Chiefs, Grabner grab 3-2 win over Seattle

Sun., Oct. 30, 2005

The Spokesman-Review

SEATTLE – Michael Grabner scored twice and Jim Watt made 18 saves as the Spokane Chiefs used a strong defensive effort to come away with a 3-2 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in Western Hockey League action in front of 3,379 at KeyArena.

Grabner scored off assists from Chris Bruton and Matthew McCue just 6 minutes, 10 seconds into the first period to give Spokane the early lead. The Chiefs held Seattle to just three shots in the first period.

The Thunderbirds tied the game 10:36 into the second, when Tyler Johnson punched in a rebound of George Holloway’s shot.

But Grabner gave the Chiefs the lead for good with a breakaway goal just 55 seconds later, taking a pass from J.P. Szaszkiewicz and beating Thunderbirds goalie Bryan Bridges.

Drayson Bowman made it 3-1 just 45 seconds after that, scoring an unassisted goal 12:16 into the second period.

Ryan Gibbons brought Seattle to within 3-2 with a rebound goal with 2:02 left in the second, but the Chiefs allowed just three shots in the third period to secure the win.

With the win, Spokane improved to 7-6 on the season, good for 14 points and second place in the WHL’s U.S. Division. The Chiefs are six points behind first-place Everett. Seattle fell to 4-6-1-1, has 10 points and is in fourth in the U.S. Division.

The Chiefs open a five-game homestand tonight against defending WHL champion Kelowna. The puck drops at 6 p.m.

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Chiefs, Grabner grab 3-2 win over Seattle

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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