Nic Petan delivered a special goal in the second period and goalie Adin Hill was strong throughout as the Portland Winterhawks beat the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 on Saturday to even the Western Hockey League Western Conference Finals.
Petan’s spinning back-hander found its way past Kelowna goalie Jackson Whistle in the final minute of the second period to provide the winning goal on a night the Winterhawks were smart, quick and strong in their own zone.
A crowd of 5,681 watched at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.
The best-of-7 series is tied 1-1 after the teams split 3-2 verdicts in British Columbia. Games 3 and 4 are on Tuesday and Wednesday at Moda Center in Portland. Both start at 7 p.m.
Petan’s bit of magic came after Kelowna scored two quick power-play goals to tie the score midway through the second period. Petan now has a point in all 13 playoff games this season.
Hill finished with 38 saves and didn’t have a chance on either Kelowna goal. Among those saves were two in the final minute, including one on a good chance from the slot for Nick Merkley.
For the second time in as many games the Winterhawks saw a 2-0 lead disappear quickly.
Dominic Turgeon’s seventh postseason goal put Portland up 2-0 11:46 into the second period. But the Rockets responded with two quick power-play goals to even it up within four minutes.
Rourke Chartier found an open net on a cross-ice feed from Merkley to convert on an Oliver Bjorkstrand penalty at 13:29. Next, Dillon Dube scored through traffic after Miles Koules was cited for holding.
But instead of Kelowna building momentum from those goals, it was the Winterhawks who accelerated their effort. They created several scoring chances in the moments following Kelowna’s tying goal. And that speed finally produced some magic.
Bjorkstrand sent a cross-ice pass that allowed Petan to enter the zone with speed along the right wing. As he drove toward the net, Petan spun backwards to create space and his backhand shot deflected off of Whistle and just inside the post.
In the third period, the Winterhawks focused on playing smart positional hockey. As a result they limited the Rockets to 10 shots on goal in the third period. Portland was especially good at getting to any loose puck that might have turned into a Kelowna scoring chance.
Portland led 1-0 at the end of the first period on a Paul Bittner power-play goal 16:33 into the game. A quick passing sequence ended with Chase De Leo finding Bittner in front.
Turgeon’s goal also came on a transition play. Evan Weinger sped to the net with the puck but did not get a clean shot away. Miles Koules collected the puck behind the net and found Turgeon open on the doorstep.
Whistle was solid for a second consecutive night, finishing with 29 saves. Kelowna was 2 for 4 on the power play, Portland 1 for 4.
This was the first loss in seven playoff home games this season for Kelowna, and the first time the Rockets have been even in a series. It is the third consecutive series that Portland won Game 2 after dropping Game 1.
