Chiefs Earn A Good Tie With Winter Hawks

The Portland Winter Hawks moved within seven points - that’s three and a half games - of wrapping up the race in the Western Hockey League West Sunday night.

But make no mistake. Their 5-5 overtime tie with the Spokane Chiefs was a clear signal that, although the Chiefs have virtually no shot at tinkering with the ending of the regular-season story, the final chapter - the postseason - is a long way from being scripted.

These two clubs are worlds apart in the standings but equals in everything that matters. This was a playoff game in everything but name, and on this night, the Chiefs were the better club.

Portland coach Brent Peterson said it.

Spokane coach Mike Babcock acknowledged it, with an important addendum. “In the playoffs, we’re not going to be playing three in three (three games in three nights) and be half-dead by the time we get to the rink,” he warned.

Playing 24 hours after going down to Tri-City, the worst team in the West, and with leading scorer Greg Leeb sidelined for picking up a match penalty Saturday night in Kennewick, the Chiefs settled for the tie in front of 8,175 at Memorial Coliseum.

They settled for the tie after, in the third period, unleashing 15 shots while holding the top-ranked club in North America to 3.

Settled for it after outshooting the Winter Hawks 41-26.

Zenith Komarniski and Marian Cisar had 3-point nights.

It was hard-working Rick Berry who put the Chiefs up 5-4 at 7:07 of the third period with a deflection that was originally credited to Cisar. After late review the goal went to Berry, who was one of Spokane captain Trent Whitfield’s personal choices for player of the game.

Whitfield’s other five co-selections were the rest of the Spokane defensive corps.

“I’d pick all six of ‘em,” Whitfield said after logging an assist and his 29th goal of the season.

“After last night (in Tri-City) we were disappointed in ourselves,” Babcock said. “With the travel we’ve had it was gut-check time. We were on them big-time.”

Chiefs goaltender Aren Miller “would like to have their two powerplay goals back and yet he really battled at the end for us,” said Babcock, who’s had very little to crow about in goal the past dozen games.

It was a night for role players, with Leeb out and defenseman Brad Ference sitting at home in Calgary

“Ron Grimard gave us his best game in a long time,” Babcock said. “He was a real factor. Derek Schutz was excellent. And Whitfield was 25 of 30 in the faceoff circle, which is unbelievable.”

The Chiefs (39-19-4) were down 4-3 after two periods in a place where Portland (46-9-3) is all but unbeatable. The Hawks were 38-0 when leading after two periods.

But Cisar notched his 27th of the year 3:11 into the third and assisted on Berry’s goal at 7:07 to put the Chiefs up 5-4.

Todd Robinson, who had two goals and an assist, tied it with 2:42 remaining in regulation.

Komarniski’s slap shot from the point of the power play 1:42 into the game put the Chiefs up 1-0.

Portland evened it when Brenden Morrow - fighting off Spokane’s Perry Johnson - played the puck from behind the net to Marian Hossa out front. Hossa beat Miller for his 36th goal of the season.

The Chiefs regained the lead with 3:27 left in the period. Cam Severson, checked into the boards, sent the puck into the scoring zone. Whitfield, flying through the slot, slid it by Portland goaltender Brent Belecki, who made 36 saves. Miller had 20 stops for Spokane.

, DataTimes