Oil Kings’ overtime win evens series

PORTLAND – Rhett Rachinski’s scored his second goal of the game 9:07 into overtime to lift the Edmonton Oil Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks in Game 4 of the Western Hockey League finals.

The series is even at two games apiece, with Game 5 coming Thursday in Edmonton.

Sven Bartschi scored twice for the Winterhawks, with Marcel Noebels providing the other goal for Portland.

Tyler Maxwell and Stephane Legault also scored for the Oil Kings.

Edmonton carried much of the play through the first two periods and took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

The third period belonged to the Winterhawks – and to Bartschi. The Calgary Flames prospect scored two goals in the first half of the period to tie the game.

The second came with 10:54 left in regulation, and Portland pressed for a game-winner but couldn’t solve Oil Kings goaltender Laurent Brossoit down the stretch.

Portland drew first blood when Noebels beat Brossoit high to the glove side 1:21 into the game for an early 1-0 lead. The Oil Kings tied it on Rachinski’s goal with 4:10 left in the first.

The Oil Kings added to the lead in the second period, as Maxwell beat Carruth on a wraparound at 8:17. In the final minute of the period, Legault pounced on a blocked shot and fired a wrist shot into the top corner to make it 3-1.