Chiefs use quick start to top Hawks

PORTLAND – So much for the so-called advantage that comes from playing on home ice.

The Spokane Chiefs jumped out to a big lead and held on for a 4-3 victory over the Portland Winter Hawks in Western Hockey League action on Sunday.

The two teams have split four games this season with the visiting squad claiming victory in each one. The win pulls Spokane (9-10-1) to within one point of second-place Portland (9-7-1-1) in the U.S. Division.

Jeff Lynch staked the Chiefs to a quick lead with his third goal in as many games just 1 minute, 18 seconds into the game. Adam Hobson delivered a pass to Lynch on a two-on-two break and he one-timed it home for his sixth goal of the season.

David Linsley, in just his second game with Spokane after being acquired from Seattle on Thursday, scored his first goal for the Chiefs – a power-play tally to make it 2-0 at 8:33 of the first period. Lynch and Matt McCue assisted on the netter.

The Chiefs stretched the lead to 3-0 at the 4:27 mark of the second period on a power-play goal by Chad Claussen. His eighth goal of the season pulled him even with Derek Ryan for the team lead. Jared Spurgeon and Sean Zimmerman picked up assists on the play.

Portland battled back – scoring twice in a five-minute span of the second period – with goals from Jannick Hansen and Jon Bubnick to cut the lead to 3-2.

But once again Spokane took advantage of a power play to find the net. Michael Grabner buried a rebound off a Linsley shot at the 16:05 mark to put the Chiefs up two.

Spokane goalie Jim Watt stopped 16 of 17 shots on goal in the final period to preserve the victory.