Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE forward Joe Antilla scored at 6:12 of overtime in a 3-2 win over the Portland Winterhawks, in game 3 of the WHL Final, in WHL playoff action on Tuesday night.
ICE opened the scoring 4 seconds after a powerplay ended as James Martin kept the puck inside the zone and Kevin King picked it up in the circle and fired a wrist shot just under the cross bar. King extended his point streak to 6 games and has 4 goals in the WHL Final.
61 seconds later the Winterhawks tied the game as Craig Cunningham dropped a pass to Ty Rattie in slot and his wrist shot beat the goalie high on the glove side. It’s Rattie’s 2nd goal of the series.
Winterhawks took a 2-1 led early in the 3rd period as Ty Rattie found a wide open Sven Bartschi at the far circle and he scored into an empty net with a one-time shot. Bartschi has 5 goals in the series.
ICE tied the game late in the 3rd period as Drew Czerwonka won the race for the puck and had a partial breakaway and scored while falling down with a backhand to forehand deke.
With 5:44 left ICE defenseman James Martin received a major penalty for charging. The Winterhawks ened up with a 3-minute powerplay with 3:44 left in regulation.
The teams went to overtime for the 2nd time in the series.
In overtime Max Reinhart gained the zone and fed Joe Antilla in the high slot and he scored with a wrist shot high on the glove side. It’s Antilla’s 2nd overtime goal in this years’ post season.
Brayden McNabb assisted on the goal to extend his point streak to 12 games.
The ICE have tied a Franchise record with 7 straight wins at home.
Since the ICE swept Saskatoon and Medicine Hat in the last 2 rounds the club went a stretch of 38 days (April 2-May 9) where they played only 4 home games.
The game included a 15-year-old on each roster. ICE forward Sam Reinhart (2010 Bantam Draft 1st round 15th overall) and Winterhawks forward Nic Petan (2010 Bantam Draft 1st round 16th overall) both played in their 2nd game of the series.
ICE scratches – Adam Rossignol, Elgin Pearce, John Neibrandt,
Winterhawks scratches – Brett Ponich, Oliver Gabriel, Brad Ross (suspended), Josh Hanson, Tyler Jordan (suspended), Jason Trott.
Quotes –
Winterhawks
Sven Bartschi
On game 3. “It was high level hockey dirung the whole game. We created a lot of chances, they created a lot of chances. It overtime it’s always kind of luck but you know it could have been better for us.”
On his goal. “Perfect pass from (Ty) Rattie at the back door at the wide side. I had almost an empty net and I just had to shoot and score.”
On Kootenay. “ They’re defense are really big and we try to take advantage of that with cut backs and cycle game. Chip it behind them and go around them. I think we are a quicker team and try to advantage of that.”
ICE
Joe Antilla
On game winning goal. “I just followed up the play, trying to see if something would happen. I saw an opening on the wide side and started screaming for it and Max Reinhart put it on my stick and I out it home.”
On trailing in the 3rd period. “We got so many guys on this team that would go through a all for each other. Our teams comes up big in clutch situations. I’m really happy to be a part of this team.”
On game 4 on Wednesday. “We just gotta continue to work hard. Just continue what we are doing for success.”
ICE
Drew Czerwonka
On game tying goal. “I was in a foot race with a Dman. Carruth kinda hesitated there so I won that race to the puck and tucked it in. I thought the goalie was closer to the puck than me but I won the race to the puck. I don’t remember much after that, just watching the puck go in.”
On Winterhawks. “They’re a great team, they both ends really well. Can’t take any shifts off. You saw what happens when we took a couple shifts off and they scored.”
On Game 4 on Wednesday. “We gotta do the same things we did tonight. Hard work. That’s what our team has been all about all year. It’s a great feeling right now but we gotta be ready for tomorrow.
Game Summary
Kootenay leads the series 2-1
Game 4 is in Cranbrook on Wednesday.
1st Period
1. Kootenay, King 5 (Ismond, Martin) 17:53
2. Portland, Rattie 8 (Cunningham, Boychuk) 18:54
Penalties – Boychuk Port (interference) 15:49, Rattie Port (slashing) 20:00.
2nd Period
No Scoring.
Penalties – Johansen Port (slashing) 6:53.
3rd Period
3. Portland, Bartschi 10 (Rattie, Wrenn) 3:54
4. Kootenay, Czerwonka 2 (Eakin) 13:58
Penalties – Ius Port Hurley Ktn (fighting) 8:53, Niederreiter Port King Ktn (roughing) 11:22, Johansen Port (unsportsmanlike) Martin Ktn (charging major, game misconduct) 14:16.
Overtime
5. Kootenay, Antilla 9 (Reinhart, McNabb) 6:12
Penalties – None.
Shots on goal by
Portland – 15 - 6 – 13 – 2 = 36
Kootenay – 11 – 10 – 13 – 7 = 41
Goal (shots-saves) – Portland: Mac Carruth (L 13-6) (41-38) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W 14-3) (36-34)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Portland: 0/1 Kootenay: 0/3
Referees – Devin Klein, Nathan Wieler
Linesmen – Jeff Jobson, Trent Knorr
Attendance – 3,402