Ryan leads Chiefs to third straight win

The special play of the special teams is making things easier for the banged-up Spokane Chiefs.

Derek Ryan had two power-play goals and Ondrej Roman had three assists as the Chiefs defeated Lethbridge 4-3 in Western Hockey League play Friday night at the Arena.

“Some of the guys stepped up in the room and on the ice and we came together as a team,” said Ryan, alluding to the absences of injured teammates Adam Hobson, Evan Haw and Michael Grabner.

Spokane (11-9-3) won its third straight as Dustin Tokarski made 31 saves in net. Lethbridge (10-13-2-1) was persistent and kept the outcome in doubt until the end.

“They’re a good team. They play with speed. I like them a lot,” said Spokane coach Bill Peters. “They do a lot of good things.”

Spokane went 2 of 5 on the power play and was perfect on five penalty kills.

“That was the difference in the game right there,” said Peters.

Lethbridge scored first, on a fluke bounce off the boards that left the puck sitting near the right post. Former Seattle Thunderbird Mitch Fadden tapped the loose puck past Tokarski at the 1:42 mark of the first period.

Spokane took a 2-1 lead after one period on the power-play goals by Ryan against the league’s worst penalty-killing team. Each play was nearly identical for Spokane’s power-play unit, which has risen to top 10 in the league.

On the first goal, at the 7:11 mark, Ryan banged home a weak-side rebound of a shot from the right slot by Roman.

The second goal came on a Ryan rebound of a Roman wraparound attempt that was rebuffed by Lethbridge goalie Michael Maniago at the right post. Ryan waited for the puck and buried it at the 13:08 mark.

Meanwhile, Tokarski held the Hurricanes at bay with a few spectacular saves as Lethbridge outshot Spokane 16-7 in the period.

The Chiefs extended their lead to 3-1 at the 3:57 mark of the second period on an unassisted goal by Corey Courchene, a 20-year-old like Ryan. He picked the puck from a Lethbridge forward in the offensive zone and put a wrist shot past the stick side of Maniago, the former Kamloops Blazers goalie.

Spokane let Lethbridge stay in the game, however.

Dwight King penetrated the Spokane defense to beat Tokarski through the five-hole with just 1:55 left in the period on just the seventh shot of the period. The Chiefs led 3-2 entering the third.

The first half of the third period resembled more of a 5-on-5 passing drill for both teams, but after the midway mark Spokane’s David Rutherford woke up his team. He scored from the right circle at the 11:56 mark for what looked at the time like an insurance goal and a 4-2 lead.

Lethbridge got a late goal from Derek Werenka, but couldn’t get the equalizer.

Chiefs 4, Hurricanes 3

First Period—1, Lth, Fadden 10 (Bobbee, Vantuch) 1:42; 2. Spo, Ryan 6 (Wahl, Roman) 7:11 (pp); 3. Spo, Ryan 7 (Wahl, Roman) 13:08 (pp). Second Period—4, Spo, Courchene 3 3:57 5, Lth, King 7 (Werenka) 18:05. Third Period—6, Spo, Rutherford 11 (Roman, Ryan) 11:56; 7, Lth, Werenka 6 (Bancks, Bobbee) 16:50.

Power-play Opp.—Lethbridge 0 of 5; Spokane 2 of 5. Saves—Lethbridge, Maniago 18 saves. Spokane, Tokarski 31 saves. A—4,820.