Holmberg leads Chiefs to New Year’s Eve win

KENNEWICK – Mitch Holmberg scored his Western Hockey League-leading 38th and 39th goals Tuesday night as the Spokane Chiefs defeated the Tri-City Americans 4-2 at Toyota Center for a rare win in the New Year’s Eve series.

Holmberg, who leads the league with 77 points, and Ryan Whittingham had first-period power-play goals to stake the Chiefs to a 2-0 lead. Holmberg also scored at 6:44 of the third period for a 3-1 lead, and Colton Bobyk added an empty-netter with 6 seconds left.

The Americans lead the annual event 15-7-0-1, with one tie.

Spokane (23-13-0-2, 48 points) moved within one point of fifth-place Seattle in the Western Conference.

T-C (17-18-2-2) has lost seven straight for the first time since January 2003.