Portland Winterhawks at Seattle Thunderbirds: Preview, updates, chat, how to listen and watch

What: The Portland Winterhawks (6-7-2) take on the Seattle Thunderbirds (5-9-1-1) in Western Hockey League action.

When: Saturday, November 2, 6pm PDT.

Where: accesso ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington.

TV locally on Portland's CW. Or you can stream the game via the CHL TV pay per view (about US$7.50 for one game).

Listen: Winterhawks and Thunderbirds audio.

Follow:

The box score.

Get updates and chat before, during, and after the game.

Portland Winterhawks The Portland Winterhawks' losing streak has now gone to 8 games. They took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd period in Spokane, more on the back of Ondrej Štěbeták in goal than anything else, but it didn't last, as Spokane got the game-winner and then added an empty-net goal for a 4-2 win.

Now they return to the site of game 2 of the streak, Seattle, where on October 12 they also had a 3rd period lead and also couldn't hold it. And at the end of that game, Diego Buttazzoni cross-checked Sawyer Mynio and received a 3-game suspension, which really hurt Portland, especially since 2 of the 3 games he missed went to overtime. In a lot of ways ShoWare Center was where it unraveled, so they return here to try to clean it up.

You'd consider it a 50-50 game except for Portland having to take the overnight trip across Washington and getting into town very early in the morning. That would swing it some toward the Thunderbirds.

Buttazzoni was Portland's leading player in that 10/12 game, and had a streak of 4 straight games with a goal after that game. That suspension slowed him down.

Zakreski had a shorthanded goal against Spokane. He's the Winterhawks' leader in shots per game.

In that 10/12 game, Štěbeták allowed two poor goals in the 3rd period that turned the game around. He had a very good game Friday against Spokane. It would be a little surprising if they brought him back for this game.

Seattle Tnunderbirds Since beating Portland on 10/12, the Seattle Thunderbirds haven't been in the greatest shape. They've lost 6 of 7 and have been outscored 17-34, although most of that was on their yearly eastern trip. Friday they played a close game with the Edmonton Oil Kings, taking three 1-goal leads but not holding any of them and eventually losing in a shootout.

They have the league's worst goal difference. They're down at the bottom with Portland in even strength goal difference, and near the bottom with Portland in shot difference, shooting percentage, and save percentage. And these teams play each other nine more times!

Cootes and Pekar, both of whom appeared in the Central Scouting rankings, each have 5-game point streaks. Pilling has a 3-game streak; almost at the exact same time Buttazzoni was earning his suspension, Pilling hit Tyson Jugnauth in the head and received a 2-game suspension.

They acquired Gronick from Vancouver during the week as the Giants had to shed a 20-year-old. He had a 2-point night in his debut on Friday.

Promising 17-year-old Martorana made his season debut Friday after returning from injury, and scored a goal in the 2nd period.

Mathies had 2 goals against the Winterhawks on 10/12, including the winner, which is half his points so far this season.

Boucher is week-to-week via the Weekly Report.

Mynio, as always, is their best player although he did not have a great game against Portland on 10/12. He possibly has a month left in his Thunderbirds career as he goes to World Juniors and then probably gets traded to a contender.

Ratzlaff is in the same boat as Mynio. Seattle goalies have the worst save percentage in the league, but it's because of the goalies other than Ratzlaff. So if he gets moved the second half could be a free-for-all.

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