Gal’s role includes winner; Chiefs’ streak at three

KENT, Wash. – Kyle Beach. Mitch Wahl. James Reid.

They have made headlines for the Spokane Chiefs early in this Western Hockey League season, and based on their performances Friday night in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds before 4,025 in ShoWare Center, they were up for nomination again.

But it was a contribution from a role player who helped get the Chiefs untracked in the third period and spark Spokane to its third straight win, and fourth in five games.

Blake Gal, on a pass from Wahl from behind the net, turned his third goal of the season into the winner 11:24 into the third.

Fifty-three seconds after Seattle opened the scoring late in the second on Sena Acolatse’s power-play goal, Beach skated across the slot and beat Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard on the glove side.

It was his 14th goal of the season and ninth in the last six games.

Wahl capped the scoring into an empty net with Pickard off the ice after Acolatse fell at center ice and coughed up the puck.

“It was a great job by James Reid in goal,” coach Hardy Sauter said. Reid made 22 of his 28 saves the first two periods.

Spokane had a 15-6 edge in shots in the third, prompting Sauter to comment: “I really liked the fact we can win a tight game on the road in the third period.”