The Portland Winterhawks have the opportunity to eliminate the Western Hockey League’s best regular-season team, Everett, on Saturday.

The Winterhawks won a back-and-forth contest Friday, as Hudson Darby’s goal with one minute left lifted Portland to a 4-3 win at Everett. The teams had traded goals to make it 3-3, but Darby’s score proved to be the game-winner.

The puck bounced in front of the net off a Tyson Jugnauth shot/pass, and Darby buried the puck with goalie Raiden LeGall out of position.

Kyle Chyzowski, Alex Weiermair (although WHL credited his goal to Chyzowski) and Josh Zakreski also scored for Portland, which leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Game 6 at 6 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased here.

Ondrej Stebetak made 36 saves.

Landon DuPont, Kaden Hammell and Julius Miettinen scored for Everett.

The Silvertips led the WHL with 104 points, as they went 48-12-4-4 during the regular season. They were 6-2 against Portland, outscoring the Hawks 36-18. They are, however, playing without leading scorer and NHL prospect Carter Bear, who’s out with an Achilles injury. They needed seven games to beat Seattle in the WHL playoffs first round.

The Winterhawks, who beat Prince George in seven games in the first-round WHL playoff series, finished fifth in the Western Conference at 36-28-3-1 (76 points).

Portland is the defending Western Conference champion.