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Winterhawks win at Kelowna for 2-1 series lead | The Columbian

KELOWNA, B.C. — In a game that favored the Kelowna Rockets, the Portland Winterhawks came up with a big win.

Nino Niederreiter scored twice for Portland, with his goals coming nine minutes apart in the second period, as the Winterhawks beat Kelowna 5-4 in Western Hockey League playoff action on Tuesday night.

Portland now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 after dropping the opener last Thursday at the Rose Garden.

Yet, it could have easily been Kelowna holding the series lead, as the Rockets played a defensive, grinding game that limited and frustrated Portland’s free-flowing offense.

The Rockets’ style, however, led to 10 power plays for Portland, and the Winterhawks cashed in three times, essentially earning victory with special-teams play.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Niederreiter. “It was pretty tight through the neutral zone and even in their zone. We didn’t get that many chances, but, the chances we had, we beared down, and that’s how we won.”

Joe Morrow, Tyler Wotherspoon and Riley Boychuk also scored for Portland, which trailed 2-1 after the first period, but led 4-3 after 40 minutes. Ryan Johansen chipped in with three assists for the winners.

Geordie Wudrick and Tyson Barrie, with goals in the first period, Brett Bulmer, who made it 3-all late in the second, and Colton Sissons replied for the Rockets.

Kelowna outshot Portland, 42-37.

The second-round series resumes tonight in Kelowna with Game 4.

Mac Carruth turned aside 38 shots for the Winterhawks, including a key stop with 4.6 seconds left that secured the win.

With Kelowna having pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker and the puck in Portland’s end, the Rockets won the faceoff and drew it back to Geordie Wudrick, who, at the top of the left circle, snapped a labelled shot. Carruth, though, came up with a quick glove save.

Adam Brown made 32 saves for the Rockets, who went 1-for-7 with the extra man advantage.

“We took some lazy penalties, but that’s playoff hockey,” said Johansen, who, including a hat trick in Sunday’s 6-3 win, now has six points in his last two games. “Guys are going to try and get under your skin and stuff, but we did a good job of taking advantage of our odd-man opportunities, and I thought we did a good job of getting the puck to the net.”

Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said what cost his team wasn’t Portland’s power play, but something else.

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