Take two: Spokane Chiefs lose 2-goal leads on consecutive nights to Victoria

VICTORIA, B.C. – Matthew Phillips scored his 46th goal of the season 2:42 into overtime and the Victoria Royals downed the Spokane Chiefs 4-3 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action.

The Chiefs (26-28-6-3, 61 points) are 12 points behind Portland with eight games to play for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

For the second consecutive night, the Chiefs built a 3-1 lead only to lose by identical 4-3 margins.

Spokane’s Hayden Ostir started the scoring midway through the first period, on assists by Luke Gallagher and Taylor Ross.

Matthew Phillips tied it with 58 seconds left in the frame on a power play, his 45th goal of the season.

Spokane took advantage of Victoria taking simultaneous penalties midway through the second period, as Loch Morrison was whistled for slashing and Scott Walford earned a delay of game.

Hudson Elynuik scored on the five-on-three with his 24th of the season, assisted by the Yamamoto brothers, and cashed in the bonus extra-man time with his 25th to put the Chiefs up 3-1.

But as been the case of late, Spokane couldn’t hold it.

Morrison made up for his infraction and drew Victoria within one a mere 40 seconds after Elynuik’s second, and less than three minutes later Regan Nagy potted his 17th of the campaign with an extra man to knot it at 3 heading to the third.

Spokane travels to Seattle on Tuesday for a 7:05 p.m. game.