PORTLAND — A three-goal third period and two goals from Luca Cagnoni helped the Portland Winterhawks pick up a 4-3 comeback victory over the Victoria Royals in Game 1 of their Western Hockey League first-round playoff series on Friday night.
Down 2-1 entering the final frame, Portland posted three consecutive goals to open up the largest lead of the game.
Carter Sotheran scored the equalizer five minutes into the period by eluding an oncoming defender at the blue line and wiring a shot from the top of the circle.
Five minutes later, James Stefan dished to Gabe Klassen on a 2-on-1, and the Hawks captain nailed the go-ahead goal.
Cagnoni concluded the scoring spree with a power-play bomb from the blue line for his second of the night at 13:55. Cagnoni’s goal became the game-winner when Nate Misskey netted a garbage-time tally for Victoria.
Cagnoni’s first of the night opened the scoring in the contest following sustained pressure by Portland. The San Jose Sharks prospect took a seam pass from Nate Danielson and tucked it stick side on Braden Holt for an early lead.
Victoria pushed back and took the lead in the following period and a half. Tyson Laventure grabbed the equalizer just over a minute after Cagnoni’s opening strike, then Tanner Scott broke a deadlock late in the second period with a rebound goal at 18:03 of the middle frame.
Jan Špunar finished with 22 saves on 25 shots for his fifth career playoff win, while Victoria’s Braden Holt posted 30 saves on 34 shots in his team’s loss.
UP NEXT
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday at Memorial Coliseum followed by games 3 and 4 at Victoria on Tuesday and Wednesday.
