Pickard helps Ams put end to Chiefs’ two-game streak

KENNEWICK – Thursday, Spokane’s Jared Cowan playfully had his gloves around Chet Pickard’s throat in the team photo following Team WHL’s victory over the Russian Selects in the final game of the Canada-Russia challenge.

Friday, it was Pickard who had a stranglehold on Cowan and the Chiefs as the Tri-City goaltender finished with 33 saves to back the Americans’ 5-1 Western Hockey League victory before a sold out Thanksgiving holiday crowd of 5,858 in the Toyota Center.

The win also marked the 400th victory for Americans coach Don Nachbaur. He is only the 10th coach in WHL history to reach the milestone, and it came on a night where his team took a three-point lead in the U.S. Division over runner-up Spokane, its biggest rival.

Johnny Lazo’s penalty shot goal tied the game at 1-1 in the second period and Tri-City (18-7-0-2) added goals by Kruise Reddick, Mitch Fadden, Adam Hughesman and Jarrett Toll to even the season series with the Chiefs at two games apiece.

The Americans converted on 2 of 7 power-play opportunities (Reddick and Fadden) and added a short-handed goal (Toll) for good measure.

Taylor Procyshen had three assists for the Americans while Fadden and Reddick each also had an assist to go along with their goals.

Steve Kuhn scored the lone goal for Spokane (16-8-0-3), the first goal of the game after a scoreless first period, on a rebound of a Blake Gal shot.

But Tri-City scored five straight to take control of the game and, at least temporarily, the U.S. Division.

Chiefs goaltender Dustin Tokarski stopped 32 shots.

The Chiefs racked up 33 minutes in penalties on 11 infractions, while Tri-City collected 17 minutes on seven penalties.

The loss put to rest Spokane’s two-game winning streak.

The Chiefs will play at home tonight for the first time since Nov. 12 when they host the Kamlooops Blazers in the Arena at 7.