(Kennewick, WA) Sunday evening marked the final road game for the Portland Winterhawks (12-8-3-0) and last home game of the 2020-2021 season for the Tri-City Americans (7-11-0-0).
The visiting Winterhawks left the Toyota Center with a convincing 9-1 victory led by Simon Knak’s three points, two goals from Cross Hanas, and a 31-stop effort from goaltender Brock Gould.
“That was a tough back-to-back. We played at home last night and then had early-morning travel with a 4:00 game,” Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston said in his post-game press conference. “I was a little bit concerned, but liked our jump and energy right away. Getting off to a good start offensively, getting on the scoreboard, and creating the chances we did.”
Robbie Fromm-Delorme kicked the goal scoring off for Portland with his second goal of the season, and first since March 28. The Richmond, British Columbia native started the play stealing the puck along the wall. Reece Newkirk got a piece of his linemate’s rebound, giving the 6-foot-2 175 pounds, forward a second look at Mason Dunsford’s goal.
On the ensuing faceoff, rookies Kyle Chyzowski and Rhett Melnyk dropped the gloves for a spirited fight. Both players were able to land several blows before being ushered to the penalty box. The game saw several post-whistle altercations, but Portland was able to not let the physicality impact its ability to produce offensively.
Cross Hanas said, “As not a really big guy, (Chyzowski) held his ground for sure. Awesome to see and good for him, we were all pumped and got the boys going for sure.”
Playing in only his fifth game this season due to spending the majority on loan to the USHL, Hanas was able to light the lamp for the first time upon his return.
“I’ve been kind of fighting it a little bit lately, but I’ve just kept going and trying to shoot the puck more,” he said. “Today we had the four-on-four chance, great play up the ice, good breakout, saw a lane to shoot, and I took it and thankfully it went in.”
Gould got the start between the pipes on Sunday. The 19-year-old netminder was replaced in his last appearance against the Americans when he surrendered three goals on 12 shots.
“A focus for me was my start, especially after my last game against Tri-City,” Gould said. “I needed that. It is nice to come in there and get a solid game.”
Tri-City tested him in the opening 20 minutes with 14 shots on goal. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native turned them all away allowing the Winterhawks to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
“I thought the second period was the key period,” Johnston said. “That is when we really took over. We not only converted on our chances, but territorially we had the possession time.”
For the second-straight game in Kennewick, Portland erupted for five goals in a period.
The Winterhawks converted on their second four-on-four goal when Seth Jarvis used his speed to turn the corner on his defender. The Carolina Hurricanes signed prospect got inside positioning and snapped a shot by Dunsford for his 15th goal of the year.
The goal temporarily put Jarvis in the team lead for goals; however, Knak kept pace via a power-play tally off the rush.
Less than three minutes later, Hanas scored his second of the evening.
“Simon (Knak) fed me back door, I kind of got a good piece of it. It then hit the goalie’s skate, the toe of his skate, and popped right back to me. I got another whack at it and it went under his arm,” Hanas said.
On the next shift rookie defenseman Ryan McCleary hit Jaydon Dureau in stride with a perfect stretch pass. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect converted on a breakaway from the blue line in on Dunsford. His ninth goal of the season extended his point streak to seven games. During that stretch Dureau has 13 points and is tied for the team’s scoring lead with Knak at 29 with one game remaining.
Talyn Boyko was scratched, meaning Tri-City’s head coach Kelly Buchberger had no option but to leave Dunsford in the net when possibly a goaltending change would have occurred.
The fifth goal of the frame came when Winterhawks captain Nick Cicek converted on the power play.
Luke Zazula, making his final start at home, scored a power-play goal to get the Americans on the board. Tri-City only needed eight seconds with the man advantage to find the twine. Connor Bouchard and Sasha Mutala combined to set up their captain for his fourth goal in his overage season.
Over the final 20 minutes Portland added two more goals to its total.
First, Knak retook the goal-scoring lead with 16 upon finishing off a chance on his backhand. The Switzerland native has scored in 11-of-23 games, and only been held off the scoresheet in four games during his 18-year-old season.
Then, with under four minutes to play, Jarvis and rookie forward Marcus Nguyen led a two-on-one rush into the zone. Instead of shooting, Jarvis held onto the puck a split second longer before distributing to the Calgary, Alberta native. Portland’s 11th round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft finished off the play going glove side.
“He will never forget that one for his first goal getting assisted from Seth Jarvis,” Hanas said. “He is a young player, 16-year-old coming into this league, it is never easy. He had a really good chance today, doesn’t get as much ice as most people, we all were super excited for him and to get it like that.”
Gould added, “We all really wanted him to get his first one, he works super hard in practice and off the ice. We were definitely pumped to see him get that, I know he is pumped too, and it is the first of many for him.”
The recognition for the 5-foot-10 166 pounds, winger continued from his head coach.
“For Marcus, as a young guy, 16-year-old playing in one of his last games (of the season) to get his first goal is special,” Johnston said.
The other highlight of the third period came when the Americans were on a five-on-three power play.
Mutala’s one timer was stopped by Gould before the rebound went to Zazula. He made a heads up play kicking the puck out of the air from the bottom of the circle. Instead of being the goal of the night, the play ended up being the save of the evening.
“At that point, you are just battling and there is not much technique involved. It is getting over there as fast as you can and grabbing it. I dove over as fast as I could and luckily I got it.” Gould said.
The 2001-born goalie called it a top three save over the course of his 70 game WHL career so far.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1391597453300834304?s=20
When the final horn sounded, 12 Winterhawks found their names on the scoresheet. Knak, Jarvis, Dureau, Hanas, and Clay Hanus all had three points. Hanas is receiving an assist on Portland’s eighth goal of the game.
All eyes now turn to Tuesday where the WHL careers of Zazula, Nick Bowman, Jack Barnes, Mason Mannek, and Nick Cicek will come to an end at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Mannek and Cicek will have their turn playing for the final time at home.
“I’m sure on Tuesday is going to be an emotional night for them playing their last game for us, but also an exciting one,” Johnston said. “Hopefully it is launching another career after playing for us. When you look at Manny (Mason Mannek) up front and what he’s done, he’s had a great season offensively. Nick (Cicek) has been a good leader for us, so we are really proud of those guys. It is nice to see 20-year-olds leave on a high note.”
Both Gould and Hanas mentioned wanting to finish strong for their overage leaders.
“Tuesday night is going to be a special, emotional night because those two guys give it their all every single night for all of us,” Hanas added. “We are definitely going to play for them, get them a big win, and send them off on a really good note.”
For the final time in this shortened season, the puck will drop for Portland and Tri-City shortly after 5:00 on Tuesday.
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