That: The Portland Winterhawks (34-10-2-1) take on the Tri-City Americans (25-16-4-1) in Western Hockey League action.
When: Saturday, February 4, 6pm PST.
Where: Memorial Coliseum.
Look: You can stream the game via CHL TV pay-per-view (US$6.10 for a game).
Hear: Audio of Winterhawks and Americanos.
Continue:
- The score box.
- Get updates and chat before, during and after the game.
A two-game setback on the road for the Portland Winterhawks, losing 5-1 and 6-1 at Kamloops and Tri-City. Marcus Nguyen gave Portland the lead with a highlight reel goal on Friday, but that was his only highlight as Tri-City took the lead in the second and then poured it with four in the third. Portland had some territory but couldn’t convert it into quality shots.
Now they are trying to turn it around in a rematch with the Americans, and await the return from injury to Chaz Lucius and his 15 points in 6 games.
| Forward | |
|---|---|
| twenty | 11-Robbie Fromm-Delorme (239 games) |
| 19 | 92-Jack O’Brien (186) 13-James Stefan (179) 16-Gabe Klassen (171) 9-Aidan Little (122) 51-Chaz Lucio (6) |
| 18 | 72-Marcus Nguyen (140) 19-Kyle Chyzowski (135) 77-Lucas Schelter (109) |
| 17 | 28-Josh Zakreski (62) 93-Nicholas Johnson (44) 8-Braeden Jockims (7) |
| sixteen | 90-Diego Buttazzoni (35) |
Can you tell that they tweaked the trailer setting for Lucius’ arrival and without him they had trouble adjusting? It will most likely be just two games against quality opponents.
Leading forward: Fromm-Delorme (56 points/46 games), Stefan (54/45), Klassen (51/43), O’Brien (45/46), Litke (33/43).
| defenders | |
|---|---|
| 19 | 6-Ryan McCleary (137) |
| 18 | 73-Luca Cagnoni (130) 43-Ryder Thompson (119) 26-Marek Alscher (111) 2-Josh Mori (83) |
| 17 | 59-Carter Sotheran (47) 14-Rhett Ravndahl (20) |
| sixteen | 91-Alex Thompson (28) |
Under the gun a lot in the last two games.
Main defenses: Cagnoni (47/46), McCleary (25/45), Sotheran (20/47).
| goalkeepers | |
|---|---|
| twenty | 74-Dante Giannuzzi (97) |
| 18 | 31-jan Špunar (19) |
Špunar had his worst game of the season on Friday. He could get a rematch at the same venue on Friday.
Giannuzzi was roughed up in Tri-City early in the season, coming back with an overtime win at home in late December.
Save percentages: Giannuzzi .904, Špunar .902.
His streak continues: 10-0-3 in his last 13 games.
They won big against Portland on Friday with Lukas Dragicevic and Jalen Luypen scoreless, Dragicevic being the league’s leading scorer on defense and Luypen riding a 6-game point streak. Jordan Gavin, 16, led the way with 3 points, Jake Sloan also had 3, and Adam Mechura had 2. And they were missing third-leading scorer, Parker Bell. It could be argued now that his forward depth is ahead of Portland’s.
From this game they go to Vancouver on Sunday, so it is a difficult place for them, especially for the selection of goalkeepers.
| Forward | |
|---|---|
| twenty | 34-Jalen Luypen (236) 39-Ethan Ernst (229) 29-Reese Belton (179) |
| 19 | 23-Tyson Greenway (183) 22-Parker Bell (165) 31-Adam Mechura (36) |
| 18 | 15-Jake Sloan (120) 60-Elouann Lemonnier (75) 11-Andres Fan (61) |
| 17 | 24-Deagan McMillan (88) 9-Drew Freer (82) |
| sixteen | 13-Jordan Gavin (49) 88-Camerin Cardona (19) |
Gavin had a 4 point game against the Oil Kings; Friday was the second time in his career that he had scored 3 or more points. He will have some.
4 game scoring streaks: Gavin, Belton, Mechura, Ernst.
Leading forward: Ernst (54/45), Bell (51/40), Sloan (47/43), Belton (40/44), Gavin (38/40).
| defenders | |
|---|---|
| 19 | 28-Marc Lajoie (197) 7-Ethan Peters (143) 20-Nicco Camazzolla (119) 37-Alex Serraglio (119) 44-Chase Friedt-Mohr (103) |
| 17 | 2-Lukas Dragicevic (114) 21-Wild Carter (39) 5-Jackson Romeril (16) |
| sixteen | 6-Merrek Arpin (11) |
They haven’t really trusted Dragicevic that much during this run. He has just 12 points in 13 games (after having 44 in his previous 33) and has been goalless in 6 of them, after going goalless in just 3 of 33.
Lajoie, who tied the game with a goal on Friday, is also riding a 4-game point streak.
Main defenses: Dragicevic (56/46), Lajoie (27/44), Serraglio (17/46).
| goalkeepers | |
|---|---|
| 19 | 1-Tomas Suchanek (73) |
| 18 | 35-Nick Avakyan (45) |
Avakyan stopped 40 of 44 earlier this season. Last season he faced them 6 times, he stole a game and lit up in the others. Will he go in this one or in Sunday’s game in Vancouver?
Save percentages: Suchanek .909, Avakyan .871.
| winter hawks | American people | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record | 34-10-2-1 | 25-16-4-1 | |
| goal difference | +47 | +18 | |
| goals/game | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| Goals allowed/match | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| power play | 27.7% | 30.6% | 22.5% |
| death penalty | 84.2% | 72.0% | 77.5% |
| Power plays for/game | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Power plays against/game | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| beating opponents | 37-10 | 14-29-3 | |
| after 1 period | 20-13-14 | 16-21-9 | |
| after 2 periods | 24-13-10 | 23-18-5 | |
| Scoring, last 10 games | 40-36 | 50-25 | |
| Scoring, last 20 games | 80-62 | 92-67 | |
| Total WHL Games | 2226 | 2501 |
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