The Portland Winterhawks got an overtime power play goal from Nino Niederreiter Wednesday night in Lethbridge as they defeated the Hurricanes 4-3.

The Winterhawks opened the scoring 6:51 into the first period when Stefan Schneider was awarded a penalty shot. One-on-one against Lethbridge netminder Linden Rowat, Schneider fired a shot from the slot that beat Rowat, giving Portland the 1-0 lead. However, the advantage was short-lived as just 49 seconds later the Hurricanes’ Eric Mestery put one past Portland netminder Ian Curtis on a 4-on-3 power play to even the score at 1-1.

Portland then regained the lead with just 44 seconds remaining in the period when Ryan Johansen scored a power play goal, his seventh tally of the season, to make it 2-1 for the visitors.

Portland then put 16 shots on net in the second period, but were denied each time by Rowat. The Hurricanes tied the game at 2-2 at the 13:12 mark of the second period when Austin Fyten notched a power play goal, and the tie would last into the intermission.

Portland regained the lead 7:49 into the third period when Ty Rattie banged in a rebound off a Travis Bobbee shot to make it 3-2. But again Lethbridge tied the game when Mitch Maxwell scored at the goalmouth at the 13:08 mark to even the score at 3-3. The score would remain 3-3 through the end of regulation, setting up overtime.

In the extra period Lethbridge’s Carter Bancks was called for a tripping penalty, and with the man advantage the Hawks applied the pressure, with Chris Francis ringing a shot off the post. Finally the pressure paid off, as with just 39 seconds left in overtime, Nino Niederreiter scored on a shot from the right faceoff circle to give Portland the win.

It was Portland’s second overtime win of the season, the previous a victory in Kamloops on October 4. Niederreiter’s goal extended his point streak to nine games, a stretch in which he has five goals and six assists for 11 points.

The Winterhawks were 2-5 on the power play Wednesday, while Lethbridge went 2-7. Portland outshot the Hurricanes 40-39, with Ian Curtis making 36 saves to improve his record to 5-2.

The Hawks are now 10-5 on the season and 3-2 on their Central Division road trip, with the final game of the trip set for Friday night in Cranbrook, British Columbia against the Kootenay Ice.