Spokane closes out first half with road loss at Kootenay

CRANBROOK, British Columbia – Martin Sagat scored a pair of goals and the Spokane Chiefs offense decided to hit the Christmas break a game early, allowing the Kootenay Ice to breeze their way to a 4-1 victory in Western Hockey League play on Saturday night at the Cranbrook Recreation Complex.

The Chiefs (11-16-7-1, 30 points), who tied a season low with 16 shots on goal and remained in last place in the U.S. Division at the virtual halfway point of the season.

Sagat gave the Ice (21-11-4-0) a 1-0 lead 1 minute, 26 seconds into the game when he took a pass from Devin Welsh and sent a shot past Spokane goalie Jim Watt.

Spokane evened the score at the 5:48 mark of the first period on a power-play goal by Derek Ryan. Newly acquired defenseman Rob Woods and Sean Zimmerman picked up assists on the play.

That would be it for Spokane’s offensive output.

Ben Maxwell gave the Ice the lead for good with a goal at the 8:16 mark of the second period.

Kootenay stretched its lead to 3-1 on a power-play score by Ryan Russell with 13 seconds remaining in the period. Adam Taylor and Casey Lee notched assists on the goal.

Sagat capped the scoring with a goal 3:42 into the final period. Assists went to Dale Mahovsky and Derek Price.

Watt went the distance in goal for Spokane, stopping 25 of 29 shots. Kootenay goalie Taylor Dakers turned away 15 of 16 shots on goal.

Spokane’s Chad Klaussen saw his nine-game scoring streak and six-game goal streak come to an end.

Both teams finished 1 for 7 on power-play opportunities, with each team piling up 25 penalty minutes.

The Chiefs sit in the cellar, four points behind Portland and Tri-City.

Spokane returns to action on Dec. 28 with a road game against Everett.

Ice 4, Chiefs 1

First period – 1, Kootenay, Sagat (Welsh), 1:26. 2, Spokane, Ryan (Woods, Zimmerman), 5:48 (pp).

Second period – 3, Kootenay, Maxwell (Cherewyk), 8:16. 4, Kootenay, Russell (Taylor, Lee), 19:47 (pp).

Third period – 5, Kootenay, Sagat (Mahovsky, Price), 3:42.

Power-play opportunities–Spokane 1 of 7; Kootenay 1 of 7. Saves–Spokane, Watt 6-10-9–25. Kootenay, Dakers 6-4-5–15. A–3,322.

Junior hockey

Mike Senseman scored three goals and added two assists and the visiting Spokane Braves (12-19-2-3) routed the Grand Forks Border Bruins 12-5 in KIJHL play.