Music: {allcanada} KOPER HAS HAT TRICK AS CHIEFS ROUTE WINTERHAWKS

Saturday, April 30, 2011

{allcanada} KOPER HAS HAT TRICK AS CHIEFS ROUTE WINTERHAWKS

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Levko Koper had a hat trick and an assist as the Spokane Chiefs routed the Portland Winterhawks 8-3 on Friday in the WHL's Western Conference final to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Collin Valcourt had a goal and three assists while Tyler Johnson had a goal and two assists for Spokane, in the only blowout after the series opened with three one-goal games.

Matt Marantz, between Darren Kramer and Valcourt, opened the scoring 10 seconds into the game with his fourth playoff goal.

Portland tied it midway through the first period on the power play as Joe Morrow fired from the top of the right circle after hearing the crowd counting down the final seconds of the man advantage.

Johnson, who led the league with 53 goals in the regular season, scored on a feed from Koper to put the Chiefs up for good, 2-1 in the first.

Valcourt scored early in the second, pouncing on a rebound from a backhand by Kramer, a play that was started by Valcourt.

A rare mistake by Jared Cowen gave the Winterhawks an opportunity to notch their second short-handed goal of the series, this one by Tyler Wotherspoon that made it 3-2.

Anthony Bardaro added to the lead at 14:20 and Koper's first goal made it 5-2 after two periods.

Koper added two goals in the first seven minutes of the third period, cleaning up a rebound off a Johnson breakaway and then scoring during a power play on a Johnson feed.

However, the Chiefs continued to struggle on the power play, with their drought reaching 0-19 dating back to the second period of the first game before Koper's third goal at 6:47 of the third period. It was their eight power-play opportunity of the night.

The Winterhawks pulled Mac Carruth after allowing six goals on 28 shots in favour of Keith Hamilton, who faced 13 shots.

Spokane goalie James Reid made 28 saves before being replaced by Mac Engel. He allowed a late power-play goal to Ryan Johansen, who has scored in every game.

Through the regular season and playoffs, the Chiefs have never had a three-game losing streak.

Game 5 is Saturday in Portland, Ore.