Winterhawks beat Knights at MasterCard Memorial Cup
SASKATOON, SK – The Portland Winterhawks have made the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament very interesting after they defeated the London Knights 6-3 in round-robin action on Monday night at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, SK.
The victory puts all four teams at 1-1 through four round-robin games and ensures a tiebreaker game will be played on Thursday. It’s the second time in Cup history that all four teams have a 1-1 record, and second straight year that scenario as played out.
The Hawks, however, didn’t get the victory easily. Up 3-0 midway through the second period, the Winterhawks saw that lead evaporate as the Knights rallied back to tie it up. However, goals from Derrick Pouliot and Chase De Leo just 23 second apart early in the third put the Hawks back in front for good.
“We just said ‘Stay With It’,” said Winterhawks’ acting head coach Travis Green of his team’s rebound after giving up their three-goal lead. “Give them credit for coming back…but I like the way we responded.”
“I think we just got away from our game there for a little bit, made a few turnovers and did things we didn’t want to do,” said De Leo, whose line racked up three goals and seven points on the night. “Obviously with how skilled our first line is, sometimes it’s good to be able to chip in and add some offense.”
Saskatoon local Taylor Leier got the scoring going for the Hawks, getting a touch on a bad-angle shot by defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon with just 3:07 to play in the opening period. Portland doubled their lead early in the second period with Danish rookie Oliver Bjorkstrand circling out from behind the net and beating Stolarz with a quick wrist shot from the left circle 2:17 into the frame.
Ty Rattie wowed the crowd on Saturday with a highlight-reel marker, and he did the same on Monday versus London. The 19-year-old broke in down the right side on a 2-on-1, dangled past the London defenceman and outwaited Stolarz before tucking a backhander in on the left side at the 10:23 mark of the second period. Rattie added a late empty net marker to give him his second straight three-point outing.
“We needed this big-time,” said Rattie, who beat Scott Harrington, his World Junior roommate, with nifty toe-drag on his goal. “It was a little bit nerve-wracking when they tied it because London is such a stingy defensive team, but our defence stepped up and got a big goal tonight.”
London began their comeback quickly after Rattie’s goal as Scott Harrington replied just 15 seconds later to pull the Knights back within a pair. The Knights struck again on the power play with Bo Horvat putting home the puck after being the beneficiary of a nifty pass from Max Domi. Carruth had no chance on Horvat’s first goal of the tournament and second point of the night.
The Knights knotted the game up at 3-3 just 1:48 into the third period with Alex Broadhurst putting in a rebound from the side of the net. Yet, the momentum the Knights had gained wouldn’t be enough to push them through to a lead as Portland rebounded with two quick goals not long after.
“We played a pretty good game, we had bits and pieces with good puck control and possession, and we got quite a few chances but we couldn’t capitalize…that’s the way it goes sometimes,” said Harrington.
“I thought we battled back very well, we had lots of chances but just didn’t bury them,” said Knights’ head coach Dale Hunter.
Derrick Pouliot restored Portland’s lead 6:20 into the third period. Ty Rattie’s shot came off the end boards and found Pouliot on the right side and the 18-year-old beat Stolarz with a high wrist shot. The Hawks went up by two must moments later when Chase De Leo made his way to the slot and fired a low shot off the post.
De Leo’s goal ended the night for Stolarz as Jake Patterson came on in relief to see his first action of the tournament. Patterson hadn’t played since Game 7 of the OHL Championship series.
Portland’s Carruth finished with 25 saves to get the win for Portland. Stolarz made 26 saves on 32 shots, absorbing the loss, while Patterson made four stops in relief.
Round robin play at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup continues on Tuesday with the Knights taking on the QMJHL Champion Halifax Mooseheads.
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