WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Defeat Medicine Hat 5-3 Tuesday Night

Published on October 20, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Portland Winterhawks scored four straight goals to overcome a 3-1 first period deficit and earn a 5-3 win in Medicine Hat over the Tigers Tuesday night.

Medicine Hat opened the scoring just 2:37 into the game on a goal by their leading scorer, Bretton Cameron. But Portland bounced right back, tying the game just 36 seconds later on Luke Walker's eighth goal of the season. Midway through the period, Medicine Hat scored two goals in a span of 1:35 from Kale Kessy and Wacey Hamilton to make it 3-1, a score that would hold through the end of the period.

In the second period the Winterhawks cut into the lead when Brad Ross made it 3-2 just 3:42 into the frame with his seventh goal of the season. Portland then tied the game at 3-3 late in the period at the 17:35 mark when Spencer Bennett beat Tigers goaltender Tyler Bunz on a power play, Bennett's sixth goal of the season.

Portland then took their first lead of the game 4:36 into the third period when Nino Niederreiter went top shelf on Bunz for his seventh goal of the season to give the Winterhawks the 4-3 advantage.

With under a minute to go and the Hawks holding onto their one-goal lead, Medicine Hat pulled goaltender Bunz for an extra attacker. With the Tigers pressing for the tying goal, the Winterhawks cleared the zone, and Bennett took a shot from an awkward angle in Medicine Hat's end that found its way into the empty net to seal a 5-3 win for Portland.

After giving up the three first period goals, Winterhawks netminder Ian Curtis was perfect through the final two periods, earning his fifth win of the season. The victory evened Portland's record at 2-2 on their six-game road trip, and improved their record to 9-5 on the season.

Niederreiter's goal Tuesday extended his point streak to eight games, a span in which he's posted four goals and six assists for 10 points.

The Winterhawks were 1-4 on the power play, while going 3-4 on the power play.

Portland continues their six-game road trip tomorrow night in Lethbridge as they take on former Winterhawk Radim Valchar and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, beginning at 6 p.m. Listen live at Freedom 970 AM.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2009


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