Loyns Saves Smith’S Magic Act Chiefs Nip Rockets For Second Consecutive Win

The Spokane Chiefs came precariously close to wasting the first flashes of play-making magic that is Tim Smith’s A game. But unlike last year, the Chiefs have enough to put away a wounded opponent in a mini-shootout.

This one was decided by Lynn Loyns, who scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, with 1:23 remaining Wednesday night in a 5-4 Western Hockey League win over the injury-depleted Kelowna Rockets.

Loyns put a winning spin on an impressive night from Smith, Spokane’s 5-foot-9, 165-pound, 18-year-old center from Rochfort Bridge, Alberta, who set up three goals to the delight of 3,809.

The smallest crowd since the Chiefs moved into the Arena in 1995 saw their smallest player put on a show of speed and agility worthy of a Greg Leeb or a Ray Whitney - both small packages of offensive dynamite who wore Spokane red and white.

“Smitty is one of the most talented guys you’ll ever see,” said Loyns, who with four goals in the last two games nudged the Chiefs into a modest two-game winning streak. “Just a lack of size, maybe, but 1-on-1, he can beat anyone. With speed and great hands he sets up unbelievable plays.”

Coming off an embarrassing 4-0 Tuesday night loss at home to the Medicine Hat Tigers, Kelowna played without two of its top three centers, J.J. Hunter and Rory McDade, who are out with head injuries. The Rockets also went without Ryan Cuthbert, who has scored a point a game, and veteran left wing Quinton Laing.

Without their leadership corps, and with 17-year-old Vaughn Watson getting his first WHL start in goal, the Rockets didn’t have much of a chance.

They made the most of it, scoring on four of their 16 shots. Although three of the Rockets’ four goals came on the power play, none was highlight-film material.

The Chiefs enjoyed a 35-16 shot advantage, yet had to sweat this one out. So when they report for practice today the goaltending job will be thrown back open to competition. Chiefs coach Mike Babcock will take a long look at Wednesday night starter Shane Gris and Mike Lencucha before naming a starter for Saturday night’s game here with the Prince Albert Raiders.

The game-winning play started with Daniel Bohac and Roman Tvrdon taking over deep in the Rockets’ zone.

“Bo just fed a needle right through all the traffic, right on my tape,” Loyns said. “I kind of misfired. The puck was kind of tumbling and I think it threw him (Watson, in goal) off. It went in, top corner. It was hard work on my linemates’ part, and a little luck on my part.”

It was the kind of luck the Chiefs weren’t good enough to manufacture last year.

“We wouldn’t have had the perseverance to keep battling when things weren’t going well,” Babcock said. “Derek Schutz and Jared Smyth were very good tonight in the physical, department, on the forecheck. They set the tone. And our back end, with Rossiter (Kyle) and Sauer (Kurt), was really strong.”

But no doubt most of the crowd went into the autumn night talking about Smith, who has seven assists in the Chiefs’ first five games.

“Smitty’s good with the pill,” Babcock said. “He’s exciting for the crowd. He can check, he wins faceoffs, he can do everything. If he decides to be a complete player he has the chance to be as good as anybody in this league.”

Mason Wallin, Shawn Thompson and Rossiter had the other goals for the Chiefs (2-3). The Rockets are 2-4 in the WHL West.

Loyns put the Chiefs up late in the second period, storming the net for the rebound on the power play.

That didn’t last long. Kiel McLeod got one past Gris 39 seconds into the third period and the game was again tied.

Thirty-three seconds later, Rossiter’s shot from the right point a step in from the blue line got by Watson and the Chiefs were back out in front.

Leonard tied it at 4, taking advantage of a big rebound off Gris with the Rockets on the power play with 13:43 to go.

The final tie of the night held until the Bohac-Tvrdon-Loyns line broke through late.

“You couldn’t leave here tonight saying these guys don’t work,” Babcock said of the Chiefs. “That doesn’t mean we didn’t pucker up at the end. We really did.”