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Extraordinary again

Spokane's Dustin Tokarski blocks a shot from Tri-City's Radek Meidl during the Chiefs' double-overtime win. Tokarski had 40 saves.Tri-City Herald (Kai-Huei Yau Tri-City Herald / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jess Brown
Spokane's Dustin Tokarski blocks a shot from Tri-City's Radek Meidl during the Chiefs' double-overtime win. Tokarski had 40 saves.Tri-City Herald (Kai-Huei Yau Tri-City Herald / The Spokesman-Review)

KENNEWICK – Judd Blackwater admits he was tired. But if ever there was a time for him to work overtime on a shift, it was on Saturday night.

Blackwater netted two goals, including the game-winning goal in double overtime, as the Spokane Chiefs regained the lead in their Western Conference championship series with a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans in Western Hockey League playoff action in front of a Toyota Center crowd of 5,930.

“I’m so excited right now,” said Blackwater, who scored on an assist from Ondrej Roman 2 minutes, 38 seconds into the second overtime. “The puck went up to Romey – he was taking it down the wall – and I was kind of tired actually. I thought about changing (lines), but I stayed out there and I just crept in through the backside, got the pass, was looking to shoot, pulled it around the D-man, I shot and it just happened to go in.

“I’m psyched.”

He should be. So should the rest of the Chiefs, who now have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series, which shifts back to the Arena for Game 6 on Monday night.

Four of the five games have gone into overtime and three of those have bypassed the first overtime and ended in the second extra period.

“Good job by our guys to get the win,” Chiefs coach Bill Peters said. “Just count on (overtime), then if it does happen you won’t be surprised and if it doesn’t, there is no reason to be disappointed. It’s been a hell of series with two good teams. What can you say?”

Spokane’s Drayson Bowman also finished with two goals, both in the second period. After Jason Reese gave the Americans a 2-1 lead 3:17 into the second, Bowman scored at 3:53 and added a power-play goal from the middle of the right circle at 5:13 to give Spokane a 3-2 lead after two periods.

The Chiefs are now 2 for 34 on the power play so far in the series, but moved the puck better on Saturday than in the previous four games.

“The power play was good tonight, and I expect it to be real good come Monday,” Peters said.

Spokane got on the board early in the game when Chiefs captain Chris Bruton backhanded a pass to Blackwater, who buried the puck on Tri-City goalie Chet Pickard 1 minutes, 6 seconds into the game.

The Americans continued to outwork the Chiefs in the opening period – carrying a 16-3 advantage on the shot clock and holding Spokane scoreless on four power plays. Colton Yellow Horn fed Drew Hoff, who scored to pull the Ams even as Spokane’s second power-play opportunity expired at 7:34.

With Spokane up 3-2 in the third period, Radek Meidl scored to send the game into overtime.

In the first overtime, Bowman missed a penalty shot and Justin McCrae fired wide on a wide-open net.

Chiefs goalie Dustin Tokarski finished with 40 saves.