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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Reeling Chiefs lose in a shootout

The Spokesman-Review

EVERETT – It wasn’t to be.

A season high-matching 55 shots and two power-play goals from Judd Blackwater weren’t enough to prevent the Spokane Chiefs from absorbing a fourth straight Western Hockey League defeat Friday night.

Everett, behind the stellar goaltending of Leland Irving, hung a 3-2 loss on Spokane in a shootout before 6,176 fans in the Everett Event Center.

Although Spokane (39-13-1-5) picked up a point, the Chiefs fell to seven points behind Western Conference-leading Tri-City, which overwhelmed Portland 9-2 on Friday.

The first period was scoreless thanks mainly to Irving. Spokane had a 16-4 advantage in shots, but couldn’t put one past the Silvertips goaltender.

Blackwater broke the scoreless deadlock at 14:11 of the second period with his 22nd, set up by crisp passes from Justin Falk and David Rutherford.

But the lead was short-lived. Kyle Beach popped a loose puck past Spokane goalie Justin Tokarski 3:27 later.

Blackwater struck again at 14:06 of the third on a slap shot for his 23rd goal.

But 4 1/2 minutes later, 10 seconds after pulling Irving for an extra skater and leaving their net open, the Silvertips evened it on Zach Hamill’s 21st goal on a rebound to force overtime.

The extra 5-minute period was scoreless, but the shootout made up for it. Beach and Dan Gendur scored for Everett before Tokarski stopped Hamill. But Drayson Bowman was the only one of the three Spokane shooters to get the puck past Irving.

Notes: Spokane may be without Mitch Wahl tonight in Tri-City after the veteran center received a match penalty late in the second period for attempt to injure on a cross-check. … The Chiefs, who last won 4-1 over Everett on Feb. 6, have been outscored 21-11 in their current losing streak.