Ice end Chiefs’ streak

CRANBROOK, British Columbia – For 86 seconds early in the second period Friday night, the Spokane Chiefs looked well on their way to extending their winning streak.

But the top team in the Western Conference of the Western Hockey League couldn’t follow up on a two-goal burst and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Kootenay Ice in a shootout in the RecPlex, losing a five-game streak in the process.

Mitch Wahl, set up by Ondrej Roman’s feed through the slot from behind the net, snapped a scoreless tie 5:08 into the second period with his 16th goal.

Just 1:26 later, Judd Blackwater, with his parents in from Lethbridge, Alberta, gave Spokane (37-10-1-4) a 2-0 lead with his 19th goal.

But the Chiefs couldn’t generate any more offense as Kootenay goalie Kris Lazaruk closed the door.

Dustin Sylvester’s power-play goal just 48 seconds from the end of the second period, his 26th goal, gave Kootenay momentum.

Steve DaSilva’s 29th goal on a re-direct past Spokane’s Kevin Armstrong 2:43 into the third capped the scoring until the shootout, when Ben Maxwell and Sylvester scored as Kootenai (30-18-4-1) won a second straight over Spokane.