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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WHL conference finals: Kelowna Rockets surge past Portland Winterhawks in West opener

Justin Kirkland and Jesse Lees scored 1:42 apart in the third period as the Kelowna Rockets came from behind to defeat the visiting Portland Winterhawks 5-4 on Friday in Western Hockey League playoff action.

Madison Bowey, Rourke Chartier and Tyson Baillie also scored for the Rockets, who erased a three-goal deficit and a 4-2 score after 40 minutes of play to comeback and take Game 1 of the Western Conference final.

Kirkland and Baillie added two assists apiece for three-point outings.

Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice for the Winterhawks and Keoni Texeira and Chase De Leo had the others.

Jordon Cooke made 22 saves for Kelowna while Portland’s Brendan Burke turned away 31-of-36 shots in a losing cause.

Game 2 is tonight.

• In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final, Cody Corbett had a pair of goals and Curtis Lazar added a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oil Kings easily handled the Medicine Hat Tigers 8-3 in Edmonton, Alberta.