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

Chiefs’ offense kicks into high gear at Saskatoon

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – The Spokane Chiefs wasted little time Tuesday in gearing up for their best offensive showing in six weeks.

Kailer Yamamoto broke out of a 10-game scoreless streak with one goal and two assists, and Liam Stewart added two goals to power the Chiefs to a 6-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Saskatoon Blades at Credit Union Centre.

Spokane broke ahead 3-0 after 3 minutes, 8 seconds and added two goals before the midway point of the second period.

Adam Helewka had his club-high 29th goal and an assist as Spokane recorded its best offensive output since its 10-goal game against Tri-City on Dec. 31.

The Chiefs (26-23-3-1, 56 points), who had lost nine of their last 11 games, improved to 2-1 on their six-game trip to the East Division.

Saskatoon (15-35-2-1) lost its fourth consecutive game and owns the worst winning percentage (.311) in the league. The Blades have lost five consecutive times in their one-game-per-year series with Spokane.

Helewka, taking a pass from Yamamoto, scored top-shelf at 22 seconds to ignite the Chiefs. Jacob Cardiff, a native of Saskatchewan playing in front of friends and family, scored his third goal of the season at 1:07 for a 2-0 edge.

Jackson Playfair, who hadn’t scored since the Dec. 31 game in Kennewick, made it 3-0 on a 2-on-1 play at 3:08. The Blades yanked goalie Brock Hamm, who faced just five shots.

Yamamoto, with his 17th goal of the season, and Stewart, with his 18th, scored 23 seconds apart in the second period for a 5-1 advantage.

The Blades, trailing 5-1, scored power-play goals late in the second and third periods. During the road trip, the Chiefs have been whistled for 15 penalties while having five called on the opposition.

Stewart added an unassisted empty-netter with 1:41 left.

Spokane is 6-4-1-0 against the Eastern Conference and 14-11-1-1 on the road this season.