The statistical domination finally added up to elimination on Monday as the Portland Winterhawks beat the Everett Silvertips 5-1.
By winning for the third time in the series at Comcast Arena in Everett, Portland clinched the best-of-7 Western Hockey League playoff series, 4-2.
The second round will open Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, with Game 2 on Saturday at the Rose Garden. Portland’s opponent will be either Seattle or Spokane.
Portland’s second line led the way on Monday. Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals and two assists, Taylor Leier added a goal and Chase De Leo had two assists as the Winterhawks won despite not getting a point from the first line.
Defenseman Seth Jones — who the Winterhawks signed last spring after making a trade with Everett — scored his first two goals of the playoffs.
The Winterhawks outshot the Silvertips 52-13, including 15-1 in the third period.
Everett’s Reid Petryk scored a shorthanded breakaway goal 2:14 into the game. But a strong individual effort by Jones tied the game, and Bjorkstrand gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the first period.
Portland played a dominating second period, but didn’t extend the lead until Bjorkstrand (at 15:14) and Jones (at 18:43) converted power-play goals.
Leier scored early in the third period. Goalie Mac Carruth made 12 saves for Portland.
Seattle leads Kelowna 3-2 entering today’s Game 6 of that series. If the Thunderbirds win the series, they advance to meet Portland. If Kelowna advances, Portland will play Spokane in the second round.
