After a disastrous loss on Friday, it felt like the Winterhawks might never break Spokane’s hold over them, but, on Saturday, they stopped the losing streak to the Chiefs at 16 games. The streak, which began on February 25, 2025, is now over.
Friday: Spokane Chiefs 6, Portland Winterhawks 5
Tigers 6, Winterhawks 5, plus Chiefs-Winterhawks weekend preview
Spokane Chiefs at Portland Winterhawks: Gameday, November 6, 2026
box score link
1st 1:14 POR Kyle McDonough (Nathan Brown, Stevie Grumley) 1-0
1st 9:30 POR Jordan Duguay (Will McLaughlin) 2-0
1st 9:52 SPO Jan Brabenec (Roughing) 2min
1st 9:52 POR Cameron Jacobson (Roughing) 2min
1st 10:19 POR Nathan Brown (Tripping) 2min PP
1st 11:28 SPO (PP) Gavin Burcar (Chase Harrington) 2-1
1st 14:05 SPO Matěj Tománek (Tripping) 2min PP
1st 14:18 POR (PP) Trevor Toyne (Will McLaughlin) 3-1
1st 15:34 SPO Ethan Hughes (Roughing) 2min PP
1st 15:39 POR (PP) Sam Spehar (Jordan Duguay) 4-1
2nd 1:07 POR Luke Wilfley (David Hoy) 5-1
2nd 3:23 POR Sam Spehar (Tripping) 2min PP
2nd 6:30 SPO Tristen Buckley (Holding) 2min PP
2nd 7:09 SPO Gavin Burcar (Roughing) 2min
2nd 7:09 POR Sam Spehar (Roughing) 2min
2nd 9:28 POR Jordin St. Louis (Slashing) 2min PP
2nd 13:38 SPO Chase Harrington (Charging) 2min
2nd 13:38 POR Nathan Brown (Cross Checking) 2min
2nd 18:26 SPO Cohen Harris (Parker Colmer, Brody Gillespie) 5-2
3rd :26 SPO Marek Howell (Luca Jarvis, Matěj Tománek) 5-3
3rd 2:24 SPO Matěj Tománek (Marek Howell, Gavin Burcar) 5-4
3rd 2:54 SPO Luca Jarvis (Matěj Tománek) 5-5
3rd 13:06 SPO Tyus Sparks (Chase Harrington, Marek Howell) 5-6
3rd 15:09 POR Avery Laliberte (Cross Checking) 2min PP
3rd 20:00 SPO Chase Harrington (Roughing) 2min
3rd 20:00 SPO Chase Harrington (10-Minute Misconduct) 10min
3rd 20:00 SPO Tyus Sparks (Roughing) 2min
3rd 20:00 SPO Tyus Sparks (10-Minute Misconduct) 10min
3rd 20:00 POR Nathan Brown (Roughing) 2min
3rd 20:00 POR Nathan Brown (10-Minute Misconduct) 10min
3rd 20:00 POR Luke Wilfley (Roughing) 2min
3rd 20:00 POR Luke Wilfley (10-Minute Misconduct) 10min
Bryce Francisco SPO 3 saves-7 shots
Alexander Watren SPO 9 saves-10 shots
Cruz Chase POR 30 saves-36 shots
Talking points
We thought Wednesday’s 6-5 loss was bad. The 16th loss in a row by the Winterhawks to Spokane might have been the most painful (ignoring things like playoffs). They led 5-1 with 2 minutes left in the 2nd period. Within 5 more minutes of hockey, it was 5-5, and then Tyus Sparks got the winner with 6:54 left, the Chiefs winning 6-5.
How did it happen? First of all, if Portland had won, the story would have been Spokane’s poor goaltending. With top goalie Carter Esler out, Bryce Francisco got the start, and he was way off. He allowed 4 goals on 7 shots; 2 of them were really bad and all 4 were iffy. Alexander Watren came in for his second WHL game in the 2nd period, and showed his rust as he gave up a bad goal on his first shot faced, although he played better later. But it put Portland into a position they hadn’t earned; they weren’t up 5-1 because they were playing well. They only had 16 shots through 2, although they were only down in shots 23-16.
But the 3rd period hit with Portland up 5-2. Marek Howell scored a soft goal from the blue line, and at that point Spokane, who are the best team in the league right now, went into another gear. And Portland got the deer in the headlights look and dropped into neutral. The Winterhawks became the very definition of the stationary target, being outshot 13-1 in the 3rd period.
A tough thing for Portland to take was that they actually did a good job of keeping Spokane’s start line of Chase Harrington, Owen Martin, and Tyus Sparks in check much of the game. But in the 3rd it was their less heralded 2nd line of Matěj Tománek, Gavin Burcar, and Luca Jarvis, along with a big game from Marek Howell, that killed them. They created the three goals that tied it. You could argue that top line softened Portland up much of the game, and then they took over to combine for the winner late in the game. Spokane was also missing top defenseman Rhett Sather to suspension, which makes it even more tough to take.
Not to single him out too much, because the whole team was bad in the 3rd (outshot 13-1, again), but Cruz Chase’s mistakes showed up on the scoreboard. His goals weren’t as bad as those given up by Spokane, but all of them were to some extent stoppable. One or two more stops early in that 3rd period might have stopped the rest of the team from falling apart (that they did fall apart was of course on them). He did play pretty well in the first two, and you have to get your backup some minutes sometime. And he wasn’t any worse than anyone else in the 3rd.
Portland’s defensive numbers did take another hit, moving from 2nd before Wednesday’s game to 10th.
Best
1 Marek Howell SPO 1 goal, 2 assists
2 Gavin Burcar SPO 1 goal, 1 assist
3 Matěj Tománek SPO 1 goal, 2 assists
4 Luca Jarvis SPO 1 goal, 1 assist
5 Tyus Sparks SPO 1 goal
6 Chase Harrington SPO 2 assists
7 Cohen Harris SPO 1 goal
8 Sam Spehar POR 1 goal
9 Trevor Toyne POR 1 goal
10 Kyle McDonough POR 1 goal
You could consider Alexander Watren to an extent for settling things down in goal, although he became a spectator in the 3rd period.
Burcar might get a second assist when they review. He’s a B-rated prospect who hasn’t put up a lot of numbers so far, but he demonstrated why he’s rated so highly.
Portland pregame lines
David Hoy-Reed Brown-Jake Gustafson
Kyle McDonough-Luke Wilfley-Nathan Brown
Trevor Toyne-Sam Spehar-Jordan Duguay
Sam Auld-Jordin St. Louis-Alessandro Domenichelli
Stevie Grumley-Will McLaughlin
Avery Laliberte-Easton Dozark
Cameron Jacobson-Luke Christopherson
Spokane pregame lines
Chase Harrington-Owen Martin-Tyus Sparks
Matěj Tománek-Gavin Burcar-Luca Jarvis
Parker Colmer-Brody Gillespie-Cohen Harris
Tristen Buckley-Ethan Hughes-Jan Brabenec
Nolan Saunderson-Owen Schoettler
Harry Mattern-Marek Howell
Bryson Roberts-Nathan Mayes
Shots
Spokane 36
5: M Howell, T Sparks
4: L Jarvis, O Martin, E Hughes
2: B Roberts, G Burcar, H Mattern, T Buckley
1: N Mayes, O Schoettler, C Harris, B Gillespie, C Harrington, M Tománek
0: N Saunderson, P Colmer, J Brabenec
Portland 17
4: S Spehar
3: J Duguay
2: T Toyne
1: S Grumley, S Auld, E Dozark, K McDonough, N Brown, D Hoy, R Brown, L Wilfley
0: A Laliberte, C Jacobson, J St. Louis, L Christopherson, W McLaughlin, J Gustafson, A Domenichelli
Plus-minus
3-0: M Tománek
1-0: T Buckley
0-0: B Roberts, N Mayes, J Brabenec, E Hughes
5-1: H Mattern
3-1: G Burcar, L Jarvis
1-1: P Colmer, C Harris, B Gillespie, T Sparks
0-1: O Schoettler, O Martin
5-2: M Howell
1-2: C Harrington
0-2: N Saunderson
1-0: S Spehar, J Duguay, N Brown, T Toyne
2-1: E Dozark, K McDonough, L Wilfley
1-1: A Laliberte
0-1: C Jacobson, S Auld, J St. Louis, L Christopherson, A Domenichelli
2-3: S Grumley
1-3: W McLaughlin
0-3: J Gustafson, R Brown
1-4: D Hoy
Sparks extended his point streak to 8 games; Harrington to 4 games. Martin’s 7-game point (and goal) streak was stopped. Brabenec’s scoreless streak is at 3 games.
McLaughlin extended his point streak to 3.
Good for the Winterhawks putting people out there after a tough loss.
Saturday: Portland Winterhawks 2, Spokane Chiefs 1
Tigers 6, Winterhawks 5, plus Chiefs-Winterhawks weekend preview
Spokane Chiefs at Portland Winterhawks: Gameday, November 7, 2026
box score link
1st 12:31 SPO Owen Schoettler (Interference) 2min PP
1st 13:08 POR Will McLaughlin (Interference) 2min PP
2nd 0:52 SPO Marek Howell (Embellishment) 2min
2nd 0:52 POR Nathan Brown (Hooking) 2min
2nd 2:25 SPO Brody Gillespie (Holding) 2min PP
2nd 5:50 SPO Tristen Buckley (Jan Brabenec) 0-1
2nd 7:18 POR Will McLaughlin (Holding) 2min PP
2nd 9:45 SPO Cohen Harris (Tripping) 2min PP
2nd 17:57 POR Jordan Duguay (Sam Spehar, David Hoy) 1-1
2nd 18:42 SPO Tristen Buckley (Major-Fighting) 5min
2nd 18:42 POR Jordin St. Louis (Major-Fighting) 5min
2nd 19:36 POR Jake Gustafson (Stevie Grumley, Reed Brown) 2-1
3rd 4:33 SPO Luca Jarvis (Tripping) 2min PP
3rd 6:48 SPO Owen Martin (Hooking) 2min PP
3rd 17:11 POR Trevor Toyne (Tripping) 2min PP
Alexander Watren SPO 29 saves-31 shots
Ondřej Štěbeták POR 24 saves-25 shots
Talking points
This was a very different game, a very low-event defensive game, and Portland ended the losing streak at 16 games.
This time, the Winterhawks were strong in the 3rd period. Protecting a one-goal, they were the better team, outshooting the Chiefs 12-7 and not being threatened all that much, even on a Spokane power play late in the game. The Chiefs helped with back-to-back penalties early in the period, which helped run the clock.
Portland’s defense and goaltending came up big after struggles in the previous two games. Ondřej Štěbeták came back into the lineup and was good in goal. And they held Spokane’s top line, Chase Harrington-Owen Martin-Tyus Sparks, all averaging a point per game, scoreless. Defensemen Avery Laliberte and 16-year-old Easton Dozark get quite a bit of credit there. Portland’s goals allowed, which had dropped from 2nd to 10th after two 6-goal games, moved back to 8th.
Spokane’s 3rd-string goalie Alexander Watren was a challenge. The offense was a struggle for 37 minutes, but then back-to-back goals, both in front of the net, one on a tip by Jordan Duguay, one on a rebound off Jake Gustafson’s body, proved decisive. They created more in the 3rd, but finishing remains an issue, even given that they’d scored 10 in the previous 2 games.
It was a good fightback, both from a goal down in the game and from the tough loss the night before. They snapped a 3-game losing streak, at the time the longest in the league.
Best
1 Jordan Duguay POR 1 goal
2 Ondřej Štěbeták POR 24 saves-25 shots
3 Alexander Watren SPO 29 saves-31 shots
4 Avery Laliberte POR
5 Easton Dozark POR
6 Jake Gustafson POR 1 goal
7 Tristen Buckley SPO 1 goal
8 Jan Brabenec SPO 1 assist
9 Nathan Mayes SPO
10 Stevie Grumley POR 1 assist
Duguay for his tying goal and continuing to create chances for others, and Laliberte and Dozark for their defensive jobs against Spokane’s top line. Gustafson got the winner. Buckley, Brabenec, and Mayes being Spokane’s top players isn’t a recipe for winning.
Portland pregame lines
Alessandro Domenichelli-Reed Brown-Jake Gustafson
Kyle McDonough-Luke Wilfley-Nathan Brown
Jordan Duguay-Sam Spehar-Trevor Toyne
David Hoy-Jordin St. Louis-Ben Miller
Stevie Grumley-Will McLaughlin
Avery Laliberte-Easton Dozark
Liam Reed-Luke Christopherson
Spokane pregame lines
Chase Harrington-Owen Martin-Tyus Sparks
Matěj Tománek-Gavin Burcar-Luca Jarvis
Parker Colmer-Brody Gillespie-Cohen Harris
Tristen Buckley-Ethan Hughes-Jan Brabenec
Owen Schoettler-Rhett Sather
Harry Mattern-Marek Howell
Bryson Roberts-Nathan Mayes
Shots
Spokane 25
4: B Gillespie
3: N Mayes, T Sparks
2: O Schoettler, P Colmer, G Burcar, T Buckley, C Harrington
1: B Roberts, L Jarvis, O Martin, J Brabenec, M Tománek
0: C Harris, H Mattern, M Howell, R Sather, E Hughes
Portland 31
6: S Spehar
4: J Duguay
3: A Laliberte, J St. Louis, A Domenichelli
2: S Grumley, L Reed, W McLaughlin, J Gustafson, D Hoy
1: R Brown, L Wilfley
0: E Dozark, B Miller, K McDonough, L Christopherson, N Brown, T Toyne
Plus-minus
1-0: H Mattern, T Buckley, J Brabenec, E Hughes
0-0: N Mayes, O Schoettler, O Martin, C Harrington, R Sather, T Sparks
0-1: P Colmer, C Harris, G Burcar, L Jarvis, B Gillespie, M Tománek
1-2: M Howell
0-2: B Roberts
1-0: S Grumley, W McLaughlin, J Gustafson, D Hoy, R Brown
0-0: A Laliberte, E Dozark, B Miller, K McDonough, J St. Louis, N Brown, A Domenichelli, L Wilfley
2-1: J Duguay
1-1: S Spehar, L Reed, L Christopherson
0-1: T Toyne
Spehar and Duguay extended their point streaks to 3 games, while McLaughlin had his 3-game streak snapped. Sparks (8) and Harrington (4) had their point streaks snapped, while Brabenec snapped a 3-game scoreless streak.
Weekend summary
Say goodbye to the Chiefs until next March. Thankfully. They can run over a bunch of other teams for awhile.
It’s still hard to get a read with where exactly the Winterhawks are at, playing two entirely different games on the weekend. It sure seems like a track meet doesn’t suit them. Plus they’re 1-5 against Spokane and 6-1-2-1 against everyone else.
Now the Winterhawks hit the road for 6 games in the east, and then one in Everett before their return on November 28. The Saturday win is such a relief because they didn’t need to go into that on a 4-game losing streak, especially with the first game being division-leading Brandon.
