Vancouver Giants captain Ty Halaburda scored twice, the second time with 12.4 seconds to go in the game for a 3-2 win over the visiting Portland Winterhawks at Langley Events Centre Friday.
Burke Hood picked up his 10th win of the season with another standout performance, making 39 saves on 41 shots. He is now 10-6-1 this season, including a 3-0-1 stretch over his last four with a .917 save percentage.
Portland outshot Vancouver 41-22.
Halaburda’s game-winner was his second goal of the night, his 17th of the season and his 93rd of his WHL career. He now has sole possession of fifth place all-time in Giants history with 93 goals, 14 behind Mitch Bartley for fourth.
Marek Howell provided the other goal for the Giants on Friday.
Winterhawks controlled the first period, keeping the puck in the Vancouver zone for most of the frame, but could not get one past Hood, who stopped all 17 shots thrown his way to keep things 0-0 after 20 minutes.
Howell put one up, a snap shot from the right circle that beat Ondrej Stebetak on the glove side during 4-on-4 action.
Halaburda added to the Giants lead a few minutes later.
Portland cut the Giants lead in half with a goal at the 13:27 mark of the second, then tied it 2-2 midway through the third period.
Cameron Schmidt used his speed to draw a penalty with 64 seconds left in regulation, which led to Halaburda’s second of the evening off a Schmidt pass on the power play.
Giants Assistant Coach Gaelan Patterson acknowledged the team got off to a slow start.
“The first [period] we probably want to have back. They were skating and we weren’t in the first, but we came out strong in the second and the third as well and we pushed back very well. Our team went toe to toe with them and they’re a great team.”
Halaburda praised Howell, calling him a “superman out there. He was blocking shots, got a goal, big shots on net, hitting guys. He really stepped up and it fed [energy] to our team.”
Giants are on the road on Saturday and Sunday, playing Everett and then Portland.