The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Kelowna Rockets 5-4 in overtime on Saturday night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Joachim Blichfeld(2) opened the scoring for the Winterhawks capitalizing on the first power play of the night. The Hawks collected another power play goal from Kieffer Bellows(4) before Henri Jokiharju(4) scored during 4-on-4 play to give Portland a 3-0 lead. They held that lead into the second period.
5:43 into the middle frame Keoni Texeira was assessed a major for checking to the head and the Rockets took to a five minute power play. Carsen Twarynski(2) capitalized on the PP opportunity to draw Kelowna within two. With just under five minutes remaining in the period Erik Gardiner(3) beat Winterhawks goaltender Cole Kehler and the Rockets trailed 3-2 heading into the final frame.
Kyle Topping picked off a pass attempt made by goaltender Cole Kehler at 4:44 of the third period and ripped home his fourth of the season into the empty net to even things at three-a-piece. Portland quickly regained the lead as Brad Ginnell(3) notched Portland’s third power play goal of the night. After Kelowna goaltender James Porter made a huge breakaway save on Ginnell to hold the Hawks to a one goal lead, the Rockets took the puck the other way and Carsen Twarynski(3) buried his second of the night to even things at 4-4. After overcoming a 3-0 deficit the Rockets took it to overtime.
Just 24 seconds into the extra frame Skyler McKenzie ended the Rockets comeback attempt winning it 5-4 in Portland’s favour.
James Porter stopped 34 of 39 shots he faced as his record now sits at 1-0-1-0.
Carsen Twarynski (2G), Erik Gardiner (1G, 1A), Kyle Topping (1G, 1A), and Dillon Dube (2A) all had two-point performances.
The Rockets collect a point with their record falling to 4-2-1-1.
Kelowna and Portland are back at it tomorrow night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a rematch of Saturday night. Puck drop is at 5:00pm. The Rockets then travel to Kennewick, WA for a Tuesday night meeting with the Tri-City Americans. Puck drop for that one is at 7:05pm.
The Rockets are at home again on Friday, October 20th, and again on Saturday, October 21st, when they host the Portland Winterhawks on back-to-back nights at Prospera Place.
Comments