Ice put freeze on road-weary Chiefs

CRANBROOK, British Columbia – Spokane scored two goals in the final period, but gave up a late power-play goal in a 4-3 Western Hockey League loss to Kootenay in front of 3,228 at the Cranbrook Recreation Complex Saturday night.

Spokane finished 2-5 on its weeklong Eastern swing.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second period, the Chiefs (26-19-3-2, 55 points U.S. Division) managed to claw back and tie the game at 3 at 10:41 of the third period on Drayson Bowman’s 20th goal of the season. J.P. Szaszkiewicz and David Rutherford assisted on the score.

Szaszkiewicz received a delay of game penalty at 13:37 that proved to be costly when Andrew Bailey scored 30 seconds later, sealing the win for the Ice (34-11-2-2, 72 points Central Division).

Spokane goaltender Kevin Armstrong made 15 saves in a scoreless opening period and 37 for the contest.

Bailey opened the scoring for Kootenay with an even-strength goal at 4:20 of the second stanza.

Less than 2 minutes later, Ryan Russell made it a 2-0 contest with a short-handed goal.

Derek Ryan started the Spokane comeback at 11:59 with his 19th goal of the season. The assists went to Justin Falk and Adam Hobson.

The Ice regained their two-goal lead at 16:55 on Dustin Sylvester’s 15th goal of the season.

Michael Grabner made it 3-2 with a breakaway goal in the third period.

Armstrong and Sean Zimmerman assisted on Grabner’s team-leading 24th goal of the season, and his third in as many games.