WINTERHAWKS 3 PATS 1

Photo courtesy Jared Dumba

REGINA — The Portland Winterhawks earned a 3-1 win Tuesday in Regina despite being outshot 35-30. With the victory, the Hawks improved to 2-1 on the season-high six-game road trip through the East Division.

Portland got off to a flying start with a pair of special teams goals in the first period. Keegan Iverson opened the scoring with a power play goal 6:33 into the game for a 1-0 lead. They padded the lead at the 12:30 mark while shorthanded when Skyler McKenzie pounced on a long rebound and fired it past Regina netminder Tyler Brown for a 2-0 lead Portland took into the second. It was McKenzie’s first career WHL goal.

Regina got one back 36 seconds into the second on a goal from Dryden Hunt as they got within one at 2-1, the lone goal of the period.

With under two minutes to play in the third and the game still 2-1, the Regina Pats took a pair of penalties to give Portland a 5-on-3 power play. While on the two-man advantage, Miles Koules found Chase De Leo on the doorstep, and he banged it home for a 3-1 lead which would stand as the final.

De Leo finished with two points with a goal and an assist, while Nic Petan also had two points on a pair of helpers.

Portland was outstanding on special teams Tuesday, going 2-4 on the power play and a perfect 7-7 on the penalty kill with a shorthanded goal.

Regina’s next game is Friday at Swift Current while their next home game is Saturday against the Broncos at 7 pm on 620 CKRM.

(Courtesy Graham Kendrick)