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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Can't Overcome Early Deficit, Lose 3-2

March 10, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs couldn't gave up two goals in the first period and couldn't catch up on Wednesday night, losing 3-2 to the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Keanu Yamamoto scored his 20th goal of the season on his way to second star honors for the Chiefs.

The Blazers got the scoring underway early in the first period, just 3:47 into regulation, as Quinn Benjafield took advantage of a rebound opportunity on the power play to score his 10th of the season.

Collin Shirley scored his team-leading 35th of the season 13 minutes later, also with the man advantage, after Kamloops goaltender Connor Ingram made a sprawling save on the other end to create a rush opportunity. The Blazers carried a 2-0 win into the first intermission.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan got the Chiefs on the board 5:36 into the second period with a quick wrist shot to the top-left corner from inside the right circle. The goal was assisted by Dominic Zwerger and Kailer Yamamoto, playing his first game in over a month after recovering from an upper body injury.

Kamloops' Spencer Bast tapped in an easy one under a minute later to push the visitors' lead back to two goals. Garret Pilon won a battle on the half boards and turned to find the Chiefs out of position, passing across the crease to Bast on the 2-on-1.

Keanu Yamamoto cut the Blazer lead to one at the 7:45 mark with his career-best 20th goal of the season. Yamamoto took the puck off a faceoff in the neutral zone down the right side, fending off a Kamloops defender to fire a show under Ingram for the unassisted tally.

That would be the end of the scoring as both teams were blanked in the final frame.

Spokane finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill. Tyson Verhelst started in goal for Spokane and made 34 saves on 37 shots. Ingram finished with 24 saves.

The loss holds Spokane in fourth place in the U.S. Division. They currently hold the Western Conference's Second Wild Card position - four points ahead of Tri-City and one behind Portland - with only six games remaining in the regular season.

Spokane's final two home games of the 2015-16 regular season are Friday and Saturday night at Spokane Arena. Tickets for both games are available via TicketsWest online at www.ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office in person at Spokane Arena or over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.

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