Chiefs’ chances go astray

The Spokane Chiefs’ losing streak reached three games on Friday night and frustration filled the air at the Spokane Arena.

A bounce here, a no-call there, and a 5-3 Western Hockey League defeat at the hands of the Portland Winter Hawks might have been a different outcome.

But it wasn’t, and Portland (15 points) skated out of town on Friday night with second place in the U.S. Division over Spokane (14) – thanks to two goals and an assist by Brandon Dubinsky.

This loss had the feel of one that got away from the Chiefs.

“I thought the penalty situation (a major against Spokane’s Myles Stoesz for boarding in the second) swung the momentum their way,” Spokane coach Bill Peters said. “I thought we dominated them in the third – had to win the period – and ended up with 19 shots with lots of scoring chances, just didn’t score.”

Spokane did outshoot Portland 41-31 in the game, but missed on good chances against Winter Hawks goalie Dustin Butler (who finished the game with 38 saves).

Spokane’s Adam Hobson, who had a goal and an assist, summed it up:

“We’re getting all the chances we need to get, but we’ve just got to start putting the pucks into the net,” he said. “… We’ve just got to start burying our chances.”

The game was tied at 1 after one period, as the teams played an even period in nearly every way.

Rookie goalie Thomas Stehr, though shaky at times in just his second start, made 10 saves and benefited from improved defensive play by the Chiefs.

Spokane gave him the initial lead when Hobson got his fifth goal of the season at the 6:47 mark of the period on the power play.

He put a shot on net which bounced back to him off the skate of a Winter Hawks defenseman. He then chipped in the rebound off the back of Butler.

Dubinsky responded for Portland at the 9:31 mark of the first, taking advantage of a two-on-one situation behind the net and wrapping it around the right post, which was left open by Stehr.

Portland extended its lead to 3-1 in the second period, on goals by Brian Woolger (at 5:46, on the power play) and on Dubinsky’s second (at 11:37, during Stoesz’s penalty).

Portland dominated play for much of the second period and had a chance to knock out Spokane. But the Chiefs kept themselves in the game with Johnannes Salmonsson’s first goal of the season, also his first as a Chief, on the power play at 17:41 of the period.

However, Portland extended its lead back to two goals on Jon Bubnick’s power-play goal just 2:39 into the final period.

The Chiefs had several good scoring opportunities the rest of the way, but were unable to convert any of them until Drayson Bowman found the net at 15:50.

That cut the lead to a goal again, at 4-3, and brought the crowd back to life.

Spokane pulled Stehr for an extra skater for the final 1:40, but was unable to generate consistent pressure.

Portland eventually took advantage of the empty net when Kyle Bailey got Portland’s final goal at 19:43.

Typical of the night, the Chiefs’ two power-play goals were offset by the two given up to Portland.

“We’ve got to forget about it and come back (tonight),” Peters said.

Winter Hawks 5, Chiefs 3

First Period—1, Spo, Hobson 5 (Ryan, Klassen) 6:47 (pp). 2, Por, Dubinsky 7 (McLaren) 9:31 (pp).

Second Period—3, Por, Woolger 11 (Cepek, Gordichuk) 5:46 (pp); 4, Por, Dubinsky 8 11:37; 5, Spo, Salmonsson 1 (Bruton, Spurgeon) 17:41 (pp).

Third Period—6, Por, Bubnick 8 (Dubinsky, Hotson) (pp); 7, Spo, Bowman 5 (Hobson) 15:50; 8, Por, Bailey 6 (Hansen, Funk) 19:43 (en).

Power-play Opp.—Portland 2 of 5; Spokane 2 of 4. Saves—Portland, Butler 10-10-18—38. Spokane, Stehr 10-5-11—26. A—5,510.