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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Tie Game Three Times Before Winning in Overtime, 5-4

December 20, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs tied the game three times before second-year forward Kailer Yamamoto scored 50 seconds into overtime to clinch a 5-4 overtime win over the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday night. Yamamoto scored two goals and added an assist in the dramatic come-from-behind victory.

Portland came out of the locker room looking to make it a blowout early as import forward Rihards Bukarts scored twice in the first period to give the Winterhawks a 2-0 lead. His first goal came on a breakaway after a turnover at the Chiefs' blue line at the 4:52 mark of the period. His second came on the power play with 13:26 left in the frame as he picked the upper right corner from inside the left circle.

The Chiefs, wearing "fauxback" 1916-17 Spokane Canaries jerseys, picked up the pace late in the first period and continued in the second, finally breaking through with a rebound goal scored by Yamamoto 36 seconds in. Markson Bechtold and Tyson Helgesen earned assists on the goal, which extended Yamamoto's point streak to four games.

Helgesen scored a goal of his own with 3:39 left in the second, flipping the puck off the back of goaltender Michael Bullion from behind the net to give him his second of the season. Kailer Yamamoto and Hudson Elynuik earned assists as the Chiefs tied the game, 2-2.

The Winterhawks grabbed their second lead of the game at the 4:05 mark of the third period as defenseman Evan Weinger scored his third of the year on a broken play by the Chiefs. Fram made a rare mistake behind the Spokane goal, turning the puck over and giving Portland an unabated chance at goaltender Tyson Verhelst. Verhelst kicked away the first shot but Weinger was there to flip the puck in from the left side for the 3-2 lead.

Spokane answered to tie it for the second time as Markson Bechtold fired a heavy slapshot from the left wing that handcuffed Bullion and trickled in. Fram and Helgesen each added helpers on the goal at the 8:21 mark of the third.

Bukarts completed his hat trick with only 6:12 left in regulation to give the Winterhawks a 4-3 lead and it looked like the Chiefs would fall short for the second night in a row.

With only ten seconds remaining in the regulation and down one goal, Bechtold won an offensive zone faceoff to the left of Bullion. Forward Curtis Miske chipped the puck back to Fram at the point and the overage defenseman walked the puck to center before firing a wrist shot to the right post. The puck managed to miss everyone in front and beat the screened goaltender to tie the game and send the Spokane Arena crowd into a frenzy.

The Chiefs utilized a 4-on-3 power play in the overtime frame to seal the deal as Yamamoto, with assists to Bechtold and older brother Keanu Yamamoto, circled the offensive zone before sniping the game-winner to the top-right corner.

Both teams finished 1-for-4 on the power play. Verhelst stopped 25 of 29 shots faced while Bullion turned away 27 of 32.

The Chiefs hit the holiday break in the win column and return to Spokane Arena to host the Seattle Thunderbirds on Coeur d'Alene Casino Buck Night on Sunday, December 27. Game time will be 5:05 p.m.

Tickets for December 27 and all Chiefs home games are available via TicketsWest online at www.ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs' Ticket Office over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2015


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