Winterhawks Weekly: We are Whole Again

After a week in which the Portland Winterhawks didn't perform so well, the following week was the exact opposite.  This week saw the Winterhawks gain back Nic Petan, Derrick Pouliot, and Taylor Leier from the World Juniors, Brendan Leipsic return from suspension, and they even got Matthew Dumba, as the Minnesota Wild sent him down to Portland.  Yes, sir, this week was going to be way better than the last.

It began on Wendesday, as the Portland Winterhawks hit the road for the week.  The Everett Silvertips were the first stop on the trip, and Pouliot showed no rust as he scored to make it 1-0 after one period.  Carson Stadnyk tied it for the Tips as both teams would need that third period to decide things.  Leipsic also showed no rust, as he would put the Winterhawks up for good midway through the third period.  Adam de Champlain would add an insurance goal, and Keegan Iverson would add an empty net goal to give Adin Hill his first win in his first WHL appearance as the Winterhawks got back on the winning track with a 4-1 decision.

Friday and Saturday, the Winterhawks were on Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Royals.  The Friday tilt began with Petan and Ben Walker scoring for their respective teams to make it even at one after a period.  Leipsic would put the Hawks up 2-1 heading into the third period, but Steven Hodges would foce overtime with a third period goal.  Overtime settled nothing, and a shootout was needed, where Victoria would pull out a victory on a Jack Walker goal, spoiling the Winterhawks debut of Corbin Boes, who was acquired from Lethbridge on Thursday.

Saturday, the Winterhawks had a chance for revenge, as Leipsic would open the scoring for the Winterhawks to make it 1-0.  It would remain that way until the third period, when Jordan Fransoo would tie the game for the Royals.  However, an Oliver Bjorkstrand goal late in the period would be all the Winterhawks needed, as they made a 2-1 winner out of a returning Brendan Burke, who had been sidelined with injury.

Sunday, the Winterhawks traveled to Vancouver to take on a rising Giants team.  The Winterhawks would jump out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Alex Schoenborn and Chase de Leo sandwiching a Giants goal by recently acquired Dominik Volek.  However, Dalton Thrower and Brett Kulak would give the Giants a 3-2 lead heading into the second period.  Paul Bittner and Dalton Sward would exchange goals in the second period to make it 4-3 Giants heading into the final frame.  De Champlain would force overtime with a goal in the third period, and like the Friday game, this one required a shootout.  This time, the Winterhawks would be on the right side of the result, as Leier would score the winner, giving Boes his first win as a Winterhawk.

The Winterhawks return home for the week, as they take on Moose Jaw on Friday, Spokane on Sunday, and because there is a game after that on Monday, the Giants on that day, so the Winterhawks Weekly report will be delayed a day.