Spokane snaps 16-game road skid

For the Spokane Chiefs, winning back-to-back games or earning a road victory has been much easier said than done this season.

The Chiefs managed to do both Sunday night at Key Arena in Seattle, snapping a 16-game road losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in a Western Hockey League matchup.

Adam Hobson scored two goals, including a power-play tally with 52 seconds remaining to seal the win, and Spokane (23-38-5-3; 54 points) scored four goals in the third period to ensure its first win away from the Spokane Arena since defeating Prince George on Dec. 28.

The victory also marks the Chiefs’ first winning streak since defeating Portland and Tri-City on Feb. 3 and 4.

J.P. Szaszkiewicz and Derek Ryan helped break a 3-3 tie, scoring 53 seconds apart to give Spokane the lead at 5:46 of the third.

Bud Holloway brought Seattle (32-30-1-5; 70 points) within one at 8:09, but Judd Blackwater responded for Spokane 27 seconds later on the power play, just 12 seconds after Seattle’s Bretton Stamler went to the penalty box for interference.

Hobson finished the scoring, adding to a goal late in the second period, giving him 22 for the season. Michael Grabner added his team-high 33rd goal at 8:08 of the second. It was also his fifth goal in the last three games.

Drayson Bowman also scored for Spokane, and David Linsley and Justin Falk each added a pair of assists.

Kevin Armstrong earned 39 saves for the Chiefs en route to his seventh win with the team and 21st of the season. Bryan Bridges allowed five goals and had just 17 saves to earn the loss for the T-Birds.

The Chiefs will return to the Arena for a final two-game homestand against Prince George on Wednesday and Kootenay on Friday. Spokane will complete its season at Kootenay on Saturday.