The Portland Winterhawks have been chasing the Everett Silvertips all season. Now, with three games this weekend wrapping up the regular season, it’s Everett in the position of chasing Portland for the U.S. Division title.
Wednesday’s 7-4 win at Spokane pushed the Winterhawks into a tie with the Silvertips at 90 points. Portland has the tie-breaker at this point because it has one more win.
Bottom line: If the Winterhawks win their games on Friday at Tri-City, on Saturday at Seattle and on Sunday at home against Tri-City, they will be U.S. Division champions.
But that is not a calculation coach Jamie Kompon wanted to talk about on Thursday.
“The only game that we have to worry about is tomorrow night in Tri-City,” Kompon said. “You can’t look too far ahead (or) things won’t turn out the way you anticipate or the way you hoped.”
This weekend, Everett plays Victoria — the second -place team in the B.C. Division — twice and Spokane once.
The division champion will face Spokane in the first playoff round.
The runner-up will face Seattle.
Around the rink
This week: At Tri-City, 7:05 p.m. Friday; at Seattle, 7:05 p.m. Saturday; host Tri-City, 5 p.m. Sunday (Memorial Coliseum). End of regular season.
Last week: Lost 5-3 at Spokane; lost 6-5 (shootout) to Prince George; beat Spokane 8-6; won 7-4 at Spokane.
Where they stand: At 42-21-2-4, the Hawks have 90 points and are tied with Everett for first place in the U.S. Division.
Playoff schedule: The playoffs will begin with games at 6 p.m. on March 28 at the Memorial Coliseum and at 5 p.m. on March 29 at the Moda Center. If necessary, Games 5 and 7 in the first round would be at Memorial Coliseum. The dates for those games will depend upon the opponent.
Special-team struggles — After solid play for a long time, the Winterhawks penalty kill struggled in last week’s three games with Spokane. The Chiefs’ power play was 9 for 18 in those games, plus Spokane scored three shorthanded goals.
Kompon was pleased that Spokane managed only three even-strength goals over the three games. He noted that Spokane (statistically the fourth best power play in the WHL) has a lot of weapons, but that Portland needs to return to executing better on the kill.
“When you win the face-off and you don’t get the puck 200 feet (to the other end of the rink), chances are it’s going to eventually wind up in your net,” Kompon said.
More recognition for Bjorkstrand: For the fourth time this season, Oliver Bjorkstrand was named the WHL player of the week. For the week ending March 15, Bjorkstrand had five goals and six assists in three games.
Hawks top scoring list: With 112 points in 56 games, Bjorkstrand now tops the WHL lists for goals (58) and points. He took over the points lead this week and enters the weekend six points in front of Trevor Cox of Medicine Hat. His 58 goals is eight ahead of Medicine Hat’s Cole Sanford, who has played in 14 more games.
Team awards: Prior to Sunday’s 5 p.m. home game against Tri-City, the Winterhawks team awards — including MVP — will be announced.
