Chiefs rebound, pull even with Silvertips

EVERETT – Any carryover effect that the Everett Silvertips had from winning Game 1 on Friday night disappeared Saturday during a first-period sequence of less than 6 minutes.

The Spokane Chiefs erupted for four goals in 5:46 – two by regular-season scoring leader Adam Helewka – and steamrolled the Silvertips 6-2 at Xfinity Arena to tie the best-of-7 Western Hockey League first-round series at 1 win apiece.

The outburst began with Jackson Playfair’s goal at 7:15 and ended when Helewka scored the Chiefs’ second power-play goal of the period at 13:01. Before the offensive spree, Everett appeared energized by Friday’s five-goal third period and had outshot Spokane 8-3.

“I think we played the right way in the first period,” Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur said. “We weathered their storm early with their crowd and everything. Then we got our game going with that first goal. That was huge for our confidence and the next thing you know, our power play came alive. And the (two) power-play goals were outstanding from our standpoint because (Friday) night we didn’t generate much.”

“We knew they were going to come out strong at home,” said Helewka, who also assisted on Jason Fram’s third-period goal for a 6-0 lead. “The first 10 minutes is always a battle on the road, but we got through that and then we got some chances, played our game and capitalized on it.”

Dominic Zwerger added two goals for Spokane. Keanu Yamamoto had two assists, Fram added an assist to his goal and Garret Hughson made 29 saves for his first playoff victory.

The series shifts to Spokane for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday at the Arena. Everett will host Game 5 on Saturday.

The Chiefs had lost nine consecutive postseason games stretching back to Portland’s second-round sweep in the 2012-13 playoffs.

Everett, a 5-1 winner in Game 1, came out roaring on Saturday before the game dramatically changed.

Playfair’s wrist shot, set up by Blair Oneschuk and Devon McAndrews, started the avalanche. Zwerger, assisted by Markson Bechtold and Keanu Yamamoto, scored the first power-play goal at 9:33 for a 2-0 lead.

Adam Helewka upped the lead to 3-0 at 11:08, assisted by Kailer Yamamoto (Mead High). The goal chased rookie goaltender Carter Hart.

Less than 2 minutes later, Hart’s replacement, Austin Lotz, allowed Helewka’s power-play goal for a 4-0 Chiefs advantage.

“We as a staff liked our first 10 minutes,” Everett assistant coach Mitch Love said. “We had some chances, we just didn’t bury them. They had a few early chances and they did. I think that was the difference in the game.”

Everett outshot Spokane 12-10 during the scoreless second period, but Zwerger needed just 3:20 of the third for a rebound goal and 5-0 lead.

Mirroring Friday’s third period, Saturday’s final period was loaded with penalties, helping the Silvertips score two late goals. The teams continued fighting after the final buzzer.

“That’s just playoffs for you,” Helewka said. “Teams want to win so bad that they’ll do anything. I think basically we hate each other.”