Hawks’ Podkonicky Makes Own Luck

Key player

If there is any consolation for the Spokane Chiefs in their 4-2 loss to Portland to end the round robin portion of the Memorial Cup on Thursday night at the Arena, it’s that the Winter Hawks beat them.

No one could say Portland’s goals were lucky, though one Winter Hawk tried.

In fact, they were downright beautiful.

Leading the way were center Andrej Podkonicky, with a goal and two assists, and right wing Marian Hossa, who had two goals and an assist.

Podkonicky leads the tournament in scoring with six goals - two short of the record - and 10 points. In 16 Western Hockey League playoff games, the eighth round draft choice of the St. Louis Blues had four goals and 16 points.

“Just shoot the puck and (they) go in. Luck. I don’t know,” said Podkonicky.

Luck has little to do with it. Hossa, a first-round pick of Ottawa last June, and Podkonicky are not just linemates, they are countrymen from Slovakia, who also played together in the World Junior Tournament.

“We play all year together, so I know where he is and he knows where I am,” Podkonicky said.

It showed.

Podkonicky scored on a rebound after a great play from Hossa to tie the game 2-2 in the second period. Hossa went around two Chiefs and, while going down, got a shot on goalie David Haun. Podkonicky was alone to the right of the goal to knock in the puck.

“That was great work by Hoss … that was just a rebound goal.” Podkonicky said. “Lucky.”

Then Hossa scored the game-winner midway through the third period on a great give-and-go with Podkonicky. Hossa sent the puck low into the corner to Haun’s right. Podkonicky returned the puck with a behind-the-back pass and Hossa skated across the ice and flipped a backhand over the diving Haun.

Hossa scored an empty-net goal from the crease with 10 seconds left by outworking the Chiefs.

The difference between the Memorial Cup and the WHL playoffs is familiarity, Podkonicky said.

“Val-d’Or and Guelph, I think we have more room,” he said. “Like Spokane and other teams, every team knows our lines, so they watch us pretty good. They just don’t give us any room. So they play us pretty well. Other teams give me, Hoss and (left wing Mike) Hurley room, and we just keep scoring goals.”