WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Beat Portland in a Shootout

Published on September 5, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


For the second day in a row the Chiefs came from a two goal deficit to earn a win in extra time as Spokane was a perfect three-for-three in shootout attempts and picked up a 3-2 victory over the Portland Winterhawks on Sunday afternoon. Spokane finished the weekend 2-1 at the Everett Silvertips Pre-Season Classic and have four games remaining before the regular season begins on September 25th when the Chiefs travel to Tri-City.

Spokane was forced to skate shorthanded five times in the first nine minutes of the game and the Winterhawks took advantage twice. Their early 2-0 lead was built on a pair of power play goals 1:30 apart, the first from Seth Swenson at 5:18 while Luke Walker made it 2-0 at 6:48 with a five-on-three goal. Joe Morrow set up both goals for the Winterhawks. After one, Portland had a 15-10 edge in shots and seven power plays to Spokane's two.

Although the second period was scoreless, the Chiefs came back outshooting the Winterhawks 18-5. They continued their dominance in the third with a 16-2 margin and finished the game with a 48-23 difference. The Chiefs limited Portland to just eight shots after the first period.

Spokane scored the only two goals in the third, the first coming from Saturday's overtime hero Levko Koper. His three point game in Saturday's 4-3 overtime decision over Seattle was highlighted by scoring the game winning goal. He followed that up on Sunday with his second marker of the pre-season as fellow 20-year-old Tyler Johnson set him up at 10:15 of the third. Anthony Bardaro's power play goal then evened the score at 17:08.

Both teams finished with one shot in overtime. Bardaro, Blake Gal and Mitch Holmberg all scored for the Chiefs in the shootout while James Reid stopped one of two Portland shots.

Reid played the entire 65 minutes and made 21 of 23 save opportunities. The Chiefs were 1-7 on the power play and 7-9 on the penalty kill.

Up next is two games next week; Thursday versus Lethbridge and Saturday against Tri-City. Both games will be played in Kennewick at the Tri-City Americans Red Lion Hotels Pre-Season Tournaments. The puck drop will be at 7:00 both nights.

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 5, 2010


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