"Tyler came in and was a pro. He brings physicality to

EDMONTON -- Edgars Kuldas goal with 6:47 remaining in the third period was the winner as the Edmonton Oil Kings bounced back from an early 2-0 loss to remain in the running in the Western Hockey League championships, defeating the defending champion Portland Winterhawks 3-2 on Tuesday night. Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. 11. As has been the case in every game in the series, the Winterhawks came out flying to grab an early lead in the game, scoring twice in less than a minute to go up 2-0 on their first three shots before the game was even four minutes old. Portland struck 2:38 into the first period as a big bounce off the boards came out front to De Leo and he spun and beat Edmonton goalie Tristan Jarry with a shot to the top corner for his 10th goal off the playoffs. Just 52 seconds later it was 2-0 Portland, as Brendan Leipsic fed a pass to defender Dumba in the slot and the Minnesota Wild draft pick made the most of the opportunity. Edmonton allowed goals in the first three minutes of the first two games of the series as well, and was outscored by a combined 5-0 in the first periods of its opening two losses of the series in Portland. Despite the early deficit, the Oil Kings fought back to outshoot the Hawks 19-10 in the opening frame, however Portland goalie Corbin Boes stood his ground. Edmonton got on the board four minutes into the second period with a power play goal as Curtis Lazar made a perfect pass across to Samuelsson at the side of the net and the Phoenix Coyotes prospect sent his fifth of the playoffs into a wide-open net to cut the lead to 2-1. The Oil Kings pulled even with nine minutes remaining in the second period as Bertolucci picked up a loss puck and went in on a breakaway, only to be pushed down from behind by Dumba. However, Bertolucci got right back on his feet and was able to make a nifty move to freeze Boes on the deke for his sixth of the post-season. It appeared the Oil Kings had taken the lead just over a minute later on a mad scramble in front of the Portland goal, however, a lengthy review concluded that Samuelsson had kicked the puck into the net. Jarry made several key saves during the first half of the third period to keep it a tied game, none bigger than an early glove save on Taylor Leier. Edmonton took their first lead of the entire series with just under seven minutes left in the third as Mitch Moroz sent a puck in front and Kulda was able to redirect it into the net to put the Oil Kings up 3-2. Portland furiously tried to knot the game back up in the late stages and had a great chance in the dying seconds, but Dumba shot a puck over the net. Jarry faced 15 shots in the third and 37 in the game. Game 4 of the WHL Finals takes place on Wednesday, also in Edmonton. Notes: Its the third consecutive season that the Oil Kings and Winterhawks are meeting in the WHL Championship Series. Edmonton defeated Portland in seven games to win in 2012, while Portland won in six games last year. It is Portlands fourth consecutive trip to the league championshipsa It is just the second time in league history that two teams have met in the WHL final three years in a row. The last time was when the original Edmonton Oil Kings (who ended up moving to Portland to become the Winterhawks) played the Flin Flon Bombers three times from 1969-71a Portland goalie Corbin Boes was named the Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the after stopping 59 shots in the first two games of the final series in 5-2 and 3-1 wins to put the Winterhawks up 2-0 heading back to Edmontona With three goals in the series, Samuelsson is the new all-time Oil Kings playoff scoring leader, racking up 51 points over 56 career post-season appearances. Joe Smith Pistons Jersey . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri. Zaza Pachulia Jersey . Mission accomplished. 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The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick.TORONTO - When Patrick Patterson learned he would be making his first start as a member of the Raptors just prior to Monday nights game he wasnt exactly caught off guard by the news. With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Although it likely wasnt an easy sell, Dwane Casey and the coaching staff made the decision to rest Johnson, who had not missed a game due to injury in nearly two years, opening the door for his backup. "I started in Houston so its not new," said Patterson, downplaying his role in Torontos 108-101 home win over the Pelicans after scoring a season-best 22 points. "Its just all about making sure I have a positive role and I know my role on the team… making sure Im a significant part of our teams success." Since coming over in the seven-player trade from Sacramento in early December, Patterson has seen his role increase steadily, earning the trust of his coach and becoming the Raptors most reliable reserve. After Johnson was ruled out, Casey expressed concern about disrupting the chemistry of his second unit by removing a key cog in Patterson, however the forwards recent play made the decision an easy one. "I thought the matchup with (Anthony) Davis was a good one for him," Casey said of Patterson, who has scored in double figures 13 times over his last 20 games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 53 per cent from the field in under 24 minutes per contest during that stretch. "(Patterson) was able to stretch the defence and give us some offensive punch." Patterson gave the Raptors a lift where they needed it most. Toronto had been outscored in the opening quarter of the last four games, all on the road, before returning home Monday and getting off to a rare but crucial quick start against Davis and the Pelicans. Patterson - along with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan - was one of three Raptors to score seven points in the first frame, knocking down both of his shots and helping his team take a 31-20 lead into the second period. Thats where Pattersons presence was missed, as Torontos bench came in and squandered a 15-point advantage. Led by reserve guard Tyreke Evans, New Orleans ripped off a 26-11 run to end the half and would go into the break knotted up with Toronto at 49 points apiece. "For whatever reason we are losing leads with our second unit, what its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and putting them in big minute situations," said Casey with both DeRozan and Lowry hovering around 40 minutes on Monday. "I think they just have to get their rhythm back. Taking (Patterson) off the second unit hurts them a bit, but still we have to gett a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters.dddddddddddd." Heavy mileage has taken its toll on Johnson. The Raptors forward turned his ankle in a win over the Magic late last month - the most recent in a series of ankle injuries - and, to character, had played and started in all five games since. He could have done the same Monday if necessary, Casey indicated before the game, but with the all-star break around the corner and his team poised to make a playoff run over the next couple months, Johnson finally got some much-needed rest. "Its tough to replace a guy like Amir," DeRozan said of Johnson, who had not missed a game to injury since Mar. 5, 2012 (he was suspended for one game last year and sat out the previous season finale). "Everybody has to step up and try to do a little more (without him). Everybody understands their role and once they [saw] Amir [was] out, [they had] to step up and hold down the fort until he gets back." "Were deep," said Lowry, coming off his best game since before the road trip, scoring 19 points to go along with 12 assists and seven boards, five of them offensive. "Thats how we play, thats how we roll. 15 deep." Patterson started six games with the Kings earlier this season and has made 54 starts during his four year career, most of them as a member of the Rockets. With Patterson stepping into the first unit, Tyler Hansbrough - who has fallen out of favour since returning from an ankle injury last month - took advantage of the opportunity he was given off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in 14 minutes. "Tyler and Patrick both carried us tonight," Casey said. "I thought they were huge in their minutes." "Tyler came in and was a pro. He brings physicality to the game that we need." Patterson and Hansbrough shared the assignment of neutralizing Davis, the Pelicans second-year forward, who has been a revelation in the Western Conference this season. Davis scored just two points, hitting one of his six shots in his first appearance at the Air Canada Centre exactly a year ago Monday but hes come a long way since then. The first-time all-star is one of five players averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds and the only one doing so while shooting over 50 per cent from the field. Hes also on pace to become just the fifth player since 1973 to lead the NBA in blocks in his first or second season. "Anthony Davis is one of the most skilled big guys in the league," Casey said before the game, comparing him to a young Kevin Garnett. Davis was glued to the bench in foul trouble late in the third as the Raptors made their run and finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds while Evans, 24 hours after being bench for disciplinary reasons, had 23 points and 10 assists off the bench for New Orleans. ' ' '