The Portland Winterhawks pick up their fourth straight win to start the season fighting off the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers in overtime.
After a hot start to the season winning their first three games the Portland Winterhawks were looking to extend their streak. In Period 1, the Winterhawks got off to a solid start with James Stefan scoring the early goal. Mintues later Winterhawks Luca Cagnoni added another goal putting the Hawks up 2-0. Not to be out done, Hawks goalie Dante Giannuzzi made several stellar saves to keep the Tigers scoreless through the first period.
In the second period the Tigers came out hot with Tomas Mrsic getting on the board. Both teams flexed their muscle as the teams saw mutliple opportunities turned away by each goaltender. Eventually Josh Zakreski found the back of the net for the Winterhawks putting them up 3-1 at the end of period 2.
In period 3 the Tigers found a second wind. Solid backchecking and defense on both sides kept the intensity high. However, as the period wanned the Tigers began to seize momentum when Alex Drover scored putting the game within reach at 3-2 with a little over three mintues remaining. That was enough to boost the Tigers who immediately took advantage of the Winterhawks inability to clear the zone; when Tigers Brendan Lee pounced on an open opportunity to tie the game, sending things into overtime.
Per WHL rules overtime consists of one 5-minute period of 3v3 play. Each team had opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net. However, it was the Winterhawks who took advantage of miscommunication by the Tigers where Kyle Chyzowski netted the overtime winnner for the Hawks.
Game #4: Portland (4) vs Medicine Hat (3) *OT
SOG: POR (41) – MH (23)
PP: POR (0/0) – MH (0/2)
Saves: Giannuzzi (20/23) – Langkow (37/40)
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