Vancouver pours it on against Spokane

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Giants built a 3-1 lead after two periods and blew open the game with two third-period goals to post a 5-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday night.

In the first period, Tristan Grant scored at 9 minutes, 24 seconds and Jason Reese added a goal at 13:22 for Vancouver (3-2-0-0) as it put eight shots on net at Spokane goalie Jim Watt

In the second period, Chad Klassen got the Chiefs (1-2-0-0) on the board when he scored on a power-play goal for Spokane with a one-timer from the left circle at 3:43.

The Chiefs would give the momentum right back, however, as the Giants’ Adam Courchaine found Ty Morris off of a face-off in the Spokane zone to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

That’s the way it would be for the teams entering the third period. The Chiefs would have several opportunities in the period as Watt kept them close, but they were unable to score. Spokane finished 1 for 6 on the power play and killed off all four short-handed situations.

Vancouver made it 4-1 with a shot by J.D. Watt from the right circle at 8:20. Jim Watt left the game after having made 19 saves and Keyvan Hunt, recently acquired from Saskatoon, made his Spokane debut in goal.

After a Spokane turnover, Vancouver’s Tim Kraus converted past Hunt at the 15:02 mark to close out the scoring. Hunt made one save.

The Chiefs travel to Portland tonight for a 7 p.m. contest with the Winter Hawks. They return home Saturday night for a game with the Tri-City Americans.