Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Chiefs lose to Tri-City in shootout

KENNEWICK – Tri-City goalkeeper Eric Comrie turned away five shots in the shootout and the Americans edged the Spokane Chiefs 2-1 in Western Hockey League play Saturday night at the Toyota Center.

Mitch Holmberg scored to open the shootout, but the Chiefs were denied on their next five tries. Philip Tot’s goal in the sixth round won it for the Americans.

The win was Tri-City’s first in four games this season against the Chiefs.

Spokane’s Riley Whittingham gave the Chiefs a 1-0 advantage with a goal at 7:41 of the first period. The goal was Whittingham’s fifth of the season.

Tri-City’s Jessey Astles evened the score with a power-play goal in the final minute of the first. Astles’ goal came with 2 seconds left in the power play.

Both teams were held scoreless in the final two periods and overtime.

Spokane (17-9-0-2) had its chances but came up empty on all four of its power-play opportunities. Chiefs goalkeeper Eric Williams turned aside 23 of 24 shots.

Spokane, which fell to 9-6 on the road, has eight remaining games against Tri-City (15-12-1-2). The Chiefs, though, will focus their attention on Seattle, which they play three times in the next seven days.

Seattle (16-9-1-3) beat Victoria (18-12-0-1) 6-3 and moved to within two points of fifth-place Spokane in the WHL’s Western Conference. The Chiefs are a point behind fourth-place Victoria.