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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Ams Pull Away Late to Beat Chiefs, 7-3

January 30, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs broke a three-game winning streak with a loss to the rival Tri-City Americans, 7-3 at Spokane Arena on Friday night. Tri-City scored four unanswered goals to close the game. Three different Chiefs scored while Vladislav Lukin led the Ams with 2 goals and 2 assists.

The Americans opened the scoring midway through the first period as towering winger Mackenze Stewart slipped in his first goal of the season on a rebound opportunity.

The Chiefs bounced back with a goal of their own four minutes later to tie it 1-1. Team-leading scorer Kailer Yamamoto used his skating speed to beat Tri-City's Juuso Valimaki to a loose puck and fire a shot on net, where Hudson Elynuik was waiting to poke in the ricochet for his 11th goal.

Lukin responded for the Ams, sniping in his 14th goal of the year from the right circle to beat Spokane goalie Tyson Verhelst glove side. The goal, assisted by Austyn Playfair and Tyler Sandhu, put Tri-City up 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

Dominic Zwerger took advantage of a Tri-City turnover to score a breakaway goal while shorthanded just 1:30 into the second period. An errant pass bounced off Spokane forward Presten Kopeck's skate out to Zwerger, who took it down the ice and beat Evan Sarthou to the left post.

Tri-City took the lead once again only 18 seconds later, still on the power play, as Morgan Geekie made the Chiefs pay for a defensive breakdown in front of their own net. Beau McCue dished across to Geekie who beat a diving Verhelst to make it 3-2.

Spokane answered the call one more time at the 3:36 mark of the second period, with Ethan McIndoe chipping in a rebound opportunity created from a Jaret Anderson-Dolan shot to score his 6th goal and tie the game at three apiece.

Under four minutes after the McIndoe goal, Tri-City's leading scorer Parker Bowles found a loose puck in front of the Chiefs' net to score his 28th of the season and give the Americans a 4-3 lead. The goal was initially waved off but video review confirmed it broke the goal line.

Tri-City would not relinquish that lead down the stretch, scoring three goals in the third period to ice the game. Jordan Topping scored at the 1:06 mark, followed by Sandhu on an empty net at 16:38 and Lukin with his second of the night at 19:35.

The Chiefs finished 0-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. They remain in the 2nd Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Spokane now plays four straight games on the road, beginning with an early 4:05 p.m. contest in Everett tomorrow night. Mike Boyle will have the radio call on 1510 KGA beginning with the pre-game show at 3:30 p.m.

They next return to Spokane Arena on Wednesday, February 10 to take on the Portland Winterhawks on another TicketsWest Player Magnet Giveaway Night.

Tickets for February 10 and all Chiefs home games are available via TicketsWest online at ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office in-person and over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2016


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