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

Chiefs win home opener over Americans

Garret Hughson deflected the last dangerous Tri-City shot and Don Nachbaur deflected any talk about his 600th career win.

Hughson improved to 2-0 as Chiefs starting goaltender and Nachbaur became the fourth coach in Western Hockey League history to record 600 career wins Saturday during a 3-2 win over Tri-City in Spokane’s home opener at the Arena.

Hughson made 20 saves, the most important with 50 seconds left as the Americans (2-2-0-0) attempted to tie the game while working on a 5-on-3 power play.

“It actually went off the top of my glove and grazed the post (crossbar),” Hughson said. “I don’t know exactly where it went after that.”

Hughson and the Chiefs withstood a couple more scary moments – and a couple more heated moments against their bitter rivals – to defeat the Americans for the seventh consecutive time in a home opener.

Nachbaur joined Ken Hodge (742 wins), Lorne Molleken (603) and current Kamloops coach Don Hay (611) as the league coaches with 600 wins. Nachbaur credited his players for the honor.

“I can honestly say this: I remember every captain who ever played for me,” Nachbaur said. “Those guys are the guys who instill what your team does on and off the ice. Those guys implement the coach’s game plan. So it’s not about me. It’s about the players.”

The Chiefs led 2-0 after Liam Stewart’s goal at 8:46 of the first period and Ryan Whittingham’s rebound goal at 2:43 of the second.

The Americans tied the game in the second on goals by Parker Bowles at 13:37 and former Chief Jackson Playfair at 16:51. On Bowles’ goal, Hughson passed to the wrong side of the net, allowing Lucas Nickles to steal the puck and feed Bowles.

Dominic Zwerger, who assisted on Whittingham’s goal, got the winner with 14:12 left on a 5-on-3 power play.

“We just got told to get the puck to the net and get some net-front presence and just grease the puck in, bounce it in and get it in somehow,” Zwerger said.

Spokane was otherwise 0 for 4 on power plays, as was Tri-City, which came in 6 of 18 and tied for the top percentage in the league.

“They were 5 for 10 against Prince George, but it’s early. Those numbers are misleading,” Nachbaur said. … “We had a bad night on the power play tonight.”

New Chiefs captain Jason Fram, playing his first game after spending time at the Calgary Flames camp, had two assists.

“It’s kind of a nice bonus on a good win night,” Fram said of the honor. … “We knew right from the start that every single game would have to be a team effort. We’re getting scoring from everybody. … Right now it seems like everybody’s pitching in every night.”

The teams opened the WHL season Sept. 20 in Kennewick. Spokane won that game 4-2 and had been idle while Tri-City played and won twice, outscoring rivals 10-1.

The Chiefs have opened at home against the Americans for 10 consecutive seasons.