Chiefs dump Portland Winterhawks
Spokane ends trip on winning note
PORTLAND – Blake Gal and Anthony Bardaro scored 7 seconds apart in the first period as the Spokane Chiefs beat the Portland Winterhawks 3-1 in Western Hockey League action Sunday.
With the win, Spokane (11-9-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and handed WHL-leading Portland its fourth regulation loss in 25 games this season.
“I thought we played a well-rounded game right from the start,” Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur said. “We had a motivated game. For us to rebound like this is outstanding, particularly after the game (Saturday) night in Tri-Cities.”
Spokane played its third consecutive night on the road, losing 2-1 in Seattle on Friday and 8-3 to Tri-City on Saturday.
James Reid made 34 saves for the Chiefs, including 22 in the third period.
Gal opened the scoring at 4:41 of the first, scoring his 10th goal of the season on a breakaway. It was his first goal on the road this season.
Just 7 seconds later, Bardaro connected on a backhander to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.
After the Winterhawks got on the board to make it 2-1, Levko Koper scored a power-play goal late in the first period to complete the scoring. Koper’s goal was his 12th of the season, tying him with Tyler Johnson for the team lead.
The Chiefs return home Wednesday to face Kamloops.
KIJHL
Rance Hughes scored twice and added an assist as the Spokane Braves beat the Grand Forks Border Bruins 6-2 in Kootenay International Junior Hockey League play at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.
Derek Davis, Guisseppe Dippolito, Nick Fowler and Nick Redding also scored for Spokane (15-14), which got 31 saves from Mckinlee Baum.