Chiefs topple Thunderbirds

Strand scores in 5-1 loss to Spokane

February 19, 2018 8:30 am
Thunderbirds defenseman Owen Williams brings the puck up the ice as the Chiefs’ Jeff Faith follows during WHL play Sunday. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

For the Reporter

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-1 at the accesso ShoWare Center on Sunday night.

The T-Birds (28-21-7-2) are in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff standings, one point behind the Tri-City Americans, who occupy the first wild-card spot. Seattle is four points behind the Chiefs in third place in the U.S. Division.

Spokane (33-20-3-2) took a 1-0 lead at 16:40 of the first period on an unassisted shorthanded breakaway goal from Hudson Elynuik.

The Chiefs made it 2-0 at 17:51 of the first when a shot by Nolan Reid from the right circle deflected off a T-Birds defenseman and past Seattle goalie Liam Hughes.

Spokane outshot Seattle 13-10 in the first period.

Kailer Yamamoto scored at 17:01 of the second period on a power-play to give the Chiefs a 3-0 lead.

Seattle cut the Spokane lead to two goals at 18:01 of the second. Noah Philp brought the puck up the right boards and backhanded it to Austin Strand the right point. Strand took a wrist shot with traffic in front of Spokane goalie Dawson Weatherill. Strand’s shot beat the goalie over the glove for his 19th goal of the season.

Spokane had a 25-17 advantage in shots after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 12-7 in the period.

Spokane took the three-goal lead back at 1:02 of the third period on a goal by Jaret Anderson-Dolan.

Yamamoto scored at 10:19 of the third to give the Chiefs a 5-1 lead.

Spokane outshot Seattle 36-26 in the game.

Hughes had 31 saves on 36 shots and his record is 10-8-4-1.

Weatherill had 25 saves on 26 shots and his record is 21-9-3-2.

On the road again

The T-Birds’ next game is 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans.

For tickets, order on the T-Birds website or drop by the ShoWare box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Elynuik 24, 16:40 (sh). 2, Spokane, Reid 12, 17:51. Penalties – Smith, Spo (interference), 3:42. Wedman, Sea (tripping), 11:19. Toporowski, Spo (hooking), 15:31.

Second period – 3, Spokane, Yamamoto 15 (Anderson-Dolan, Smith), 17:01 (pp). 4, Seattle, Strand 19 (Philp, Ottenbreit), 18:01. Penalties – Ottenbreit, Spo (hooking), 15:38. McKay, Spo (roughing), 20:00. Tyszka, Sea (roughing), 20:00.

Third period – 5, Spokane, Anderson-Dolan 34 (Yamamoto), 1:02. 6, Spokane, Yamamoto 16 (McIndoe, Reid), 10:19. Penalties – Volcan, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 15:59. Toporowski, Spo (10-minute misconduct), 15:59.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-7-9 26, Spokane 13-12-11 36. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 36 shots-31 saves (10-8-4-1); Spokane, Weatherill 26-25 (21-9-3-2). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Spokane 1-2. A – 5,099. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Adam Griffiths. Linesmen – Michael Bean, Michael Labbe.