Winterhawks set for big finale

By Steve Brandon

The Portland Tribune, Mar 4, 2010

If you had told Portland Winterhawks General Manger/coach Mike Johnston before the season that his team would have 40 wins with five games remaining in the Western Hockey League regular season, "I'd take that, for sure."

Especially after finishing with 19 victories the year before.

But the 2009-10 Winterhawks are hoping for more. They've qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four years, and their five final regular-season games will determine whether they open the postseason with home-ice advantage.

"It's key to get it," Johnston says, "although we've been a good road team."

One of the Hawks' biggest games of the season is 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Rose Garden against the Spokane Chiefs. Those two teams are battling for the No. 4 playoff seed in the Western Conference and the home-ice edge in a best-of-seven series.

Portland is 40-24-2-1 (83 points), and Spokane went into a Wednesday night game at Kelowna with a 40-21-3-1 record (84 points).

With Spokane having one more game left to play than Portland, the Hawks desperately need a victory Friday.

Johnston still entertains hopes of moving up to the No. 3 slot, where Everett sits at 42-19-3-2 (89 points) and has six games remaining.

That would take some doing, particularly because the Hawks still have a game left against the top team in the conference, Tri-City, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rose Garden. Tri-City is 45-18-1-2 (93 points).

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