Davies’ goal in 2nd overtime puts Winterhawks in WHL finals

PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia — Not since 2014 have the Portland Winterhawks made this deep of a playoff run in the Western Hockey League.

That run just got a bit deeper as Josh Davies’ goal 5:40 into the second overtime gave the Portland Winterhawks a 2-1 Western Conference Championship clinching-victory over the Prince George Cougars in Game 6 Monday night.

Portland is now headed to the WHL finals for the 13th time and first since 2014.

Following Portland goalie Jan Špunar‘s 48th save of the game, the Winterhawks’ Josh Mori headed up ice and passed the puck to Davies who let a shot fly a few steps after crossing the blue line that got past Cougars’ goalie Joshua Ravensbergen for the win.

For Davies, a Florida Panthers prospect, it was his fifth goal of the playoffs.

It was a night for the goalies with Špunar trying to get the Winterhawks to the WHL finals after a tough loss in Game 5 in Portland, and Ravensbergen trying to extend the series to a seventh game on the Cougars’ home ice.

After nearly two periods of scoreless hockey, Portland’s Nate Danielson was able to get the puck across the goal line with one minute remaining in the second period. Jack O’Brien was credited with an assist.

A Detroit Red Wings prospect who was named the WHL Player of the Week earlier Monday, Danielson also has five goals plus 16 assists to lead the Winterhawks with 21 points their 14 playoff games.

Borya Valis evened the game for Prince George at 1-1 with a goal at 5:45 into the third period.

Prince George outshot the Winterhawks 49-38, but was 0 for 4 on the power play.

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The Winterhawks will face either regular-season champion Saskatoon or Eastern Conference No. 3 seed Moose Jaw in a best-of-seven series for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Those teams are tied 3-3 with Game 7 on Tuesday at Saskatoon.