KITCHENER, Ont. -- Early three-goal leads haven't meant comfortable wins at the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
For the second straight game to start this year's Canadian Hockey League championship, the team up 3-0 after the first period has needed overtime to close out the victory.
Levko Koper was the overtime hero for the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday in a 5-4 win over Belleville Bulls.
The host Kitchener Rangers were up by three goals after 20 minutes in the tournament opener the previous night, but it took Justin Azevedo's goal in extra time to clinch a 6-5 win against the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Gatineau Olympiques.
"I've been here two days and seen two three-goal leads evaporate. It's hard on the heart," said relieved Spokane head coach Bill Peters.
The Rangers, also the Ontario Hockey League champions, take on the Western Hockey League's Chiefs today in a clash of the unbeaten teams (Rogers Sportsnet, 3:30 p.m. CT). The winner can secure at least a berth in Friday's semifinal. Gatineau and Belleville meet Monday (Sportsnet, 6 p.m. CT) in a meeting of winless teams.
Koper was moving into the high slot in front of Belleville goaltender Mike Murphy when a rebound from a Justin McCrae shot deflected out to him. The 17-year-old from Edmonton made the most of his good fortune with the winner at 4:46 of the fourth period.
"I was in the right place at the right time and caught a five-hole," said an elated Koper. "I've never had anything like this goal."
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, ranked No. 9 among North American goaltenders by Central Scouting for this year's NHL draft, made 28 saves for the win.
Spokane pelted Murphy with 54 shots.
-- The Canadian Press
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