Chiefs Come Back To Life, Whip Portland

The Spokane Chiefs did everything Saturday night at Tri-City but finish.

Sunday night they took care of unfinished business, coming from a goal down in the Western Hockey League game to finish off the Portland Winter Hawks 6-1 at the Arena.

The Chiefs ended a 3-game losing streak before 5,094, who watched the renewal of another story of strength in numbers headed this time by Darren Sinclair (2 goals and an assist), Dmitri Leonov (2 goals and an assist), Hugh Hamilton (a goal and an 3 assists) and Trent Whitfield (2 assists).

Oh, and David Lemanowicz rejected 27 of Portland’s 28 shots.

The timing of Lemanowicz’s outing couldn’t have been better. The Chiefs can trace their Thanskgiving slump - they won for the first time in five games - to lapses on the power play and penalty kill. They can also point to spotty goaltending.

Lemanowicz, who sat out Saturday night’s 4-3 loss at Tri-City, said the team needed a lift, and hinted that he was ready for one himself.

“I knew I didn’t play that well the game before and sitting there (Saturday night) watching, not being able to redeem myself, knowing your team needs a win badly, was a little tough for me,” Lemanowicz said. “You want to be the guy they go to.

“I tend to think too much instead of playing,” Lemanowicz added. “As the game goes on you don’t have time to think. You just react and play. Once I get past the first five minutes I settle down.”

Portland didn’t give him five minutes.

Brad Symes took only 3:27 to beat Lemanowicz on a breakaway, shooting low to the goalie’s stick side to put Portland up 1-0.

The lead stood for a minute and a half.

Spokane broke it open with 3 second-period goals but won it in the first period, starting with Sinclair - who gets more done on his knees, on the seat of his pants and sliding on his belly than a lot of hockey players manage to do upright on two sharp skates.

The Chiefs got even at 1-1 after a shot by Leonov rebounded off goaltender Scott Rideout. Sinclair got his stick on it from his knees and swatted it upstairs, into the left corner of the net.

“Actually I cut through the crease and lost my balance,” Sinclair said. “I managed to get a stick on it. I get my goals like that. I’m a checker.”

Leonov scored the game-winner, 9:48 later, with Portland on a power play.

Sinclair and Hamilton worked the puck away from Portland’s Andrew Ference and shot it out to Leonov, who carried it into the slot with Winter Hawk Brad Isbister tugging on him from behind with his stick. Leonov maintained balance and beat Rideout with his backhand.

, DataTimes