T-Birds snap Chiefs’ streak

SEATTLE – The Spokane Chiefs’ struggles to convert on the power play and Seattle’s success doing so resulted in a 4-1 win for the Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League game on Sunday night.

The loss to the last-place team in the U.S. Division snapped the Chiefs’ season-high five-game winning streak.

Spokane came in as the WHL’s second-best on the penalty kill while Seattle was 20th out of 22 teams on the power play.

Spokane scored its only goal when Calder Brooks tipped Kailer Yamamoto’s shot into the net on a power play 5 seconds from the end of the first period. But the Chiefs couldn’t convert on six other power plays.

The T-Birds converted three of their four power-play chances. They took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Turner Ottenbreit and Ryan Gropp. They added their third goal, by Shavan Khaira, in the second period, and a final score in the third period by Gropp.

Garret Hughson made 25 saves in goal for Spokane while Seattle’s Taran Kozun made 21.

The Chiefs (14-8-3-0) remain tied for second place in the U.S. Division with Portland at 31 points, five behind Everett. The Chiefs take on the division-leading Silvertips on Wednesday in Everett.