Ulmer steps up for Chiefs at just the right time

The shootout was six rounds deep and tied 1-1 Saturday night when Stefan Ulmer was put on the ice to take a shot at Tri-City goalie Chet Pickard.

Ulmer, the Spokane Chiefs’ second-year import defenseman, had already assisted on all three of the Chiefs regulation goals during their third meeting of the season with the U.S. Division rival Americans and had also engaged in a rare fight during the third period.

So it was a fitting ending when Ulmer squeezed the puck through Pickard’s five-hole and Spokane (12-4-0-3) won its first shootout of the season – a 4-3 home victory over the Tri-City Americans.

“Saturday night, versus Tri-Cities, in front of a sold-out crowd – it doesn’t get any better than that,” Chiefs overage forward Seth Compton said after the game. “The intensity was up really high. We needed the win really bad … we’re going to try and thrive off of that the next couple of weeks.

“(Ulmer) had an awesome game. Three assists, a fight, and obviously the game-winner in the shootout – that’s what we need out of him. He’s one of our top defenseman and it’s just great to see him moving in the right direction.”

Ulmer is the leading defenseman in terms of points for Spokane. The Austrian has recorded two goals (shootout goals don’t count in the regular-season stat totals) and 12 assists – good for fifth in scoring on the team. He is also plus-10.

“It’s funny, because I know these guys have it in them,” Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter said. “It’s just a matter of them letting it out. (Saturday) I think was a really good example of playing an extremely good team, being down coming into the second and third and being able to come back and win.

“I haven’t been extremely happy with (Ulmer’s game) lately, but (Saturday) he played solid … for him I’m glad he had a real solid game both offensively and defensively. We needed it, and he delivered.”

Hitting the road

The Chiefs have had plenty of success at home this season – a 9-2 record, to be specific – and tonight they’ll look to tuck one more home victory under their belts before hitting the road for their longest trip so far this season.

Before leaving for a 10-day swing through the Eastern Conference’s East Division, the Chiefs will play host to the Lethbridge Hurricanes, who Spokane swept in four games in May to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup and Western Hockey League championship.

The East Division trip begins Friday in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and Saturday in Saskatoon, where injured forward Justin McCrae spent much of last season as the Blades’ captain. The trip continues with games against Brandon and Regina on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, and wraps up Nov. 21 and 22 in Moose Jaw and Swift Current.

Ice chips

The Chiefs are second in the U.S. Division, three points behind Tri-City (14-5-0-2), which has played two more games. The Chiefs trail B.C. leader Vancouver (14-1-0-3, 31 points) by four points in the Western Conference. … Chiefs goalie Dustin Tokarski (10-4-0-2) continues to lead the league with a 1.66 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. … McCrae (knee) and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (ankle) continue to be sidelined with injuries. McCrae is expected back in 2 to 4 weeks and Spurgeon is listed as indefinite.