Rattie, Hawks Explode Offensively, Beat Kamloops 8-6

The Portland Winterhawks' Ty Rattie put up 3 goals and 2 assists, and Brendan Leipsic chipped in a pair of goals as the Hawks outgunned the Kamloops Blazers 8-6 in Kamloops Friday. Rattie was all over the ice tonight, scoring a powerplay goal early in the second to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead, then following it up 2:59 later with a beautiful toe-drag move and finish on a two-on-one. Between the two Rattie goals, the Hawks got a goal from Spencer Bennett, and looked firmly in control with a 4-1 lead. But Kamloops came storming back with three goals in the second half of the period, and the two teams headed to the third knotted at four. Ty Rattie planted his hat-trick goal early in the third period to give the Hawks the lead, a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Rattie was set up back-door by Sven Bartschi perfectly, and Bartschi followed it up with a goal of his own on the powerplay later in the period to give the Hawks a two goal edge. Brendan Leipsic also scored a goal early in the period set up by Rattie and Bartschi. Kamloops kept battling hard, and Dalibor Bortnak's goal in the last minute made things interesting. However the Hawks were able to hold on to their edge, and Riley Boychuck sealed it with an empty-netter with one second left on the clock. The biggest offensive performance of the night was Ty Rattie's 3 goal, 2 assist, 5 point effort, clearly the best player on the ice. Brendan Leipsic was very good offensively as well with a pair of tallies, including a beautiful finish in the third off the post and in. Sven Bartschi had a goal and three assists as well. For Kamloops, they were led by Brendan Ranford's 2 goals and an assist, and Chase Shaber's goal and three assists.

Up next for the Hawks is the Kelowna Rockets in Kelowna tonight. Pregame show is 6:40 with the opening faceoff at 7:00 on Freedom 970 KXFD.