Wahl leads Spokane past Kamloops

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Center Mitch Wahl scored two goals and set up two others Tuesday night, leading the Spokane Chiefs to 6-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League action.

A four-goal second period spelled the difference as the Chiefs broke a 1-1 tie with the outburst. Wahl scored his fourth goal of the season in the period and assisted on another.

Levko Koper, Drayson Bowman and Stefan Ulmer had the other goals staking them to a 5-1 lead. Bowman’s goal came in his first game since returning from the Carolina Hurricanes’ NHL camp.

Koper broke a 1-1 tie 2 minutes, 24 seconds into the second period and Wahl followed a minute later.

Bowman’s goal came at 7:06 and Ulmer’s at 15:43 during a period when Spokane players were penalized three times to Kamloops’ one.

Wahl had scored initially 5:25 into the game. Dustin Donaghy also scored for Spokane in the third period, Wahl with an assist. It was Donaghy’s second career goal.

Tyler Shattock and C .J. Stretch scored Kamloops’ goals with both of them coming via the power play.

The Blazers, who have lost three straight, are 2-3-0-1.

By contrast, the Chiefs (3-1-0) have now won three straight to take over first place in the U.S. Division with six points.

They are in Chilliwack tonight at 7 and return home for an important Friday contest against Everett, which trails Spokane by a mere point in the division.

Spokane goaltender Dustin Tokarski stopped 30 shots while earning his third straight victory. The Blazers were 2 for 7 on power play attempts, while the Chiefs only were afforded one power play opportunity.

Overall the Chiefs outshot the Blazers 35-32.