Chiefs tame Tigers behind Stehr

MEDICINE HAT, Alberta – Led by two short-handed goals, the Spokane Chiefs upset Canada’s fourth-ranked team, the Medicine Hat Tigers, 4-2 in Western Hockey League play on Saturday night.

The Chiefs (12-13-1, 25 points) made the most of just 13 shots on goal to upset the Central Division leaders (19-6-0-6, 44). The story of the game was the effort in goal by Spokane rookie Thomas Stehr.

Stehr, a Medicine Hat product, made 39 saves against the WHL’s third-highest scoring team. Time after time, Stehr denied the Tigers at critical moments in improving his season record to 2-2. He was named the game’s third star.

After a scoreless first period, Spokane took a 1-0 lead in the second period on just its third shot of the game. That’s when Johannes Salmonsson got his second goal of the season at the 3:34 mark, converting a 2-on-1 opportunity with Derek Ryan. The Tigers tied the game just more than a minute later.

Spokane took back the lead at 2-1 as Adam Hobson scored the first short-handed goal after he was set up by Chris Bruton on an odd-man rush at 11:34 of the second.

The Chiefs extended their lead to 3-1 on a power-play goal by Ryan with just 34 seconds left in the period.

Stehr’s misplay of the puck on the penalty kill made it 3-2 Spokane at the 3:55 mark of the third period. But Stehr made a couple of key stops on an ensuing penalty kill.

At the 13:58 mark of the final period, Spokane got an insurance goal when Bruton converted on a 2-on-1 with Hobson.

Medicine Hat put continued pressure on the Chiefs and pulled Keetley for the final minute-plus, but the Tigers were unable to convert.

Chiefs 4, Tigers 2

First Period—None. Second Period—1, Spo, Salmonsson 2 (Ryan, Klassen) 3:34; 2, M.H., Russell 7 (Psurny, Sauer) 4:51; 3, Spo, Hobson 9 (Bruton) 11:34 (sh); 4, Spo, Ryan 10 (Logan, Je Lynch) 19:26 (pp). Third Period—5, M.H., Russell 8 (Helm) 3:55 (pp).

Power-play Opp.—Spokane 1 of 2; Medicine Hat 1 of 8. Saves—Spokane, Stehr 39 saves. Medicine Hat, Keetley 9 saves. A—4,006.