The Portland Winterhawks came into the 2012-13 Western Hockey League season feeling good about their defense, especially with a solid core of D-men.

On Friday night, veteran goalie Cam Lanigan, in his first year with the Hawks, picked up a shutout as Portland beat the Kelowna Rockets 1-0 at the Rose Garden.

Lanigan made 31 saves in his 115th WHL game (he played last season for Kamloops, split time with Kamloops and Edmonton in 2010-11 and played with Edmonton the previous three seasons).

Lanigan, one of Portland's three overage (20-year-old players), came to the Hawks on waivers on July 25, 2012. He is 2-0 with the Winterhawks, with 54 saves and two goals allowed in 102 minutes over two games played. Lanigan and second-year Hawk Brendan Burke are replacing last season's primary goalie, Mac Carruth.

Portland improved to 3-1-0-0 with its first home victory this season. The Hawks had lost their season opener at the Rose Garden the previous Friday.

Kelowna played the Winterhawks to a 0-0 tie for nearly 2 1/2 periods. And it was a defenseman, Derrick Pouliot, who got the goal. He scored at 9:50 of the third frame on a shot from the point.

It was one of 35 shots on Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke.

Forward Taylor Peters picked up an assist before the announced crowd of 6,381.

Pouliot has two goals and one assist this season, and Peters has two assists.

Portland killed six penalties and went 1 for 8 on the power play.

Kelowna fell to 0-2-1-0.

The teams will meet again at the Rose Garden at 7 p.m. Saturday.