PORTLAND, Ore. - Mac Carruth stopped 16 shots for his fifth shutout of the post-season and the Portland Winterhawks evened the Western Hockey League final at a game apiece Saturday, with a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Ty Rattie's league-leading 16th goal of the playoffs in the first period was all the scoring Portland needed. Brendan Leipsic and Oliver Bjorkstrand added second-period tallies to put the game out of reach.
The series moves to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Winterhawks controlled play in the first period, and scored on their third power play of the game when Rattie batted in a rolling puck at the 9:09 mark.
Portland extended its lead with goals 1:25 apart late in the second period. Leipsic skated in from the side wall and beat Edmonton goalie Brossoit under his left arm, and a bit later, Bjorkstrand found the top corner from the high slot with 1:15 remaining.
Edmonton managed just two shots in the third period.
Portland outshot the Oil Kings 36-16.
Brossoit made 33 saves for Edmonton, including 14 in the third period.
The Winterhawks finished 1 for 7 on the power play, while Edmonton was 0 for 3.
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