Late lapse costs Chiefs in Everett

EVERETT – Usually a road trip isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Spokane Chiefs, having netted at least one point in the standings during each of their last six on the road (three wins, three overtime losses).

That good fortune ended Friday night.

Tyler Maxwell took advantage of a Spokane defensive miscue to beat Dustin Tokarski with a backhander and give the Everett Silvertips a 3-2 Western Hockey League victory.

Spokane failed to clear the puck from its zone with just more than 2 minutes remaining in the third period.

Tokarski made three consecutive point-blank saves before Maxwell finally converted over a prone Tokarski to give Everett the victory.

The Silvertips (8-6-1-0, 15 points) improved their record on home ice to 7-1 with seven straight victories and remain in third place in the U.S. Division.

Spokane (9-3-0-3, 21) remains in a deadlock atop the U.S. standings with the Tri-City Americans, a 4-1 loser at home against Portland.

Everett took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period on goals by Kyle Beach and Zack Dailey. Graham Potuer assisted on both goals.

Blake Gal scored a second-period goal to bring Spokane to within 2-1.

Levko Koper netted his eighth goal, tied for the team lead, at 8:42 of the third period to tie the score at 2.

Seth Compton and Tyler Johnson each had an assist.

Tokarski made 28 saves in a losing effort, while Everett’s Kent Simpson stopped 23 of Spokane’s 25 shots.

Notes

Because of a scheduling conflict with Gonzaga University men’s basketball, tonight’s game against Kootenay, the opener of a five-game homestand, will be broadcast on 790-AM. Air time is 6:30 p.m. … The Chiefs lead the season series with the Silvertips 2-1, with the home team winning all three games.