Josh Zakreski’s backhand goal with 4:11 to play in overtime gave the Portland Winterhawks a 6-5 victory over the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum and most importantly, tied the Western Hockey League second-round playoff series at 2-2.
Both teams won twice on their home ice as the best-of-seven series becomes a best-of-three.
Despite being outplayed and outshot 10-3 in overtime against the WHL’s No. 1 team, the Winterhawks only needed that third shot to go in and Zakreski made it happen, pushing the puck down low, shifting it to his backhand and burying it for the winner.
It was the third time in the four games that Portland and Everett needed OT to decide a winner.
The Silvertips had a four-minute power play in the last four minutes of the third period after Portland’s Alex Weiermair received a double minor. Everett also pulled the goalie for an extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage.
Everett’s Kaden Hammell scored two goals in a span of 3:12, the second with 1:01 remaining in regulation. Portland never gave up the lead, but gave back a two-goal lead three times before Everett tied it up at 5-5 on Hammell’s second goal.
Winterhawks goalie Ondrej Štěbeták, who finished with 43 saves, made amazing stop after amazing stop in the second period — 17 in all — before he was beat by the Silvertips’ Landon DuPont on a power-play goal with 6:33 remaining to make it 3-2.
Kyle Chyzowski completed an early hat trick when he scored his third goal with 1:46 to play in the second period, making the score 4-2 Winterhawks. Diego Buttazzoni came down on the right side of the ice, passed to Tyson Jugnauth in the middle who then passed off to Chyzowski who put the puck in the net off the heal of his stick blade.
