Spokane Chiefs beat Tri-City to wrap up third place in U.S. Division

KENNEWICK –The Spokane Chiefs clinched third place in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League with a 4-3 victory over the Tri-City Americans at Toyota Center on Saturday night.

As a result, the Chiefs are locked into a first-round playoff series against the second-place Portland Winterhawks. Games 1 and 2 will be in Portland on Saturday and next Sunday. Games 3 and 4 will be in Spokane on March 28 and 29. Tri-City finishes fourth in the U.S. Division and will play Kelowna in the first round.

Spokane’s Jake McGrew scored the winning goal on Saturday, finding the back of the net with less than 2 minutes remaining for a 4-2 Spokane lead.

After Tri-City pulled its goalie for an extra attacker, the Americans’ Morgan Geekie scored in the final minute to make the score 4-3.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his team-high 40th goal of the season in the first period and the Chiefs led 1-0 after one period. After Tri-City tied it early in the second, Riley Woods answered 9 seconds later to put the Chiefs ahead 2-1. Filip Kral scored in the final minute of the second for a 3-1 Chiefs lead after two periods.

The Chiefs play at Portland tonight at 5:05 in a game that has no bearing on the final standings or playoff matchups.