Spokane Chiefs remain on outside of playoffs with loss to Kootenay

Colton Kroeker scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal midway through the third period to lift the Kootenay Ice over the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook, B.C. in Western Hockey league action on Friday.

The Chiefs (20-21-6-2, 48 points) remain in ninth place in the Western Conference playoff race. They entered play one point behind Portland, which played a late game, for the final playoff spot.

The game-winner came 4 1/2 minutes after Eli Zummack tied it for Spokane at 2-2 with his sixth goal of the season, assisted by Ty Smith and Nolan Reid, on a deke of the goalie after driving across the crease.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan started the scoring at 4:48 of the first period with his 23rd goal of the season, a shot from the right wing that settled just under the bar, two seconds after a Spokane power play had expired.

Kootenay’s Brett Davis tied it early in the second on a rebound, 10 seconds into a power play with Tyson Helgesen off for roughing. The Ice went up 2-1 less than two minutes into the third on Vince Loschiavo’s 16th of the campaign.

The Chiefs outshot Kootenay 40-36 in the game.

Jayden Sittler made 33 saves for the Chiefs, while Jakob Walter made 38 for Kootenay.

The Chiefs race Tri-City on the road Saturday at 7:05 p.m.