Kootenay 3 Portland 2
CRANBROOK, B.C. — Forward Joe Antilla scored at 6:12 of overtime as the Kootenay Ice won 3-2 over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 3 of the Western Hockey League finals on Tuesday night.
That gives the Ice a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series. Game 4 is Wednesday night in Cranbrook, B.C.
Antilla took a pass in the high slot from Max Reinhart and scored with a wrist shot high on the glove side. It was Antilla’s second overtime goal in this post-season.
The Ice forced overtime with a goal late in the third period. Drew Czerwonka had a partial breakaway and scored with a backhand-to-forehand deke while falling down.
Ice opened the scoring at 17:53 of the first period, as Kevin King picked the puck up in the circle and fired a wrist shot just under the cross bar. King extended his point streak to six games and has four goals in the series.
Sixty seconds later the Winterhawks tied the game as Ty Rattie took a drop pass from Craig Cunningham and fired a wrist shot that beat Portland goalie Mac Carruth high on the glove side.
Winterhawks took a 2-1 lead early in the third period as Rattie found a wide open Sven Bartchi who scored into an empty net with a one-timer. Bartchi has five goals in the series.
With the victory, the Ice have tied a franchise record with seven straight wins at home.
Notes: The game included a 15-year-old on each roster. Ice forward Sam Reinhart and Winterhawks forward Nic Petan both played in their second game of the series.