Chiefs win shootout in Vancouver

Later turned out to be better for the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night as they pulled out a 3-2 Western Hockey League shootout win over the Vancouver Giants before 12,263 in Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum. Spokane (16-9-2-2, 36 points) spotted Vancouver a 2-0 lead on goals 47 seconds apart before the first period was half over, then battled back behind goalie James Reid to earn a season-high fourth straight win and stay tied for second in the U.S. Division with Tri-City. Blake Gal, Spokane’s third and last shooter in the shootout, managed to slip his shot through the pads of Vancounver goalie Mark Segal. Mike Burns scored on a breakaway with the Giants’ second shot at 8:35 of the first period on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Forty-seven seconds after a long delay to clear the ice, Brendan Gallagher slid a shot past Reid that just crossed the goal line. Reid didn’t allow another goal, stopping Vancouver’s last 19 shots while Spokane mounted a comeback with two late-period goals. Tyler Johnson got it started with his team-leading 20th goal with 8 seconds to go in the first period. Captain Jared Cowen, in his last game before heading to the Team Canada World Junior tryout camp, drew the Chiefs even with his eighth goal with 61 seconds left in the second period. Both came on the power play.