Wright and Cunningham both score twice as Vancouver Giants down Portland 5-3

VANCOUVER, B.C. - James Wright and Craig Cunningham both scored twice as the Vancouver Giants beat the Portland Winterhawks 5-3 in Western Hockey League second-round playoff action on Friday night.

Tomas Vincour also scored for the Giants, who took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Vancouver can advance with another victory at home on Saturday night.

Ryan Johansen, Oliver Gabriel and Nino Niederreiter tallied for the Winterhawks, who suffered their first loss in six playoff road games.

Wright's two-goal effort matched his output in a loss Wednesday, while Cunningham notched his ninth and 10th markers of the post-season.

The clubs returned to a run-and-gun style of play that prevailed in the first two games.

Portland outshot Vancouver 36-29, but were often thwarted by Giants goaltender Mark Segal, who recorded 33 saves.

Vancouver was 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Winterhawks went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

The Giants did not register a shot on goal until the game was nearly nine minutes old, but they escaped the first period with a 1-0 lead on Wright's first goal.

Wright collected the puck in the neutral zone, circled back into the zone, fought off two defenders and stuffed the puck behind Curtis.

His second goal gave the Giants a 3-1 lead on a power play after a video review determined he had put the puck in under the crossbar before it bounced out.

The red light did not come on and play continued for about two minutes before a stoppage. The Giants were awarded their goal and the clock was reset to 7:04.

Francis brought the Winterhawks back within a goal after a scramble just over a minute later.

Cunningham's second goal at 8:59 of the third proved to be a key insurance marker, putting the Giants ahead 5-2 before, Niederreiter closed out the scoring.

A brawl almost ensued at the end of the game as a pair of fights broke out. Luca Sbisa repeatedly punched Giants captain Lance Bouma while he was down on the ice.

The Winterhawks were not allowed to go out on the ice to console their goaltender and had to go to the dressing room directly from their bench.