A look into Portland's impressive seven-game win streak
The Portland Winterhawks have been virtually unstoppable to start the 2023-24 WHL season. Currently, on a seven-game win streak, they are dismantling teams, with only one of those games being decided by fewer than a three-goal difference. Here is a breakdown of the streak and a look as to why they are early Memorial Cup favourites.
Starting with the offence, over the past seven games, Portland has scored a whopping 44 goals and are averaging 6.29 per game. While the total number is impressive, what makes them so dangerous is that they are getting offence from the entire team. During this seven-game run, 13 different players have scored at least one goal, while 19 have contributed at least a point. Led by James Stefan, Gabe Klassen and Diego Buttazzoni, they are showing that they can generate scoring chances regardless of which line is out there.
A big reason behind their success from an offensive perspective is their power play. The Winterhawks have been able to capitalize with the extra skater in each of their seven games during the streak, including striking multiple times in three of their last four games. Like at even strength, they are spreading the goal-scoring wealth on the power play, with seven different goal-scorers showing that both units have been able to produce. This is one of the many reasons why they are so dangerous, as they continue to make teams pay on the man advantage.
As for their defensive play, this separates Portland from the rest of the league. During this streak, they have allowed one or fewer goals in five of the seven games, with the two expectations being a five-goal outburst by the Kelowna Rockets and a two-goal game against the Vancouver Giants. While they have played well as a unit, much of the credit should go to goaltender Jan Špunar, who has been one of if not the best goaltenders in the WHL up to this point.
Through his first six games of the season, which have all come during this streak, Špunar has been almost impossible to beat. He has stopped 142 of the 148 shots he has faced and holds a 1.06 Goals Against Average. While he hasn't been the busiest goaltender in the league, having only faced over 30 shots once, he makes saves when he needs to and has become the backbone of this team. If he can keep up this form, not only will he be in the running for CHL Goaltender of the Year, but also should hear his name called at the 2024 NHL Draft.
While the season has only just started, the Winterhawks have firmly placed themselves in the conversation for not just WHL Champions but Memorial Cup Champions. This is a team that plays together as a unit and looks to be getting better as the win streak continues. If they keep playing as they have for the rest of the season, they could come close or even surpass the franchise record for wins with 57, which was set the last time they were Memorial Cup-bound during the 2012-13 season.