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

3-goal third lifts Chiefs

PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia – The Spokane Chiefs erupted for three goals in the third period, including two into an empty net in the final minute, to claim a 5-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Prince George Cougars on Saturday night at CN Center.

Tyler Johnson had a goal and two assists and four others scored goals for the Chiefs (43-20-0-3).

The Chiefs got goals from Johnson and Justin McCrae in the first period to take a 2-0 lead.

But Prince George (25-41-0-2) responded with two goals of its own in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

Brian Matte scored on a power-play at 5 minutes, 1 second of the period to make it 2-1 before Marek Viedensky scored 3:42 later to tie it.

Mitch Wahl scored at 11:48 of the third to put Spokane up 3-2 before Drayson Bowman and Levko Koper scored empty-net goals 16 seconds apart in the final minute to put the game away.

Bowman’s goal was his 43rd of the season, a career high.

Dustin Tokarski turned away 34 Prince George shots to earn the victory while former Chief Kevin Armstrong had 22 saves in a losing effort for the Cougars.

The Chiefs return home for Wednesday and Friday games against Everett and Tri-City, respectively.