Game Day Hub: November 20
Kelowna Rockets at Portland Winterhawks
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The Winterhawks and Rockets duel in the second half of a back-to-back following a thrilling 6-5 Portland victory in a shootout on Friday night.
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, OR
Previous Meetings This Season: Portland is 2-0-0-0 head-to-head
- Friday, November 5 – Portland (5) at Kelowna (4) *Shootout
- Friday, November 19 – Kelowna (5) vs Portland (6) *Shootout
Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App. Fans can listen live in the arena on 87.9 FM.
Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV
Game Notes: Winterhawks Game Notes
Upcoming Promotions:
Wednesday, November 24 – Hawks Fight Cancer – BUY TICKETS
Friday, November 26 – Jack in the Box Daylight Game – BUY TICKETS
FOLLOW ALONG: Box Score
Ride The Wave
Last night’s rollercoaster win over the Rockets had it all – ups, downs and everything in between ultimately gave way to a surge of emotion in the VMC as Dante Giannuzzi stopped three pucks in the shootout and Portland came away with the win after seeing a 5-1 lead evaporate in the final two periods. It wasn’t a perfect game, but those kinds of victories against adversity can spark teams to do great things, and the Hawks have a chance to ride the momentum and build on a signature win by grabbing another tonight.
It’s Lit(ke)
Winterhawks forward Aidan Litke enters tonight’s tilt with goals in back-to-back games, having scored the first of Portland’s three-goal barrage in the second period last night. The Winnipeg, Man. native ranks seventh on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists for six points in 16 games and has come alive on home ice this week with some huge goals against both Everett and Kelowna. Keep an eye on #9 in the rematch with the Rockets tonight.
Keeping the Big Guns Quiet
Portland’s ability to contain the Rockets’ high-scoring top line was paramount to the win last night. Kelowna did manage a late comeback, but it was fueled by the middle-six forwards – the top line of Colton Dach, Gabriel Szturc and Pavel Novak managed just one assist between them, and Portland Head Coach Mike Johnston was effusive in his praise for one of the players responsible for keeping that group in check.
“I personally think Tyson Kozak is the best center in the league that I’ve seen this year. He shut down Sourdif in Vancouver, he’s shut down Dach twice and he can play head-to-head with anybody,” said Johnston post-game.
As the Hawks seek another win in this weekend set, Kozak’s line will once again be tasked with going up against the very best Kelowna has to offer, and it’s sure to be a matchup game to keep an eye on all night.
FASTER ROSE QUARTER MOBILE CHECK-IN
WIN A TOYOTA:
Back for another season, fans 18+ who reside in Oregon or Southwest Washington can ENTER TO WIN a brand new Toyota car, truck, or SUV.
Each game this season, one lucky fan will have their entry drawn and they will have a chance to win our grand prize if they get all five game predictions correct.
Tonight, we are cheering on: Travis T. from Beaverton, OR
What our Hawks fan could win: A brand new 2021 Venza
What needs to happen?
- Kelowna Rockets (5) beat the Portland Winterhawks (4)
- Jonas Brøndberg scores the first Winterhawks goal.
- Portland goaltenders make 29 total saves.
- Kelowna goaltenders make 33 total saves.
Good luck tonight, Travis!
Think you know the Winterhawks best and can win a Toyota? Click here to enter today!
PROJECTED LINEUPS:
Portland
Jaydon Dureau – Tyson Kozak – Dawson Pasternak
Cross Hanas – Gabe Klassen – James Stefan
Aidan Litke – Jack O’Brien – Marcus Nguyen
Kyle Chyzowski – Luke Schelter
Marek Alscher – Jonas Brøndberg
Clay Hanus – Luca Cagnoni
Kurtis Smythe – Ryan McCleary
Ryder Thompson
Lochlan Gordon
Dante Giannuzzi
Scratches: Josh Mori, Robbie Fromm-Delorme (INJ), Josh Zakreski, Ryder Thompson
Kelowna
Gabriel Szturc – Colton Dach – Pavel Novak
Turner McMillen – Nolan Flamand – Jake Poole
Mark Liwiski – Max Graham – Steel Quiring
Andrew Cristall – Dylan Wightman – Rilen Kovacevic
John Babcock – Tyson Feist
Elias Carmichael – Jackson DeSouza
Noah Dorey – Jake Lee
Colby Knight
Talyn Boyko
Scratches: Caden Price, Scott Cousins, Marcus Pacheco