Down 0-2: Portland Winterhawks play better, but Spokane wins in overtime, 6-5, in WHL West finals

Published 9:35 pm Sunday, April 27, 2025

A couple nights after being blown out, the Portland Winterhawks responded with some fight Sunday in Game 2 of the Western Hockey League Western Conference finals at Spokane.

But, Spokane won the game 6-5 when Chase Harrington scored 2:25 into overtime.

Game 3 is 7 p.m. Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, followed by Game 4 at 7 Thursday at VMC.

The Winterhawks played better after Spokane’s 10-4 rout in Game 1, starting fast and then playing the high-powered Chiefs evenly in the first period and then withstanding their attack in the second period.

Diego Buttazzoni put Portland ahead 1-0 on the power play, beating goalie Dawson Cowan just 2:30 into the game.

Spokane’s Andrew Cristall, the WHL’s leading scorer during the regular season and playoffs, had a hat trick, and his goal on the power play midway through the second period tied it up 3-3.

The Chiefs went ahead 5-3 in the third period on goals by Cristall and Assanali Sarkenov (who scored twice).

But, the Winterhawks wouldn’t quit, and tied it on goals by Max Psenicka and Kyle Chyzowkski (with 4:25 left) to force overtime.

Spokane put 44 shots on Portland goalie Ondrej Stebetak, and the Winterhawks had 33 shots on goal.