Chiefs Dump Blazers Spokane Continues Amazing Mastery Over Kamloops

The Kamloops Blazers must be wondering what they have to do to beat the Spokane Chiefs.

Sunday night, Jason Podollan recorded a hat trick and the Chiefs beat the Blazers for the 10th consecutive time, including seven times this season, with a 5-3 win in front of 5,501 at the Riverside Coliseum.

The win also broke a first-place tie between the two teams in the Western Division of the Western Hockey League.

Spokane holds a two-point advantage on Kamloops and a five-point edge on third-place Tri-City.

Podollan scored in each period, including the game-winner with 10 minutes, 22 seconds left in the game, and has four goals in his last two games.

Dmitri Leonov and John Cirjak also scored for Spokane, which hasn’t lost at Kamloops since Oct. 8, 1994.

Podollan gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead in the first period, burying a one-timer from the point while on a two-man advantage at the 6:42-mark.

In the second period, Podollan scored on a slap shot and Leonov knocked in a loose puck in front of the net to give Spokane a 3-0 lead.

But Kamloops fired back in a hurry.

Goals by Hnat Domenichelli, Brad Lukowich and Cadrin Smart during a 41-second stretch in the third period evened the score at 3-3.

One minute, 44 seconds later, Podollan put his own rebound in off a wraparound to give the Chiefs the lead for good at 4-3.

John Cirjak added an empty net goal with 55 seconds left for the final margin.

The Chiefs are off until Wednesday night when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Arena.

Lethbridge is coached by former Chiefs mentor Bryan Maxwell.