Regina handles Chiefs

Hockey is a simple game: Shoot the puck and good things happen.

For some reason, the Spokane Chiefs are reluctant to give that truism a try when they need it most. Sunk by another dreadful night on the power play at home (0 of 7), Spokane lost again.

Regina scored two empty-net goals and one on the power play in the third period to down the Spokane Chiefs 5-3 in Western Hockey League play on Friday before 5,302.

Spokane (9-11-1, 19 points) hosts division-leading Everett tonight in the Arena, having outshot their Friday foe 33-31 but not when it counted.

“It’s 0-fer (on the power play), not even with enough scoring chances and I really can’t explain it,” coach Bill Peters said.

Once again, the Chiefs played from behind in the game and it didn’t work.

Regina scored first, with a power-play goal at the 2:46 mark. Logan Pyett one-timed a shot from the top of the right circle that blew by Spokane goalie Jim Watt low to the inside of the right post as Watt was screened by former Chief Michael Senseman.

Spokane gathered itself and rookie Drayson Bowman scored his sixth goal of the season at the 9:31 mark of the period to tie the game. Bowman took a pass in the left slot from Chad Klassen after Regina goalie David Reekie committed to Klassen. Bowman put the puck over an outstretched Reekie.

Regina took a 2-1 lead just 3:59 into the second period when Senseman buried a long rebound off Watt’s pads from the slot. Senseman, a former Spokane Brave, was sent to Regina by the Chiefs earlier this season. It was the first WHL goal of Senseman’s career.

“It feels real good,” he said. “It feels good to show the Chiefs I can play in this league and compete.”

Spokane would tie it at the 16:58 mark of the period when Michael Grabner when got his ninth goal of the season. He reached out for a loose puck at the left circle, spun 180 degrees, and put it into the far side.

The teams entered the final period tied at 2 in a tightly-contested game and it had had the feel that the next goal just might win it. That proved to be true, but the third period was a wild one at times.

Regina’s Kyle Deck put his team up 3-2 on a power-play goal at the 8:13 mark of the period. Then, in the final 2 minutes, Tolpeko and Garret Festerling added empty-net goals at 18:37 and 19:57.

Sandwiched between the final two goals was a beautiful wrap-around goal by Spokane’s Derek Ryan at the 19:13 mark.

Spokane is still looking for answers on its power play.

“We have to put more shots on net,” said Ryan.”

Pats 5, Chiefs 3

First Period—1, Regina, Pyett 4 (Sievert, Lind), 2:46 (pp). 2, Spokane, Bowman 6 (Klassen, Ryan), 9:31. Second Period—3, Regina, Senseman 1 (Tolpeko), 3:59. 4, Spokane, Grabner 9, 16:58. Third Period—5, Regina, Deck 1 (Tolpeko), 8:13 (pp). 6, Regina, Tolpeko 12 (Pyett), 18:37 (en). 7, Spokane, Ryan 9, 19:13. 8, Regina, Festerling 8, 19:57 (en).

Power-play Opp.—Regina 2 of 8; Spokane 0 of 7. Saves—Regina, Reekie 11-10-7—28. Spokane, Watt 7-11-10—28. A—5,302.