The Portland Winterhawks scored four goals in the third period — three by Paul Bittner — to erase a 2-1 deficit on their way to a 5-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday night at Memorial Coliseum.
A sellout crowd of 10,108 tossed out 11,862 teddy bears when Keoni Texeira scored the Winterhawks first goal at 4:43 in the second period.
The stuffed toys will be distributed to children in need.
Texeira’s goal, his first of the season, cut the Seattle lead to 2-1.
Bittner scored twice on the power play in the third to give the Winterhawks the lead and then he completed the hat trick with an empty netter.
The Portland win gave the Winterhawks a split of back-to-back games with the Thunderbirds.
Next up for Portland is a home date with Everett on Tuesday. The Silvertips are in second place in the U.S. Division, two points behind division-leading Portland.
