Chiefs’ winless streak at seven

The Spokane Chiefs’ winless streak has reached seven games, so the buzzwords afterward were predictable: frustrated, tired.

That was all that was left to say after the Kootenay Ice defeated the Chiefs 4-2 in a Western Hockey League game on Saturday night at the Arena.

The loss left Spokane (17-24-4-1, 39) still in last place of the U.S. Division, five points behind Tri-City.

Kootenay took a 1-0 lead after one period on a power-play goal from Adam Cracknell at the 14:23 mark. Cracknell walked in with the puck from just inside the blue line to the top of the left circle and blasted a slapshot that whizzed through the defense and past goalie Kevin Armstrong.

The period would end that way. A Kootenay penalty at the 20:00 mark would give the Chiefs a man advantage to start the second, but Spokane’s tough luck reared its head again. The black clouds entered.

Problems with the ice surface caused a 15-minute suspension of play just six seconds into the period after the opening face-off and the first whistle. With pools of water forming on the ice, the puck was stopping after traveling just a few feet on the ice. So, the officiating crew took the teams off the ice while it set up more.

As the teams cooled their heels, the fans tried to stay in the spirit of things and came to life during the intermission. But Spokane was unable to convert on either of its two power plays in the first six minutes.

Buoyed by its penalty kill, Kootenay extended its lead to 2-0 at the 7:35 mark on a goal by Devin Welsh, who deflected downward a shot from the top of the left circle by Chad Greenan.

The Chiefs continued coming back, but hit the post twice and missed on some juicy rebounds left by Talor Dakers. They even caught Dakers out of the net playing the puck on two occasions but either couldn’t get to pucks first or had their shots blocked or diverted by a hustling opponent.

Finally, Spokane defenseman Matt McCue ended the frustration with a powerful shot from the top of the right circle that blew by Dakers with just 1:14 left in the period.

Spokane would even get a 3-on-1 in the final minute of the second period, but couldn’t get off a shot. Regardless, the team entered the third within striking distance.

But Kootenay would extend its lead back to two goals on its second power-play marker, at the 2:21 mark, by Steven DaSilva. The man-advantage was set up by a slashing call on Spokane’s Adam Hobson, who drew the ire of his coach in a postgame meeting with media.

But Hobson would atone for his penalty just 1:02 later, when he banged home a rebound to cut the deficit back to one goal at 3-2. The play was set into motion on a shot from the point by Sean Zimmerman. Michael Grabner put the rebound on net and it bounced off Dakers and into the left slot, where Hobson was waiting and buried it.

Spokane then committed three penalties over the next eight-plus minutes that cost it precious time. The penalty kill also drained a team whose members appeared emotionally and physically exhausted after the game.

It would stay that way until there were just 26 seconds remaining and Kootenay’s Ryan Russell got an empty-net goal after Spokane had pulled Armstrong with a minute remaining.

Armstrong had a stellar night in goal, saving 30 shots, to conclude a long week that included a trip to Ottawa and back for the National Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game. Dakers finished with 26 saves.

Coach Bill Peters said he will give his team the day off today, but several players will be called in for one-on-one film sessions on Monday morning.

“We had some passengers tonight,” he said. “You could see who they were; you can’t hide out there.”

Ice 4, Chiefs 2

First Period—1, Ktn, Cracknell 25 (pp) 14:23.

Second Period—2, Ktn, Welsh 5 (Greenan, Bailey) 7:35; 3, Spo, McCue 4 (Spurgeon, Erickson) 18:46.

Third Period—4, Ktn, DaSilva 15 (Bailey, Kurceba) 2:21 (pp); 5, Spo, Hobson 17 (Grabner, Zimmerman) 3:23; 6, Ktn, Russell 29 (en) 19:34.

Power-play Opp.—Kootenay 2 of 8; Spokane 0 of 4. Saves—Kootenay, Dakers 10-10-6—26. Spokane, Armstrong 10-8-12—30. A—7,280.