Chiefs use power-play power to dispatch Prince George

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Power plays were very, very good to the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday night.

The Chiefs found the net three times in six opportunities with a man advantage – including twice in the first period – and breezed to a 4-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars in Western Hockey League action.

With their fourth straight victory, the Chiefs (42-17-4-2, 90 points) remain three points behind the Portland Winterhawks (45-17-0-3, 93) in the race for the U.S. Division title in the Western Conference.

Dominik Uher started the Chiefs off and running just 9 minutes, 55 seconds into the first period. Uher’s 19th goal of the season came with assists from Corbin Baldwin and Davis Vandane.

Anthony Bardaro stretched the Spokane lead to 2-0 on his 17th tally of the season with 2:25 left in the first. Baldwin and Brady Brassart had assists on the Chiefs’ second power-play score of the period.

The Spokane lead grew to 3-0 at the 7:51 mark of the second when Tyler Johnson nailed his 48th goal of the season. Matt Marantz and Jared Cowen assisted on the score.

Prince George, which finished 0-4 against Spokane this season, made a game of it with goals by Jaroslav Vlach at 15:51 in the second and Spencer Asuchak at 11:52 in the third to cut the Spokane advantage to 3-2.

The power play worked to Spokane’s benefit again, however, with Brenden Kichton scoring at 14:43 to wrap up the victory for goalie Mac Engel, who stopped 28 shots. Cowen and Levko Koper assisted on Kichton’s 22nd goal of the season.