Nikolishin with the Winner; Rebels Edge Portland 4-3 In
Published on February 27, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
The Portland Winterhawks were in town for their first game in Red Deer since December 2013. Coming into the 32nd meeting between these two clubs, the Rebels led the all-time series 15-14-2.
FIRST PERIOD
Portland opened the scoring in this game while the teams were playing 4 on 4. Blake Heinrich snapped one off the bar and past Trevor Martin for his 6th goal of the year 9:39 into the opening period for a 1-0 Winterhawks lead.
SECOND PERIOD
The Rebels tied the game just over five minutes into the middle frame. Evan Polei was poke checked in the slot but Haydn Fleury found the loose puck and blasted home his 10th goal of the year.
Portland retook the lead just 41 second later as Heinrich again went bar down for his second goal of the night.
It was a mere 55 seconds later when the Rebels tied the game for a second time. Portland turned the puck over at the Rebels blue line, allowing Adam Helewka to go in alone and beat Adin Hill for his 34th goal of the year. The game was tied 2-2 7:28 into period two.
THIRD PERIOD
The Rebels took the lead for the first time when Grayson Pawlenchuk fired on net, Hill got a piece of it but not enough to keep the puck out of Portland's net. After another lengthy review, Pawlenchuk was confirmed to have scored his 20th goal of the year. Brandon Hagel and Austin Strand assisted on the goal that put Red Deer ahead 3-2 2:09 into period three.
Portland hung around and generated a few scoring chances before tying the game with just over five minutes remaining. Captain Dominic Turgeon snapped one top shelf past Martin for his 30th goal of the year, 3-3.
OVERTIME
With just under a minute remaining, Helewka fed a beautiful pass to a wide open Ivan Nikolishin, who fired home his 31st goal of the year. The Rebels skated away with a thrilling 4-3 victory.
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