Portland teeters on the edge of a series win, but loses at Kamloops
Amazingly, it happened again.
Leading by three goals with just 20 minutes to play their way into the WHL Western Conference finals, the Portland Winterhawks gave up five goals and lost 7-6 Monday night at Kamloops, B.C., to set up a Game 7 Wednesday night at Memorial Coliseum.
The Blazers, who rallied from a 4-0 deficit in Game 4, scored the game winner with 21 seconds left, giving them hope of rallying from a 0-3 start to win the best-of-seven series.
Kamloops, the B.C. Division champion, outshot the Hawks 21-9 in the third period and 43-30 for the game, which coincided with Blazers stanout Brendan Ranford being named WHL Player of the Week, an honor Brad Ross seemed destined for last week. Ross scored his eighth and ninth goals of the playoffs Monday.
KAMLOOPS THRASHES PORTLAND IN GAME 5
On the verge of sweeping their way into the WHL Western Conference finals last week, the Portland Winterhawks find themselves on the way back to Kamloops, B.C., for Game 6 of their conference semifinals after a 7-2 loss Saturday at the Rose Garden.
Kamloops, which trailed 3-0 in the series and 4-0 in Game 4 on its home ice Wednesday, rallied to win 5-4 Wednesday and clearly won Game 5 in Portland before a crowd of 10,135.
Portland, which reached the WHL Finals last season, still leads the series 3-2. The teams meet Monday in Kamloops, and will play in Portland, if needed, Wednesday in Game 7.
Both Western Conference semifinals are headed for Game 6, with Tri-City, which won the U.S. Division by just two points over Portland, playing at Spokane with a 3-2 series lead Monday.
Both Eastern Conference semifinals are over, with Edmonton and Moose Jaw having won 4-0. They begin the conference final Friday.
Portland outshot Kamloops 36-34 Saturday, but could only beat Blazers' goaltender Cam Lanigan twice.
Kamloops scored six of its seven goals at even strength.