Spokane Chiefs lose to Everett Silvertips

If the Western Hockey League season ended today, the Spokane Chiefs would meet the Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs.

Everett’s 3-2 victory over Spokane at the Arena on Tuesday night hints that a playoff series between the two U.S. Division rivals could be a tight affair. Although division-leading Everett (32-15-3-1, 68 points) is 4-2 against the Chiefs this season, the Silvertips have only outscored Spokane 23-20. Three of the games have been decided by one goal.

“I don’t think we’re looking at that right now,” said Everett center Remi Laurencelle, who scored the winning goal midway through second period on a 3-on-2 rush. “We have to focus on the last 20-some games and once it gets a little closer, then we’ll worry about it. As of right now, we have to make sure we keep going and stay in first place.”

“I think with all our bodies out, we’re just battling to make the playoffs instead of worrying about who we’re going to play right now,” Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur said.

The Chiefs had nine scratches: seven for injuries, one for illness (backup goalie Tyson Verhelst) and one for suspension (right wing Jacob Cardiff, check to the head major and game misconduct on Saturday against Medicine Hat). Spokane was limited to 10 forwards.

“When you’re down to nine to 10 forwards, guys pace themselves, so we’re not really carrying a high tempo to our game right now, and I think they’re pacing themselves because of conditioning,” Nachbaur said. “It wears on you, night in and night out.”

Everett, three points ahead second-place Portland, won for the eighth time in 11 games. In losing for the eighth time in nine games, Spokane dropped to 24-22-3-1 but, with 52 points, remained one point ahead of last-place Tri-City in the division.

The first period ended 2-all despite both teams being held to four shots. For Spokane, Keanu Yamamoto scored his ninth goal of the season at 5 minutes and 7 seconds, 17 seconds into a power play after an Everett delay of game penalty, for a 1-0 lead. After two Silvertips goals, Spokane’s Dominic Zwerger added his 11th goal at 12:30, zipping past the defense seconds after an Everett power play ended.

Everett held Spokane to three shots in the second period. The Silvertips snapped the 2-all tie at 11:27 on Laurencelle’s third winner of the season and first since Dec. 13 against Tri-City.

The Chiefs were stuck on nine total shots with about 14 minutes left when the offense woke up and produced 12 shots the rest of the way. Silvertips goalie Austin Lotz had to stop Markson Bechtold, Riley Whittingham and a Chiefs flurry midway through the third to preserve the lead.

Spokane got a power play with 2:32 left when Brayden Low checked Liam Stewart from behind, forcing Stewart to leave the game. The Chiefs pulled goalie Garret Hughson with 1:25 to go to set up a 6-on-4 power play that couldn’t break through.

“It’s disappointing to come up short because I thought our guys battled,” Nachbaur said. “We just didn’t have the execution when we needed it.”

The Chiefs will leave today for their biennial trip to play all six teams in the East Division, starting Friday at Moose Jaw.