Hobson scores game-winner for Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs captain Adam Hobson delivered the game-winning goal on the power play with just 3:50 remaining as the Spokane Chiefs earned a 4-3 win over the Tri-City Americans in Western Hockey League play on Saturday night.

The Chiefs (28-20-3-3, 62 points) played a brilliant first period, gave it all back in the second, then came out on top of a see-saw third period to close within three points of their rivals for second place in the U.S. Division.

The Chiefs came out strong from the outset, beating their rivals to the puck and finishing checks to set an early physical tone. The result was that Spokane reversed its fortunes of the previous night’s loss and generated some scoring chances. And one Chief sure knows how to finish.

Michael Grabner had two goals in the first period as the Chiefs outshot the Ams 15-8 and led 2-0. Spokane had another goal disallowed in the first two minutes when it was ruled to have crossed after a referee’s whistle.

Grabner got his first goal at the 5:50 mark of the first on a long weak-side rebound of a shot from the point by Stephane Lenoski.

Grabner added his second goal at the 12:48 mark, when he waited up ice for a breakout pass. Derek Ryan delivered a perfect pass on the tape and Grabner broke in alone on Carey Price and beat him high, stick-side.

Spokane squandered its lead in a penalty-filled second period as Tri-City scored one goal late and another early.

The Ams first scored on a 5-on-3 at the 4:24 mark, when Roman Teslyuk blasted a shot from the right circle that whizzed past Kevin Armstrong.

Each team was given another 5-on-3 chance in the period, but both were successfully killed off. The Chiefs had their success with team defense while Price was a one-man barrier for Tri-City, stoning Grabner on at least three occasions on the power play.

Finally, Tri-City broke through with a goal from Kruise Reddick at the 17:19 mark of the period. His one-time from the right circle eluded Armstrong up high. The teams entered third tied at 2.

Just 2:14 into the third, J.P. Szaszkiewicz continued his torrid pace with a goal that brought the crowd to its feet and gave Spokane a brief lead.

The Spokane forward scored for the third straight game, stripping the puck from the point man on the Tri-City power play and going in alone on Price for a short-handed goal that he buried low in the back of the net.

The lead would be short-lived, through, as Colton Yellow Horn tied the game at the 3:52 mark with a rebound goal that tied things at 3.

Tri-City managing partner Bob Tory coached the game for the Americans, as coach Don Nachbauer was suspended along with two players for an incident on Friday night with Everett.

Compton’s leg broken

X-rays confirmed what the Chiefs had feared about Friday night’s injury to forward Seth Compton.

Compton broke his leg on a hard check against Calgary. The injury will require surgery and he will be out a minimum of eight weeks, meaning he is essentially lost for the season.

Chiefs 4, Americans 3

First Period—1, Spo, Grabner 25 (Bowman, Lenoski) 5:50; 2, Spo, Grabner 26 (Bowman, Ryan) 12:48. Second Period—3, TC, Teslyuk 4 (Kaye) 4:24 (pp); 4, TC, Reddick 6 (Boogaard) 17:19. Third Period—5, Spo, Szaszkiewicz 7 2:14 (sh); 6, TC, Yellow Horn 38 (Fast, Vey) 3:52; 7, Spo, Hobson 9 (Wahl, Falk) 16:10 (pp). Power-play Opp.—Tri-City 1 of 8; Spokane 0 of 10. Saves—Tri-City, Price 36 saves. Spokane, Armstrong 22 saves. A—10,366.