Chiefs waste two 3-goal leads before beating Rockets 6-5 in OT

KELOWNA, B.C. – Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored a goal 34 seconds into overtime and the Spokane Chiefs pulled out a 6-5 Western Hockey League victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday after blowing a three-goal lead twice.

The Chiefs (38-21-2-5, 83 points) grabbed the lead 12 seconds into the game when Jack Finley found the net for the ninth time this season.

The goal was 1 second shy from being the quickest goal to start a game in team history, which was after 11 seconds against Portland in 2002.

Nolan Foote pulled the Rockets (27-32-5-2, 61) even at the 3:54 mark of the first period with the first of his two goals on the night.

Spokane regained the lead at 8:39 when Anderson-Dolan scored the first of three unanswered goals by the Chiefs. Luke Toporowski followed with his 20th goal of the campaign and Ethan McIndoe chipped in his 15th goal to cap the surge and give Spokane a 4-1 lead heading into the final period.

Anderson-Dolan tied a Chiefs record by scoring in his ninth straight game. Anderson-Dolan matched the mark set by Adam Helewka (2014-15), Marian Cesar (1997-98), Brent Gilchrist (1986-87) and Terry Perkins (1985-86).

Michael Farren pulled the Rockets within 4-2 just 1:58 into the period, but Nolan Reid answered with his 16th goal of the season for the Chiefs to push the lead back to 5-2.

Kelowna battled back with three straight goals – by Foote, Kaedan Korczak and Kyle Topping. Topping scored with 40 seconds left in regulation to knot the score at 5.

Spokane, which has already clinched at least third place in the U.S. Division and qualified for a playoff spot, has a chance to catch Portland for second place. The Chiefs trail the Winterhawks by three points. Both teams have two games left in the regular season.