The long weekend ended with a 7-4 loss for the weary Winterhawks

Portland takes a 2-0 lead, but in its fourth game in five days, it fades, gives up the lead and ultimately falls 7-4 to Spokane. Spokane wins both games of 2-game series; Portland ends a difficult week at 1-3.

Foreplay: Spokane was a clear favorite as the higher-ranked team won the first game of the series and was expected to tire Portland given its schedule. Dawson Cowan started twice for Spokane; Portland continued to alternate goalkeepers with Marek Schlenker.

1st period: Portland took a 2-0 lead, but Spokane got things on their terms as the quarter wore on, scoring two goals to tie the game at the end of the quarter.

2nd period: Portland was tied 3-3 at halftime, but two goals from Spokane in three minutes, the last from a penalty, gave them a 5-3 lead in a stretch in which they outscored Portland 16-8.

3rd period: Kyle McDonough got Portland within a goal, but Berkly Catton pulled the score back with a shot from an awkward angle, and Spokane took control from there, outscoring Portland 15-8 and scoring an unanswered goal for a lead of 3 goals.

This is how it was won: Spokane wins the special teams battle against Portland, which has relied on its special teams for most of the season. They went 2-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the kill.

Key stretch/moment: Portland had cut the lead to 5-4 and was a little threatening to tie the score, but Catton’s goal almost at the goal line increased it to 6-4 and restored order.

Surprising: Spokane conceded 4 goals after a 5 game stretch in which they only allowed 7.

No wonder: They lost special teams, but Portland has scored a power-play goal in seven straight games.

Best team won?: Yes.

Injuries/Suspensions: Josh Zakreski left midway through the game and didn’t return, so that’s concerning. Hudson Darby missed his second straight game. Asanali Sarkenov, who scored two goals in Saturday’s game, did not play for Spokane.

Portland

1-3 per week may not be equivalent, but given the schedule, it’s not far below average either. And they probably stayed in this game longer than they were entitled to. They now regroup for a Friday-Saturday series with Vancouver, an important series with another team in the 6th-11th seed group that is fairly close.

Spokane

They have now won 6 times in a row and are favorites to win the next 4, giving them a 10 game winning streak. On the other hand, they probably would have wanted to put Portland away a little easier than they did.

Saturday, December 7th vs. Vancouver, 6:00 p.m. PST

Sunday, December 8th vs. Vancouver, 4:00 p.m. PST

Next away game: Wednesday, December 11th in Everett, 7 p.m. PST

Looking ahead: Saturday, December 14th vs. Seattle, 6:00 p.m. PST

Next game with Spokane: Tuesday, December 17th vs. Spokane, 7 p.m. PST