Chiefs drop another on road

MOOSE JAW, Saskatchewan – This isn’t the way the Spokane Chiefs wanted to begin their seven-game road trip.

Riley Holzapfel scored at the 14-minute, 5-second mark of the third period and Jordan Knackstedt added an empty-netter with 1 minute remaining to rally the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-2 victory at the Civic Centre.

The Chiefs (24-17-3-2) lost their second game in as many nights and travel to Regina for a 4 p.m. contest today. They could find themselves in fourth place in the U.S. Division when the puck drops – pending the result of Tri-City’s game against Everett.

Moose Jaw (17-26-3-0) is in last place in the East Division.

Spokane took a 1-0 lead on Curtis Kelner’s unassisted goal 2:24 into the match. It was Kelner’s first goal with the Chiefs since being acquired at the trade deadline.

The Warriors bounced back to knot the score at the 5:05 mark of the first period on Steven Gillen’s unassisted short-handed score.

The Chiefs regained the lead 7:28 later on a goal by Justin Falk. Mitch Wahl and Drayson Bowman assisted on the play.

The 2-1 lead lasted 1:27, with Moose Jaw pulling even on a goal by Jason Bast.

After a scoreless second period, the Chiefs wasted a golden opportunity.

Spokane couldn’t capitalize on a 4-minute power play in the third period and Holzapfel netted what proved to be the winner a minute later.