SILVERTIPS UPDATE
Published 12:01 am Sunday, December 13, 2009
Today’s game
Opponent: Portland Winterhawks
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Live blogging: cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/silvertipsblog
Scouting report
Tonight is the fifth of 10 meetings between Everett and Portland this season. The Winterhawks hold a 3-1 series lead. Portland won the last meeting, prevailing 4-3 in overtime when the teams met Tuesday in Everett.
Portland (20-13-0-1 after Saturday night’s game at Tri-City) has recovered after going through a brief rough patch. The Winterhawks won four of their past five going into Saturday, with the only defeat coming in a shootout.
Portland features plenty of offensive firepower, led by 20-year-old center Chris Francis (15 goals, 23 assists) and 17-year-old left wing Nino Niederreiter (19 goals, 17 assists). The status of 19-year-old right wing Luke Walker (15 goals, 15 assists), who underwent surgery after taking a puck to his face Tuesday, is unknown.
In goal, 19-year-old Ian Curtis (10-4-0-1, 3.62 goals against average, .896 save percentage) had a solid performance in earning the win Tuesday.
Portland will be without enforcer Tayler Jordan, who received a three-game suspension from the league after squirting referee Andy Thiessen with water during Tuesday’s game.
Nick Patterson, Herald Writer
