KENNEWICK, Wash. - In a matchup between two of the top 17-year-old goaltenders in the Western Hockey League, Portland’s Brendan Burke got the firepower he needed up front to outduel Tri-City’s Eric Comrie on Friday night.
Taylor Peters and Oliver Bjorkstrand each had a goal and an assist and Burke stopped 43-of-46 shots as the Winterhawks held on for a 4-3 victory over the Americans.
The win improves Burke's record to 11-3-1 while his goals-against average has dropped to 2.79 and his save percentage is at .898.
“Our team, I thought, played a good team game,” said Portland coach Travis Green, who is missing three players to the World Junior Championship and two to the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. “A gutty performance by a lot of guys, and both goalies played great.”
Kirill Vorobev and Taylor Leier also scored for the Winterhawks (30-5-1), who extended their winning streak to seven games.
Justin Feser had a pair of goals for the Americans (20-13-3) and Connor Rankin scored the other.
Comrie turned aside 34 shots in a losing cause for Tri-City, which have dropped four of five meetings this season to Portland.
Portland went 2 for 3 on the power play while Tri-City scored twice on five chances with the man advantage.
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