Chiefs prevail in overtime, 2-1

On Karaoke Night for the Spokane Chiefs Friday at the Arena, it was appropriate that the winning song was “I Will Survive.”

Spokane did so, barely.

Of course, the Chiefs’ anthem on this night could have just as easily been “Takin’ Care of Business,” which the Chiefs did – even “workin’ overtime” – to prevail over the Portland Winter Hawks, 2-1, before 5,118.

Scott Lynch buried the game-winner with just 27.8 seconds remaining in overtime, as Spokane (5-4) improved to 4-1 at home. The Chiefs host Kamloops tonight at 7.

The Chiefs were just seven seconds away from avoiding the extra period when a fluke deflection goal from Shane Halifax off a shot by Brandon Dubinsky glanced off the back of Spokane goaltender Jim Watt. It came for Portland (6-5-0-1) with hard-luck goaltender Blake Grenier pulled.

But Spokane came back eager in the 4-on-4 overtime and Lynch fired off a well-placed wrist shot from the left circle that just got below Grenier’s blocker. The play was beautifully set up with passes from Sean Zimmerman and Chad Klassen, who assisted on both goals.

“Obviously, we wanted to have lots of jump in overtime and not get caught watching the puck,” said Lynch. “We just wanted to continue the pressure, pressure them all over the ice and get some chances. We did that, then at the end Sean gave me a good pass across ice, their forward was a little far back. It kind of gave me a chance to walk in.”

Both goalies made some spectacular saves in the uneven game. Watt made 34 saves to earn the win. Gernier made 27 saves in getting the loss. Yet despite all that work, Watt had to make some big saves down the stretch just to get the win.

Of the game-winner Watt said, “I was relieved. Scott’s been doing it all year and he did it again today, to show you how good a player he is.”

The Chiefs took the lead at the six minute, 45 second mark of the second period when rookie defenseman Matt McCue scored his first WHL goal with a slapshot from the left point that was beautifully screened by Ned Lukacevic and dribbled through the legs of Grenier.

It came after the Chiefs stepped up their intensity after Portland had them on their heels for the first three minutes of the period, which resulted in more opportunities at the offensive end. The burst was in contrast to a first period that was marked by uninspired play by both teams and had the fans booing heartily as two near-goals by Spokane were not allowed by the officials.

Chiefs coach Al Conroy protested the first goal, in which the goal light came on briefly, in an animated fashion and was not consoled by several conversations with referee Sean Raphael. Conroy said that replays clearly showed it was a goal and he was told that the three on-ice officials overruled the goal judge. He said the second shot, by Klassen, clearly hit the post.

Yet the Chiefs battled through.

“Our first and second periods weren’t very good, but we just kept working hard and they got a goal right at the end of the game,” said Klassen. “We just said to each other, ‘We’ve been working hard all game and if we just keep working hard, things are going to come out our way.’ And they did.”

Ice chips

Spokane’s Joe Logan (groin) missed the game due to injury. … NHL standout Adam Deadmarsh, a former Winter Hawk, was in attendance.