‘Tips slide past Chiefs

EVERETT – Western Conference-leading scorer Zach Hamill scored the decisive goal midway through the third period to help Everett pull out a 2-1 Western Hockey League win over Spokane in front of 6,514 Friday night at the Everett Event Center.

Despite the loss, the Chiefs (30-21-3-3, 66 points) have all but secured their first playoff spot in three years, as they need only one more point to lock up a berth in the postseason.

The U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (44-8-0-2, 90) took a 1-0 lead on a Brennan Sonne goal at 19:11 of the first period.

Spokane’s power play awoke at 6:09 of the second, as Adam Hobson tallied his 11th goal of the season. Assists went to Stephane Lenoski and Jared Spurgeon.

Everett held the shots on net advantage after two periods 23-13, but fabulous play from goaltender Dustin Tokarski kept Spokane in the contest. Tokarski finished with 28 saves and earned the game’s No. 2 Star.

The Chiefs, who sit one point back of third place Tri-City, saw the return of Judd Blackwater, but were without the services of Drayson Bowman, who is out indefinitely with a wrist injury sustained in Thursday’s practice.