The Winterhawks struck early again in the second period. Kayd Ruedig’s shot from the point gave Portland a power play goal of their own to make it a 4-2 game.
But for the third time, the Blazers battled back and got a goal. Vit Zahejsky faked a wrist shot in the slot and fed the puck to a wide open Finnie on the right side to make it a 4-3 game.
The Blazers pressed with 16 shots in the third period, including a shorthanded breakaway by Finnie and a rebound stop off John Szabo, but the Winterhawks held on for the 4-3 win.
The Blazers fall to 22-34-4-1 on the 2024-25 WHL season, good for 49 points in 61 games. They’re 10th in the Western Conference, trailing the Seattle Thunderbirds for the eighth and final WHL playoff spot by four points. The Blazers have seven games remaining in the regular season while the Thunderbirds have eight.
The Blazers return home to welcome the Vancouver Giants to Sandman Centre Saturday (March 8) at 6:00 p.m.
**Scoring Summary**
_First Period_
1-0, Winterhawks, Joel Plante (5) from Tyson Jugnauth and Alex Weiermair, 0:30
1-1, Blazers, Jordan Keller (28) from Tommy Lafreniere and Emmitt Finnie (power play), 8:37
2-1, Winterhawks, Diego Buttazzoni (33) from Carter Sotheran and Ryder Thompson, 15:13
3-1, Winterhawks, Josh Zakreski (33) unassisted, 16:06
3-2, Blazers, Jordan Keller 2 (29) from Emmitt Finnie and Harrison Brunicke (power play), 19:55
_Second Period_
4-2, Winterhawks, Kayd Ruedig (4) from Max Psenicka and Joel Plante (power play), 2:42
4-3, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (34) from Vit Zahejsky and Oren Shtrom, 7:11
_Third Period_
No scoring.
_Goaltending_
Ondrej Stebetak (W), Winterhawks, 40 saves on 43 shots in 60 minutes played.
Dylan Ernst (L), Blazers, 36 saves on 40 shots in 58 minutes played.