Suddenly, it’s a series: Winterhawks lose 5-1

The Kamloops Blazers scored the final five goals Tuesday night, picking up their first win of the Western Conference finals with a 5-1 victory over the Portland Winterhawks.

The Winterhawks hold a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Kamloops. Game 5 will be Friday in Portland.

The Winterhawks hope to have a 3-1 lead by then, but the momentum is going the Blazers’ way today.

Kamloops scored four goals in the second period to take a 5-1 lead. Joel Edmundson and Aaron Macklin gave the Blazers a 3-1 lead, then Tim Bozon scored twice — just two minutes apart — for the four-goal advantage

Kamloops netminder Cole Cheveldave finished with 35 saves.

The Blazers tied the match on a first-period goal from Colin Smith, after Portland jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a 5-on-3 power play.

Ty Rattie scored for the Winterhawks, giving him 44 post-season goals in his career. He is three shy of the Western Hockey League’s all-time record holder, Mark Pederson.