Game Day Hub: Round 2, Game 2 at Kamloops
Portland Winterhawks at Kamloops Blazers
The Winterhawks look to bounce back in Game 2 and steal home-ice advantage from the Blazers.
Puck Drop: 7:00 P.M. PT
Venue: Sandman Centre – Kamloops, BC
Uniforms: Red
The Series So Far: Kamloops Leads 1-0
- Game 1 – Portland 4 @ Kamloops 6
Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App
Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV
Game Notes: Winterhawks Game Notes
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Upcoming WHL Playoff Games:
Game 3 • Wednesday, April 19 • at Portland • BUY TICKETS
Game 4 • Thursday, April 20 • at Portland • BUY TICKETS
Game 5 • Saturday, April 22 • at Kamloops (if necessary)
Game 6 • Monday, April 24 • at Portland (if necessary)
Game 7 • Wednesday, April 26 • at Kamloops (if necessary)
FOLLOW ALONG: Box Score
On The Rebound
Game 1’s loss was on track to be a harsh result for what was largely a well-played game by the Winterhawks until a pair of late goals halved the deficit. Some lapses let the team down in the second period and early in the third, but there was plenty to build on as Portland gets set for tonight’s rematch – namely, making the most of their own opportunities after seeing Kamloops build momentum with quick-strike goals throughout the final 40 minutes last night.
“I thought we did a lot of good things tonight. I really liked our first ten minutes,” said forward James Stefan postgame. “I thought we were jumping from the start. Everyone was up on the bench and we were really excited and I think that showed. We got a lot of chances in tight tonight. A couple mistakes here and there, but we just need to capitalize on our chances.”
It’s Tricky
Speaking of Stefan, his hat-trick performance last night has him flying high with seven goals in six games to start the postseason. The Laguna Beach, Calif. product scored in each period, keeping the Hawks in the game with clutch response goals after the Blazers lit the lamp.
Chef Stef cooked up a storm on Friday. @pdxwinterhawks | #WHLHatTricks | #WHLPlayoffs @NutrienLTD | #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/fzHGnmF690
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 15, 2023
Stefan’s three-goal effort marks the first Winterhawks playoff hat-trick of the postseason after he and four teammates came close with two-goal showings in the first round.
Slo(vak) Jams
With names like Zellweger, Stankoven, Seminoff and Minten headlining the roster during the regular season meetings, it may have been easy to overlook the addition of Jakub Demek, who was acquired by Kamloops from the reigning champion Oil Kings back in November but did not play until late in the season due to injury. If the Winterhawks didn’t know him before, they do now. The Slovakian sniper was out in full force with two tallies on five shots, and used his strength to add a new dimension to the Blazers’ high-flying forward corps.
The Winterhawks did well enough to keep the usual suspects quiet for much of the game last night, but Demek, the Vegas Golden Knights prospect, will certainly be another to keep an eye on in Game 2.
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