WINTERHAWKS UP 2-0

PORTLAND, Ore. (CP) – Brendan Leipsic had a goal and an assist in his return from a one-game suspension, and the Portland Winterhawks defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-1 in Game 2 of the Western Hockey League final Sunday.

Portland leads the series 2-0, with Games 3 and 4 coming Tuesday and Wednesday in Edmonton.

Chase De Leo and Paul Bitter also scored for Portland, while goaltender Corbin Boes made 28 saves in victory.

Henrik Samuelsson scored a third-period goal for Edmonton, which got 29 saves from Tristan Jarry in defeat.

Portland has now won 24 straight games at home, including all eight in the post-season. The Winterhawks last lost on home ice on Jan. 4. Overall, Portland has won 42 of its last 45 games dating to the regular season.

De Leo opened the scoring 2:12 into the game with a long wrist shot that squeezed between the pads of Jarry.

Leipsic scored his 13th goal of the playoffs 1:02 later to give Portland a 2-0 lead and force the Oil Kings to use their timeout.

Bittner made it 3-0 at the 4:32 mark of the second period as his shot from just inside the blue-line hit Oil Kings defenceman Dysin Mayo and fluttered into the net.

Samuelsson gave the Oil Kings a glimmer of hope when he deflected a shot by Ashton Sautner past Boes for a power-play goal with 6:28 remaining in regulation. Edmonton couldn’t pull any closer, though, despite a spirited push in the final minutes.

The Oil Kings finished 1 for 3 with the man advantage, while Portland failed to convert on four power-play opportunities.