Winterhawks win 5-3, open the season with two straight wins

The Winterhawks jump out to a 3-0 lead, lose it in a 3-minute stretch, then play a pretty good 3rd and get two goals to prevail 5-3 over the Kelowna Rockets in British Columbia. They win both games this weekend, and not many would have predicted that.

Portland was missing their two best players and three of their top six to pro camps. But as it turned out, the Kamloops Blazers, who Portland beat Friday, and the Rockets were even more shorthanded, the Blazers getting more players injured, the Rockets missing most a pro camps. With that in mind, the Winterhawks were at least a tossup to win each game, and a 2-0 start isn't that surprising.

Diego Buttazzoni and Tyson Yaremko scored early in the 3rd to give Portland the winning margin. Ondrej Štěbeták stopped 35 of 38 shots to win his second Western Hockey League game in as many tries.

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The off day forum

Scoring summaryPregame: Both teams missing key players, but the Rockets were missing more, to the point where they only dressed 16 skaters. Winterhawks could be optimistic about their chances of starting the season 2-0. This was a rare game where Portland will have more experience in the lineup than their opposition.

Portland outplayed but capitalized on their chances for two goals, and were helped by some lucky bounces at the defensive end. They could have easily been tied or behind.

And then they played better in the 2nd, except for a 3:13 stretch where they coughed up the lead on 3 goals. They stacked up a couple of penalties, and the Rockets scored on the 5 on 3 and then the 5 on 4 to tie it. They easily could have fallen apart here.

But they didn't, as Diego Buttazzoni scored on the first rush of the period, and then Tyson Yaremko scored two minutes later to make it 5-3. The young defense corps then did its job, and Kelowna could never mount a big threat.

Best vs. best: Kyle Chyzowski and Ryder Thompson did yeoman work all weekend. We might have to consider Ondrej Štěbeták as the best pretty soon. Most of Kelowna's best, except for Marek Rocak, are still at camps.

Depth vs. depth: Portland's defense corps did the job again. And Tyson Yaremko picked up two goals.

Special teams winner: Even, with Kelowna getting back-to-back power play goals to tie, but Portland getting a shorthanded goal and an insurance power play goal.

Best team won?: Portland has been outshot in every game so far, preseason and two regular season games. So that's a bit worrying. Probably a 50-50 game.

The playersPortland Winterhawks

Followed scoring 5 goals on 29 shots against Kamloops to scoring 5 on 34 in this one. And that's against two experienced goalies.

The 2-0 start changes the outlook a little, as we see that the young players can play against players their age and current skill level. But you don't want to go too overboard; their two opponents this weekend were pretty shorthanded.

Kelowna Rockets

As much as the Winterhawks need to get their players back, the Rockets need to get theirs back. Just missing too much firepower.

Next games Saturday at Everett, 6pm PDT

Next home game: Friday 10/4 vs. Victoria, 7pm PDT

Looking ahead: Saturday 10/5 vs. Prince George, 6pm PDT