Hawks cool down over weekend

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Portland's hot streak ends with back-to-back losses in Spokane
Jan. 22, 2012
Portland goaltender Mac Carruth earned the CHL's Goaltender of the Week honor Tuesday, but lost twice this weekend.
File photo.

The hottest team in the Western Hockey League, the Portland Winterhawks, stumbled for the first time in more than five weeks with a rare two-game skid.

Portland, which had won 10 of its previous 11 games, lost a pair of lopsided decisions in Spokane Saturday and Sunday and returned home still trailing Tri-City by six points in the US Division standings.

The Hawks, who lost 5-2 and then 6-1, play host to Everett at Memorial Coliseum Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Portland enters Tuesday's game at 30-14-2-1, 63 points, with Tri-City leading the division at 34-11-0-1, 69 points.

Everett is fifth in the division at 10-28-1-8, 29 points.

Portland lost three road games before beating the Americans in Spokane, Dec. 17, which started a six-game win streak. After a road loss at Vancouver, B.C., the Hawks ripped off four more wins heading to Spokane.

Goalie Mac Carruth, named goaltender of the week on Tuesday, gave up five goals on 33 shots Saturday, and five goals on 19 shots Sunday before being replaced by Brendan Burke in the second period.

 

CARRUTH EARNS GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Jan. 18, 2012

Portland will head into a stretch of four road games in a week against US Division rivals with the top goalkeeper in the CHL, Mac Carruth.

Carruth, who recorded 95 saves and gave up just three goals in three wins last week, was named the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week Tuesday. He becomes the 15th goaltender to be named to the award in the 16 weeks CHL teams have been in action. Only one goalie, Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls of Ontario, Canada, has received the award twice.

Portland begins its road stretch, which also includes a home game Tuesday against Everett, Saturday at Spokane.

The Hawks are busy chasing Tri-City for the division lead with a 30-12-2-1 record for 63 points, which is tied for third in the WHL overall. Tri-City leads the WHL at 34-10-0-0, 68 points.

Following a 5-1 win over Tri-City Monday, Portland is 1-5 against the Americans this season with three games between the teams left before the 72-game regular season schedule ends, March 18.