Winterhawks win, take 2-1 series edge

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Portland Winterhawks earned a key road victory in the Western Hockey League final.

Olivier Bjorkstrand and Taylor Leier each had a goal and an assist for Portland in a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday.

Ty Rattie also scored as the Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead in the championship series after Portland had to settle for a split at home.

Michael St. Croix had the lone goal for Edmonton.

Portland opened the scoring at 4:39 of the first after Bjorkstrand eluded Edmonton defender Keegan Lowe along the outside to set up the feed in front to a wide-open Leier.

Rattie doubled the Winterhawks lead with his 17th of the post-season, finishing off an odd-man rush with Nicolas Petan with a wrist shot through Laurent Brossoit’s five-hole at 8:14 of the opening period.

Bjorkstrand sent Portland into the second period with a 3-0 lead after tucking a backhand up high from in tight at 15:48 into the blocker corner.

St. Croix put Edmonton on the board at 9:13 of the second, burying a cross-crease feed from Dylan Wruck in behind Portland netminder Mac Carruth.

Trevor Cheek did not play in the game.