Chiefs’ Streak Continues Leonov Tallies Two Goals In Spokane’s 10th Straight Win

Dmitri Leonov scored both Spokane’s first and last goals as the Chiefs downed the Prince George Cougars 4-2 Wednesday night.

Spokane (24-9-3) moved into sole possession of first place in the Western Hockey League West Division over idle Tri-City. The Americans trail the Chiefs by two points in the standings, 51-49, heading into their game with Seattle tonight.

Spokane also will play the Cougars here Friday night to complete the two-game visit.

Sunday they have a first-place showdown in Tri-City.

The Chiefs are unbeaten in their last 11 games, and have won 10 in a row.

Spokane led 1-0 at the end of the first period and 3-1 at the end of the second, but it wasn’t until Leonov’s goal into an empty net with 55 seconds to play in the third period that the Chiefs locked up the win.

Prince George had pulled to within one when Scott Laluk slipped a shot past Spokane’s David Lemanowicz 14:40 into the third period.

Spokane outshot Prince George 44-25, but Tyler Love had 40 saves for the Cougars (7-26-1). Lemanowicz had with 23 saves for the Chiefs.

Things looked promising for the Chiefs when Leonov beat Love on a back-hander from the slot 2:51 into the game. Prince George is 1-20-1 when its opponent scores first.

But the Cougars knotted the game 1-1 2:53 into the second period when Geoff Lynch beat Lemanowicz off a 2-on-1 break.

The Chiefs countered with second-period goals from John Cirjak and Darren Sinclair. Cirjak has six goals and nine assists in the Chiefs’ last 10 games.

Spokane played without the services of Jason Podollan, who is with Team Canada in the World Junior Tournament in Boston. The Canadians are 2-0.

Spokane 4, Prince George 2

Spokane 1 2 1 - 4

Prince George 0 1 1 - 2

First period-1, Spokane, Leonov 17 (Hamilton, Sinclair), 2:51 (pp). Key penalties-Low, PG, 2:26; Jones, Spo, 5:34.

Second period-2, Prince George, Lynch 12, 2:53. 3, Spokane, Sinclair 15 (Leonov), 9:38. 4, Spokane, Cirjak 18 (Shockey, Gillam), 12:40 (pp). Key penalties-Cloutchier, PG, :53; Jones, Spo, 3:32; Lynch, PG, 11:00; Lane, Spo, 18:53.

Third period-5, Prince George, Laluk 6 (Roed, Hancock), 14:40 (pp). 6, Spokane, Leonov 18 (Whitfield), 19:05 (en). Key penalties-Souray, PG, 7:35; Leonov, Spo, 9:48; Cirven, Spo, 12:17.

Power-play opp.-Spokane 2 of 4; Prince George 1 of 5.Saves-Spokane, Lemanowicz 6-5-12-23. Prince George, Love 14-18-8-40.A-5,522.

, DataTimes