4:14 – Second Period – Ty Cheveldayoff (5) from Blake Swetlikoff and Raegan Wiles
• POR – 4:46 – Second Period – Gabe Klassen (13) from Ryan McCleary
• SPO – 5:26 – Second Period – Raegan Wiles (6) from Blake Swetlikoff and Jaren Brinson
• SPO – 15:02 – Second Period – Carter Streek (2) from Ty Cheveldayoff and Saige Weinstein
• POR – 17:32 – Second Period – Robbie Fromm-Delorme (6) from Gabe Klassen and James Stefan
• SPO – 18:52 – Second Period – Ty Cheveldayoff (6)
• POR – 2:17 – Third Period – Robbie Fromm-Delorme (7) from Aidan Litke and Kyle Chyzowski
• SPO – 19:25 – Third Period – Ty Cheveldayoff (7) from Chase Bertholet and Raegan Wiles
• SHOOTOUT:
  • SPO goals:
    • Raegan Wiles
  • POR goals:
    • Marcus Nguyen
    • Luca Cagnoni

The Story:

Jack O’Brien and Robbie Fromm-Delorme each tallied twice as the Winterhawks took an 8-7 shootout win over Spokane in a bizarre, back-and-forth game at the VMC.

Portland now holds sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with tonight’s victory.

The game was all Winterhawks to start, with the hosts racing out to a 4-1 lead through 20 minutes. O’Brien’s first of the evening came just 2:52 into the night with a blazing wrister from the right circle, followed three minutes later by Ryan McCleary’s second of the year as he finished off a James Stefan saucer pass. Luca Cagnoni notched his second in as many nights at 9:28 with a long-range wrister, and O’Brien tallied his second of the night at 13:28 as he swept home Fromm-Delorme’s area pass near the right hashmark. But after going up 4-0, Portland coughed up a goal to Raegan Wiles, and the Chiefs’ comeback was on heading into the second period.

Blake Swetlikoff and Ty Cheveldayoff quickly scored for Spokane to make it a one-goal game early in the second, but Gabe Klassen responded for the Hawks with a bar-down snap shot off the rush soon after to make it 5-3. Spokane continued to push with another goal from Wiles and a tying tally by Carter Streek, but again the Winterhawks were able to punch back with Fromm-Delorme’s first of the night on a deflection. Still battling, the Chiefs again tied the game as Cheveldayoff nabbed his second before the end of the frame to set up a 6-6 start to the third period.

After Fromm-Delorme deposited his second of the game early in the third, Portland got to work defending its lead. But with the goalie pulled late in the final minute, Cheveldayoff finished off a hat-trick during a net-front scramble to force overtime at 7-7. Following a scoreless overtime, Portland’s Marcus Nguyen and Spokane’s Wiles scored for their respective teams early in the shootout and Cagnoni potted the deciding tally in the final round.

Following a hectic four games in five nights this week, the Winterhawks are off until Friday, Nov. 11 as they travel to Victoria, B.C. to take on the Royals for a pair of back-to-back tilts.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:

“It’s feeling good right now. Our team’s playing great, capitalizing on the opportunities we’re given…it’s obviously good motivation, knowing we can string a few wins together and come out on top.”

Winterhawks defenseman Ryan McCleary