Chiefs’ streak at nine games after blanking

KELOWNA, British Columbia – The Kelowna Rockets won their sixth straight Western Hockey League game and sent the Spokane Chiefs to their ninth straight defeat with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday night at Prospera Place.

Kelowna goaltender Kris Westblom made 23 saves to pitch a shutout and forward Troy Bodie scored two goals for the Rockets. Bodie has scored four goals in the last two games against Spokane and Kelowna swept the teams’ four-game season series.

Alexander Edler also scored for the Rockets (41-18-1-3), who closed to within six points of idle Vancouver for first place in the Western Conference.

Kevin Armstrong stopped 23 of 26 shots in net for the Chiefs (21-35-5-3, 50 points), who remain at the bottom of the Western Conference.

Eight minutes into the first period against Kelowna, the Rockets opened the scoring with Spokane’s Jason Lynch in the penatly box for holding.

Edler’s point shot shimmied under a screened Armstrong, who didn’t see the puck until it was behind him.

Bodie added to the lead four minutes later with his 25th of the year also coming on the power play.

The 6-foot-5 Edmonton Oilers draft pick gathered the puck at the blue line, outmuscled Chiefs defenceman Justin Falk, then deked out Armstrong, making Kelowna 2-for-2 with the man advantage. They finished 2-3 overall on the power play for the night, while Spokane went 0 for 3.

Spokane has now lost 15 in a row on the road and is just 3-15-2 against B.C. Division teams.

Spokane trails fourth-place Portland by nine points with eight games to play heading into Friday night’s road game with the Winter Hawks.

Rockets 3, Chiefs 0

First Period—1, Kel, Edler 12 (Ray, Card) 8:40 (pp); 2, Kel, Bodie 25 (Cumiskey) 13:30 (pp).

Second Period—None

Third Period—3, Kel, Bodie 26 (Hill, Joe) 2:20.

Power-play Opp.—Spokane 0 of 3; Kelowna 2 of 3. Saves—Spokane, Armstrong 23 saves. Kelowna, Westblom 23 saves. A—6,084.