Game Two - Portland 6 London 3

Portland G Mac Carruth bounced back after a 7-4 loss to Halifax

For the second straight year, all four teams are 1-1 at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.   Prior to last year, that had never happened since the advent of the four team format in 1983.   

Taylor Leier of Portland was 1g, 2a and first star for the Winterhawks

Make that two in a row in Saskatoon.  The London Knights lost 6-3 to the Portland Winterhawks.   

When Alex Broadhurst scored early in the 3rd period to tie the game 3-3, the Knights appeared to be in good shape.  

London had crawled back from a 3 goal deficit and seemed to have the momentum.   But that was the last goal London would score on Portland goalie Mac Carruth, who bounced back from a 7-4 loss to Halifax.  Carruth stopped several point blank chances and showed the confidence in his game that helped Portland to the WHL title. 

The game winning goal was scored halfway through the 3rd period on the power play.  Ryan Rupert was called for closing his hand on the puck.  The Knights did a good job killing the penalty until Derrick Pouliot scored.  Pouliot moved in from the point to score after a point shot from the other side went off the end boards.  
Pouliot is a first round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins (8th overall, 2012).  The Penguins had three defense prospects in the game and all had good games.   Ollie Maatta was also a 1st round pick in 2012, while Scott Harrington a 2nd round pick in 2011.  

Bo Horvat scores for the Knights off a beautiful set up by Max Domi

Sportsnet postgame interview with Derrick Pouliot