Chiefs uncork power-play goals to defeat Americans

KENNEWICK – The power play had been dormant for Spokane this Western Hockey League season.

But it woke up in a big way Saturday as the Chiefs scored four power-play goals and added a short-handed score in a 5-4 win over Tri-City that snapped Spokane’s three-game losing streak.

Joe Logan, Jeff Lynch, Chad Klassen and Chris Bruton all had power-play goals for the Chiefs, who had been 3 for 28 with the extra man heading into Saturday’s game.

Logan opened the scoring 6 minutes, 14 seconds into the first period off assists from Bruton and Klassen, firing a shot just inside the blue line that beat Americans goalie Carey Price.

Lynch doubled the lead with 4:10 left in the first, deflecting in a shot from Klassen. Sean Zimmerman also got an assist on the play.

Tri-City got one back 5:42 into the second – on the power play – as Chris Inglis beat Chiefs goalie Jim Watt.

The Chiefs struck next, with Derek Ryan stealing the puck in front of the Tri-City net and scoring a short-handed goal 2:46 into the third period that gave Spokane a 4-1 lead.

But the Americans stormed back with three goals in a span of 7:46. Matt Schneider, Jason Beeman and Phil Magistrale all scored in the third period to even the score.

But Matthew Swaby took a delay of game penalty with 3:01 remaining in regulation, his second penalty of the game, to put the Chiefs power play back on the ice, and Spokane made the Americans pay.

Chris Bruton, off Klassen’s third assist of the day and a secondary assist from Logan, sent a slap shot that beat Price through the five-hole with just 2:25 left to ensure the win.

Spokane returns home Wednesday to open a four-game homestand, starting with Saskatoon.