PORTLAND — Heading into the Western Conference finals, the coaches for the Portland Winterhawks figured that containing the Tri-City Americans’ high-scoring power play would be a key component to success.
So far, so … good?
Sure, the Winterhawks carry a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 Western Hockey League series into today’s Game 3 at the Rose Garden — thanks to a pair of overtime 5-4 wins over the weekend in Kennewick.
But if their formula for success depends upon quieting the Americans power play, then that two-game lead is most tenuous.
Five of the eight goals for Tri-City have come on the power play. The Americans were 3 for 5 on the power play in Game 1, and 2 for 7 in Game 2. On the flip side, Portland has scored three goals on seven power-play chances through two games.
When the Americans are on a power play, it matches two of the more experienced units in the league. Most of Portland’s penalty killers are in their second, sometimes third, season together.
The same is true of the Tri-City power play, which often puts five forwards on the ice together.
“We haven’t been happy with our kill over the first two games, but you’ve got to give (the Americans) credit. They do have a good power play,” Winterhawks assistant coach Travis Green said. “Our guys did show good composure and got big kills at big times.”
In overtime of each game would count as big kills. As a bonus, in Game 2 on Saturday, the Winterhawks scored the winner with the Americans on the power play.
Ty Rattie scored it after poking the puck free to set up a two-on-one rush alongside Sven Bartschi.
Rattie made a strong move from right to left and beat Tri-City goalie Ty Rimmer from the high slot.
“It was a lucky play, but most OT goals are,” Rattie said.
Green called it a play that few WHL players could pull off.
“We are an aggressive (penalty killing) unit that likes to try to put heat on the other team, and sometimes you’re going to get the odd-man chance,” Green said.
Having won two games on the road, Portland has a chance to close out the series if it can win today and Thursday at the Rose Garden.
But, having reached the league finals a year ago, the Winterhawks know there is a lot of hard work ahead of them.
“We’ve got to play Game 3 like it’s 0-0 in the series,” Rattie said.
By erasing a 3-0 series deficit to force Game 7 last week, Kamloops taught the Winterhawks just how fragile command of a series can be.
“It is all about lessons in this league,” said Green, who played four season in the WHL in Spokane prior to a 14-year NHL career. “You’re talking about young players, teenagers. They’re learning constantly. Hopefully last series is a good lesson for us and we keep it business like. We haven’t won anything yet. It’s best-of-7 for a reason.”
