Everett Down, Chilliwack and Seattle to go...

Last night was a big win for the Hawks. It was big for three reasons, and yet if they go out and lay an egg this coming weekend in Chilliwack and Seattle it will all be for not...

1 - Portland played pretty dang well in back to back games, beating two tough US Division foes. After the egg they laid against Spokane the other night, it is good to get some consistent quality hockey going. Yesterday I mentioned they needed to get the quality going again, and last night was the first step.

2 - Mac Carruth seems to have stepped up and laid claim to being the guy come playoff time. He got his first shut out in the WHL last night, and that came off of a good game against TC on Saturday. It appears that the nightmare of 2/23 is over for him and with two more games he should get starts in both if his quality of play remains high. This team just looks more fired up to play in front of Mac then they have showed recently playing in front of Ian.

3 - Portland is pretty much locked into 5th in the West. It would be easy to "rest" for the playoffs. Instead Portland has shown the attitude the last two nights that they want to get back on a roll going into the post season. Lines seem to have been shifted and Ty Rattie has gotten it going on that third line. This is all about building into post season play and I am pretty excited to see this team, the one from the last couple of games not the one that played Spokane the other night, play in the post season.

The Boosters have two buses heading to Kent for the Seattle game on Saturday. Should be a fun trip, heck Portland started the 2009 - 2010 season whipping up Seattle on opening night, should be the same results this time.