Winterhawks Weekly: From Hunted to Hunter

The Winterhawks' week is one of good news, bad news.  First, the bad news: the Winterhawks lost first place in the U.S. Division this week.  The good news: it wasn't all their doing.  While the Winterhawks entered the week with a two point lead over Everett, this week was the Silvertips' opportunity to take first by virtue of playing four games (they won all four) to the Winterhawks' two this week.  The Winterhawks were home to Spokane on Friday, and right away, the Winterhawks took the lead 3-0 after one period on goals from Brendan Leipsic, Garrett Haar, and Derrick Pouliot.  The second period proved to be a wild one, as the teams exchanged goals, with Connor Chartier getting the Chiefs within two before Leipsic added his second of the game to give the Winterhawks the three goal lead once again.  The Chiefs cut the lead to one on goals from Riley Whittingham and Adam Helewka, but Taylor Leier would give the Winterhawks a 5-3 lead going into the third period.  Mike Aviani cut the lead to one once again, but that was as close as they would get, as Leier added an empty net goal to give the Winterhawks a 6-4 win and extend the team's winning streak against the Chiefs that dates back to last year's playoff meeting.  Brendan Burke picked up the win.

Saturday, the Winterhawks went to Kent, WA to take on a Seattle Thunderbirds team that was undoubtedly stewing from a 10-2 pasting in the last meeting.  Justin Hickman and Leier exchanged goals to make it an even game at one after one period.  The Thunderbirds would take a two-goal lead heading into the third period on goals from Roberts Lipsbergs and Branden Troock.  However, the Winterhawks had an answer to that, as Keegan Iverson, Nic Petan, and Leipsic would put the Winterhawks up a goal with five minutes remaining.  A late tally by Justin Hickman forced overtime, where the Thunderbirds' Alexander Delnov scored the deciding goal and the Winterhawks ended up on the wrong end of a 5-4 overtime decision.  Burke took the loss.

The Winterhawks don't play again until Friday at Spokane, where they will look to extend their dominance over a game Chiefs team, and on Sunday, they will welcome Saskatoon into town for a rematch from last year's Memorial Cup round robin.