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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Series Now Tied At Two

March 27, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Portland Winterhawks evened the best-of-seven first round playoff series with the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night with a 4-2 win in front of 5,718 fans in the Spokane Arena. The series is now tied 2-2 with game five on Saturday night in Spokane and game six Monday night in Portland's Rose Garden.

Portland scored the game's first three goals, two in the first period, before Spokane hit the board. Their first goal came 6:15 in by Luke Walker on a scramble in front of the net. It marked the fourth time in as many games that the Winterhawks scored the first goal of the game. Chris Francis snapped in their second goal from the left circle for a 2-0 lead 12:26 into the game.

Early in the second the Chiefs killed off a majority of a Jared Cowen high sticking double minor, including 1:29 of a Portland two-man advantage, but the Winterhawks scored with 15-seconds remaining on the power play to push their lead to 3-0.

The Chiefs scored on their second power play opportunity of the game as Tyler Johnson's shot from the right post found its way into the back of the net. Jared Cowen and Levko Koper assisted on the goal.

Portland regained their three goal lead at 4:09 of the third when Nino Niederreiter made it 4-1.

Shortly thereafter, the Winterhawks' Tayler Jordan was whistled for a five-minute major for charging, taking out the Chiefs goaltender James Reid, putting the Chiefs on a score-at-will power play. Just six seconds into the power play, Kyle Beach one-timed a Jared Spurgeon pass for his fourth goal of the playoffs and for the final score.

Tickets for game five are available by calling the Chiefs office at (509) 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT.

A seventh game, if necessary, would be played in Spokane on Wednesday, March 31st.

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