Chiefs lose, still qualify for playoffs

KENNEWICK – Tri-City scored three goals in the first 8 minutes, 32 seconds of play and held on for a 4-2 Western Hockey League win over Spokane in front of 5,623 at the Toyota Center Saturday night.

Despite the loss, the Chiefs (30-22-3-3, 66 points) locked up their first playoff berth in three seasons because of Portland’s 6-2 loss to Prince George.

The Americans (34-19-0-1, 69) jumped on the board 22 seconds into the contest on a goal from Erik Felde. Taylor Procyshen put Tri-City up 2-0 with a short-handed goal at 1:55.

Colton Yellow Horn finished the first-period onslaught with a power-play score – his league-leading 39th goal of the season.

Jared Spurgeon put Spokane on the board at 10:32 of the second period when his shot from the right point made its way through traffic past goaltender Carey Price. Assists went to Michael Grabner and Ondrej Roman.

The Chiefs made it a 3-2 contest at 16:08 of the same stanza when Derek Ryan redirected a shot from the point into the back of the net. Spurgeon and David Rutherford assisted on Ryan’s 20th goal of the season.

Shaun Vey added an insurance goal for Tri-City at 11:32 of the final period to seal the win.

Dustin Tokarski made 23 saves in net for the Chiefs.