PORTLAND — The Portland Winterhawks’ chances of making a deep run in the Western Hockey League playoffs took another significant hit on Tuesday — even before they lost 5-3 and fell into a 3-0 hole to the Everett Silvertips.
Team captain Dominic Turgeon underwent shoulder surgery in Detroit, ending his season and likely his career in Portland. The Detroit Red Wings, who drafted Turgeon in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, advised him to have the surgery now so that he has time to recover before training camp.
Despite a spirited rally from the Winterhawks, Everett beat Portland 5-3 at the Moda Center, taking a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 first-round series. Game 4 is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Moda Center.
“We’re never going to feel sorry for ourselves. We keep pushing and making strong plays. If you follow our games every single game is better,” said Rihards Bukarts, who had a goal and an assist for Portland. “(Wednesday) is going to be our best game of the season. The next after that is going to be better and the next game is going to be better. This is not it. We’re not quitting and the war’s not over.”
The Winterhawks didn’t quit after twice falling behind by three goals during the second period on Tuesday. Limited to one goal through the first seven periods of the series, Portland’s offense came alive after the Silvertips took a 3-0 lead 6:53 into the second period.
Bukharts, Alex Schoenborn and Cody Glass scored in a span of less than five minutes that also included a goal for Everett’s Brycen Martin that briefly restored his team’s three-goal lead.
Trailing 4-3 entering the third period, the Winterhawks played with speed and desperation. They outshot the Silvertips 13-7 but couldn’t find the tying goal. A late power-play gave Portland a chance to skate six on four with goalie Adin Hill on the bench, but Everett’s Matt Fonteyne cleared the puck into the empty net to secure the win with 26 seconds remaining.
“We’ve got to play the whole game like we did those six minutes in the second period. We were all over them, getting shots, getting to their goalie,” said Schoenborn, adding that Everett has made it tough to pepper rookie Mario Petit.
The loss of Turgeon further diminishes the scoring punch for a team that since December has been without veteran forward Paul Bittner. Turgeon, 19, led Portland with 36 goals and 34 assists in 72 games this season.
“It’s a huge loss for us. He’s the heart and soul of this team and he has been all year,” Schoenborn said. “He’s a great guy, a great leader. But I’m really confident in our group. We have the tools and guys need to step up in his spot right now.”
Winterhawks coach Jamie Kompon said Turgeon had played with the injury for a while without pain and with a shoulder harness. An early examination by the Red Wings medical staff indicated surgery would eventually be needed, though both the Red Wings and the Winterhawks had cleared Turgeon to continue playing.
Kompon said Turgeon’s absence means younger players have a chance to step up. On Tuesday Skyler McKenzie moved onto the top line with Bukarts and Schoenborn. McKenzie made a hit along the wall to get the puck to Caleb Jones who set up the Bukarts’ goal that opened Portland’s scoring.
This is the first time since 1999, when Tri-City swept Portland, that the Winterhawks have been down 3-0 in a playoff series. These Winterhawks believe they still have life.
“It feels like we should have won that game,” said Jones, who had two assists on Tuesday. “But we’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll be the same desperate team.”
