Spokane Chiefs dumped on annual New Year’s Eve date with Tri-City

Parker AuCoin scored two of Tri-City’s three short-handed goals and the Americans topped the Spokane Chiefs 6-1 in the teams’ annual New Year’s Eve matchup at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.

Down 3-0, the Chiefs (20-13-2-2, 44 points) picked up their first full power play of the game midway through the second period, but AuCoin neutralized the man advantage with an unassisted short-handed goal, his 19th marker of the season.

Spokane had another chance at a power play late in the second, but AuCoin scored another shorty to make it 5-0. Blake Stevenson capped Tri-City’s scoring with a short-handed goal late in the third.

Early in the first period, Paycen Bjorklund and Jarod Newell scored 44 seconds apart, putting the Americans (19-13-1-1, 40 points) up a pair. It was the first goal of the season for both players.

Spokane’s Jake McGrew scored his 13th of the season with 30 seconds to go.