Chiefs fall to T-Birds in shootout
Former Chief scores winner for Seattle
SEATTLE – Tyler Johnson’s equalizer in the third period helped propel the Spokane Chiefs to overtime, but they could not come up with the winner as Seattle (10-4-3-3) beat the Chiefs (10-8-1-1) in the shootout to win 2-1 in Western Hockey League action.
Spokane came out firing, amassing 21 shots in the first period. But the Thunderbirds struck first, with Luke Lockhart’s goal giving them a 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the game.
Johnson scored in his fourth consecutive game to knot the score at 1 just 3:45 into the third period. It was Spokane’s first goal in six power-play attempts.
Throughout regulation and overtime, the Chiefs could find the net just once, despite 49 shots on goal.
The teams played through a scoreless overtime period, before the Thunderbirds put the game away with a 2-1 advantage in the shootout.
Blake Gal scored the lone goal of the shootout for Spokane before former Chief Burke Gallimore gave the T-Birds a 2-1 advantage.
Johnson then had the chance to tie things up for the second time but had his attempt sail wide, giving Seattle the win.
The loss snapped the Chiefs’ season-long, three-game winning streak.
James Reid took the loss in net for Spokane, recording 24 saves on 25 attempts.
Calvin Pickard took the win for the T-Birds, collecting 48 saves.
The Chiefs, tied with Everett at the bottom U.S. Division with 22 points, will try and recapture their winning ways when they travel to play Tri-City today at 7 p.m.