Alex Weiermair netted his first Western Hockey League hat trick as the Portland Winterhawks beat the Prince George Cougars 6-3 Tuesday night in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Portland, the No. 5 seed, leads the best-of-seven Western Conference series 2-1 with Game 4 on Wednesday at Portland. Weiermair had the first two goals of the game, the second coming on a power play with 10:27 to go in the first period. The hats went flying to the ice in the third period from some of the 3,808 fans when the right-winger scored his second power-play goal with 2:52 to play. Prince George, the No. 4 seed, closed to within 5-3 early in the third, but the momentum was halted with 3:22 remaining when center Riley Heidt was called for a five-minute major penalty along with a 10-minute misconduct for cross checking.

Defenseman Carter Sotheran, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, had back-to-back goals for the Winterhawks in the second period getting credit for the game-winning and insurance goals. Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth, a Seattle Kraken prospect, also scored a goal in the second and assisted on Weiermair’s first goal. Portland center Kyle Chyzowki added two assists as the Winterhawks outshot the Cougars 45-28. Goalie Ondrej Stebetak stopped 25 of those 28 shots. Up next Puck drop for Game 4 is 7 p.m. Wednesday in Portland, and Game 5 is 7 p.m. Friday at Portland as well. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be back at Prince George on Sunday and Monday.