Portland captain Gabe Klassen scored the winner in a shootout to give the Winterhawks a 4-3 Western Hockey League victory over the visiting Victoria Royals on Wednesday night before 3,010 fans at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Royals trailed 3-1 after two periods but tied the game on early third-period goals by Norwegian-import Casper Evensen Haugen and Dawson Pasternak against his former team.
Josh Davies scored twice for Portland (14-5-1) and Diego Buttazzoni once for the CHL top-10 ranked Winterhawks. Royals rookie Cole Reschny extended his points streak to 13 games with a power-play goal on a two-point night.
The Royals (12-9-2) began a three-game swing through the U.S. Division, which continues Friday night in Tri-City against the Americans (12-7-2) and concludes Saturday in Spokane against the Chiefs (8-9-2).
Braden Holt made 30 saves in goal for Victoria and Luke Brunen 24 in the crease for Portland.
The Royals went 1-4 on the power play and the Winterhawks 0-4, including an odd-man chance in overtime.
The next home games for Victoria are Tuesday and Wednesday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Kamloops Blazers (5-13-4).
