The Portland Winterhawks will be entering the Western Hockey League playoffs on a two-game losing streak.
Only good thing is that everyone starts 0-0 for the playoffs and Portland’s first postseason opponent won’t be the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Jarret Tyszka scored the winner at 8:00 of the third period as Seattle held on to beat the Portland 6-5 in the Western Hockey League regular-season finale Sunday at the Memorial Coliseum. Seattle also beat Portland 5-2 on Saturday at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
Winterhawks forward Joachim Blichfeld picked up an assist to give him 114 points and the WHL scoring title, edging Moose Jaw’s Warriors forward Tristan Langan by one point.
Reece Newkirk, Jake Gricius, Clay Hanus, Seth Jarvis and Jared Freadrich had the Portland (40-22-6) goals, while Joel Hofer made 27 saves in defeat.
Jared Davidson, Kai Uchacz, Simon Kubicek, Brecon Wood and Sean Richards also scored for the Thunderbirds (31-29-8), who got 40 saves from Cole Schwebius.
The Winterhawks, the No. 3 playoff seed in the U.S. Division, will begin the best-of-seven opening round of the WHL Playoffs on the road against Spokane.
Games 1 and 2 will be on Friday and Saturday at Spokane Arena. Games 3 and 4 will be March 26 and 27 at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum.
If necessary, game 5 is scheduled for March 30 at Spokane, game 6 on April 1 at Portland, and game 7 on April 3 at Spokane.
The Winterhawks and Chiefs faced off the in the opening round of the playoffs last season as well, with the Hawks advancing after a 4-3 series win.
The Hawks are entering for their 10th consecutive trip to the postseason.
