Chiefs’ Streak Snapped

The Spokane Chiefs’ 11-game unbeaten streak is over, thanks to the lowly Prince George Cougars.

Shawn Gendron scored for the Cougars - last place in the WHL’s West Division with 3:54 gone in overtime for the 6-5 win in front of 5,190 fans Friday night.

The win avenged the Cougars 4-2 loss to the Chiefs Wednesday night.

Spokane still holds a one-game edge over Tri-City in the West Division with the two teams meeting Sunday night in Kennewick.

Friday night, Gendron stole the puck from Darren Sinclair at center ice and won a race to the goal, beating Chief goaltender David Lemanowicz to the forehand side as Lemanowicz slipped.

The Chiefs rallied back from a 2-1 first-period deficit to score three unanswered goals in the second for a 4-2 lead. Among those was Dmitri Leonov’s second goal of the game and fourth in the last two games.

The Cougars then got two goals 28 seconds apart in the third period to tie it at 4-4. Ian Walderson scored from the left circle at 3:29 and Jeff Lynch scored for the second time at 3:57.

John Cirjak netted a power-play goal at 7:39 before Peter Roed tied it again at 5-5 at the 11:56-mark of the third.

It was the first win for Prince George this year after trailing after the first two periods, going 0-20 in those games.

Spokane had a chance to win it in the closing seconds of the third period, winning a faceoff in the Cougars end, but Prince George goalkeeper Chris Mason stopped two shots.

The Chiefs outshot the Cougars 41-37 and each team was 1 of 3 on power-play opportunities.

Cougars 6, Chiefs 5

Spokane 1 3 1 0 - 5

Prince George 2 0 3 1 - 6

First period - 1, Prince George, Souray 8 (Gendron, Walterson) 5:28 pp. 2, Spokane, Leonov 19 (Boschman, Sinclair) 12:38. 3, Prince George, Lynch 13 (Low, Cloutier) 14:31. Key penalties - Magarell, Spo., 4:37.

Second period - 4, Spokane, Whitfield 19 (Cardarelli, Hamilton) 1:29. 5, Spokane, Leonov 20 (Gans, Whitfield) 5:03. 6, Spokane, Sinclair 16 (Una.) 18:43. Key penalties - Voltera, PG, 2:54. Boschman, Spo., 10:25.

Third period - 7, Prince George, Walterson 1 (Gendron) 3:29. 8, Prince George, Lynch 14 (Van Horlick) 3:57. 9, Spokane, Cirjak 14 (Gillam, Magarell) 7:39. 10, Prince George, Roed 10 (Luciuk, Souray) 11:56. Key penalties - Spokane bench, too many men, 1:03. Peterson, P.G., 6:12.

Overtime - Prince George, Gendron 8 (Cloutier, Peterson) 3:54.

Saves - Spokane, Lemanowicz 10-9-10-2-31. Prince George, Mason 14-10-10-3-37. Power plays opportunities - 1 of 3 each team. Att.- 5,490.