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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Chiefs earn tie at Saskatoon



 (The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – For the third time in five Western Hockey League games, the Spokane Chiefs were fit to be tied.

Ned Lukacevic rebounded Derek Ryan’s blast from the right circle late in the first period to knot the score, and both teams rode brilliant goaltending the rest of the way as Spokane skated to a 1-1 tie with the Saskatoon Blades in front of 5,456 at the Credit Union Place.

Saskatoon goaltender Adam Ward stopped 47 shots, including four during overtime when Spokane had a 4-on-3 power-play opportunity but couldn’t score.

Jim Watt was equally impressive, stopping 35 of the Blades’ scoring chances.

Saskatoon (16-6-5-0, first place in the East Division) got on the board first when Ryan Keller snuck a back-hander past Watt at 11 minutes, 25 seconds of the first period.

But Spokane (8-13-4-1, fifth in U.S. Division) answered when Lukacevic converted with two Blades in the penalty box at 18:47. Ryan and Sean Zimmerman picked up assists on the play.

Spokane will make the fourth stop on its seven-games-in-11-days road trip on Friday when it faces the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Chiefs won’t play at home until they host the Swift Current Broncos on Dec. 10.

The Chiefs had closed out their last homestand with consecutive 2-2 ties against Prince George and Kelowna.

Chiefs 1, Blades 1 (OT)

Spokane1000– 1
Saskatoon1000– 1

First Period–1, Saskatoon, Keller (Barnes, Eisenkirch), 11:25. 2, Spokane, Lukacevic (Ryan, Gladue), 18:47 (pp).

Second Period–No scoring.

Third Period–No scoring.

Power-play opportunities–Spokane 1 of 8; Saskatoon 0 of 5. Saves–Spokane, Watt 8-16-11-0–35. Saskatoon, Ward 11-17-15-4–47. A–5,456.