Koper’s hat trick leads Chiefs past Everett

EVERETT – Levko Koper recorded his second hat trick of the season and defenseman Brenden Kichton scored twice Wednesday night to lead the Spokane Chiefs to a 7-2 Western Hockey League win at Comcast Arena.

The Chiefs led 5-2 when Koper scored his final two goals less than 3 minutes apart in the third period. Koper’s other hat trick came Jan. 1 at Kelowna. He has 29 goals, second on the team behind Tyler Johnson.

Kichton had his second two-goal game of the season. His second score, at 7:41 of the second period, put Spokane ahead for good at 3-2.

The Chiefs thought they had scored soon after that, but Darren Kramer’s goal was taken away on video review.

Mac Engel had 21 saves to notch his third straight win over the Silvertips (23-25-5-4), who have lost three straight. Spokane is 6-1 against Everett this season.

Spokane (35-16-4-2, 76 points) pulled within three points of first-place Portland in the U.S. Division. The Chiefs snapped a second-place tie with idle Tri-City.

The Chiefs played their second game of a five-game road swing.