The Giants scare the top team in the WHL
Posted February 16, 2013 7:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PORTLAND, OR (NEWS1130) – WHL leading scorer Brendan Leipsic scored 49 seconds into overtime to lift the Portland Winterhawks over the Vancouver Giants 4-3. Centre Carter Popoff picked up a goal and an assist for the Giants.
The G-men were up 1-0 a couple of minutes into the game on Popoff ‘s tenth of the season.
Travis McEvoy added to the lead with five minutes to go in the second.
The Winterhawks scored with 65 seconds left in the middle period on a goal by Taylor Leier.
Portland jumped out to a 3-2 lead on third period markers by Delta’s Nicolas Petan and Paul Bittner.
To the Giants’ credit, they battled back to tie the game on Cain Franson’s 23rd of the season with four minutes left in the third.
Surrey’s Tyler Wotherspoon had the only assist on the game-winning goal for the Hawks.
It was the first OT win for the top team in the WHL.
Vancouver goalie Jared Rathjen was the third star of the game, as he made 31 saves.
The matinee game was delayed by 30 minutes because the sunshine was too bright inside the Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The building is over 50 years old and is surrounded by glass.
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