Spokane shuts out Seattle
Within the U.S. Division, the Spokane Chiefs haven’t had much luck this season, with three of their four losses coming at the hands of the usual suspects.
Saturday night could be an important turnaround for the Chiefs in that aspect.
Off to a franchise-best start after 14 games, the streaking Chiefs (10-2-1-1) reached seven straight wins on Saturday night with a 2-0 Western Hockey League victory over the division rival Seattle Thunderbirds in front of an Arena crowd of 5,750.
“I think we felt a little heartbroken when we lost those two (division games) against Tri-City and we want to get those back – and then also with Everett,” said Chiefs captain Chris Bruton. “So we’re really (champing) at the bit to get back against U.S. Division teams and get the wins that we need the most.”
This was the first of nine meetings this season between Spokane and the Thunderbirds (6-2-2-1). Including Saturday’s game, the teams will face each other three times in a nine-day span – Friday at the Arena and next Sunday in Seattle.
“As a leadership group, we tell the young guys that (the division games) are the games that matter the most,” Bruton said. “The point swing can go either way and those are the games that we have to get after and tonight our young guys definitely showed up.”
The Chiefs got on the board early in the first period when Ryan Letts and Curtis Kelner, who assisted on both goals, set up Chris Langkow’s second goal of the season, even strength at 5 minutes.
The second and final score of the game came midway through the penalty-filled second on the tail end of a power play.
Kelner, who has been solid after serving a two-game suspension last week, dished the puck to 16-year-old Jared Cowen, the highly rated defenseman taken first overall by Spokane in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft.
Cowen wristed the shot into the left pocket, past Seattle goalie Jacob DeSerres at 11:35 for his third goal of the season.
Spokane goalie Dustin Tokarski, who earned his first shutout of the season and is second in the league with 1.98 average goals allowed in seven games, finished with 26 saves as Spokane killed all seven Thunderbirds power plays, including three in the opening period.
“The guys on the back end did unbelievable work – Justin Falk and Mike Reddington have been outstanding on it all year – and we’ve got six deep (on forwards) that can kill penalties, if not seven,” Chiefs coach Bill Peters said.
“Dustin was very good tonight – each and every night I’m very confident in our goaltenders, that’s a real comforting feeling as a coach and for our team.”
The Chiefs’ seven-game winning streak matches the third best in franchise history.
“It’s awesome. The guys are excited to come to the rink and we’re jelling really well, especially with the seven-game winning streak,” Tokarski said. “We’re just looking to keep it going.”
The Chiefs are back in action today with at Portland for their second meeting of the season with the struggling Winter Hawks.
Notes
Chiefs forward David Rutherford was scratched from the game and is still day-to-day with a groin injury. Forward Dustin Donaghy (hand) is expected to be sidelined for four more weeks. … Chiefs goalie Kevin Armstrong has won his last five starts and is sixth in the WHL with a 2.26 GAA.