Derrick Pouliot and the Portland Winterhawks continue to soar past opponents after extending their winning streak to eight games last week.
Derrick Pouliot and the Portland Winterhawks continue to soar past opponents after extending their winning streak to eight games last week.
The Hawks outscored their opponents 17-6 in wins over Everett on Wednesday night and Victoria on Friday and Saturday night.
On Wednesday the Hawks hosted the Everett Silvertips, defeating the cellar dwelling Silvertips 5-2 in front of the home crowd.
Everett opened the scoring in the first period with a dandy backhand rebound goal by Centre, Kohl Baumi, past Brendan Burke, and led the game 1-0 after the first frame.
In the second period the Winterhawks quickly got on the board with a goal from the top of the slot from Chase De Leo. The Hawks took the lead midway through the second period, with a beautiful set-up goal by Brendan Leipsic, past a sprawled Austin Lotz in net.
The Hawks added two more goals in the period from Oliver Bjorkstrand and another pretty goal from top-prospect Seth Jones. Ty Mappin, of Big Valley, Alta, responded for the Silvertips before the end of the period. The Hawks were up 4-2.
In the final frame the Hawks sealed the deal midway through the period when Ty Rattie streaked in on Lotz, putting the shot top corner over the goaltender's right shoulder.
In the win the Hawks dominated the play, outshooting the Silvertips 45-to-24 and played a disciplined game, only taking one minor penalty, for too many men on the ice.
On Friday night the WinterHawks hosted the first of two matchups against the Victoria Royals. They went on to win both games by a score of 6-2.
In the Friday night encounter the opponent once again got on the board first as Brandon Magee opened the scoring with a power play marker at the 3:34 mark of the first. The Hawks never let the setback hinder them, scoring three even-strength goals in response in the first period from three different contributers.
In the second period the Hawks put Victoria away with three more markers. The Hawks spread the scoring out in the win, getting goals from six different players.
Brendan Burke got his second straight start in the win, stopping 27 of 29 shots.
On Saturday night the Winterhawks extended their winning streak to a league-leading eight games. Veteran Mac Carruth backstopped the Hawks to the second 6-2 win in as many nights.
The Royals opened the scoring with two strikes in the opening 10 minutes of the contest, with goals from Jamie Crooks and Russian Lex Gogolev. After those quick strikes, however, it was all Portland, who scored six straight goals, led by two markers from defenseman and Captain Troy Rutkowski, who got a shorthanded marker and a power play goal.
In the win Pouliot had three helpers and finished the week with five points, all assists, in three games. He now has 15 points in 16 games.
Even with the Hawks eighth straight win they are still trailing division-leading Tri City Americans by one point. The Hawks have a record of 12-3-1 and have 25 points, while Tri-City has a 12-6-1-1 record and 26 points. The Hawks still have the advantage as Tri-City has played four more games than the Hawks.
The Winterhawks hosted Red Deer last night but results were not available at press time. The Hawks hit the road over the weekend, heading to Vancouver Friday to play the Giants, then head to Spokane to play their division rival, before coming home to host the league-leading Kamloops Blazers.
