Portland scores twice late to oust Chiefs

PORTLAND — The host Portland Winterhawks scored two goals in the final five minutes of the third period to beat the Spokane Chiefs 3-1 in Game 7 of their Western Hockey League first-round series in front of 3,898 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday.

Portland advances to face Everett in the Western Conference semifinals starting Friday in Everett. Spokane has lost four straight playoff series to Portland, with its last win coming in 2003.

Portland took a 1-0 lead after the first period on a power-play goal by Cody Glass.

Spokane tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second period on a goal by Ty Smith, his second in as many nights.

Portland regained the lead at the 15:21 mark in the third period on a goal by Kieffer Bellows. Skyler McKenzie capped the scoring a little over two minutes later.

Dawson Weatherill had 39 saves for Spokane.