Chiefs score eight to thump Thunderbirds

SEATTLE – Tyler Johnson scored his league-leading fourth short-handed goal and the offensive surge for the Spokane Chiefs continued Tuesday in an 8-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The Chiefs (18-9-2-2) scored five goals in a period for the second straight game, taking down the Thunderbirds (13-11-3-4) in a matchup of U.S. Division foes.

With their eight goals, the Chiefs have scored 30 goals in their last four games, making them the highest-scoring team in the league.

After the first period ended in a 1-1 tie, goals by Mitch Holmberg and Johnson in the second gave Spokane a lead it didn’t relinquish.

In the final period, the Chiefs scored four goals over a span of 7 minutes to put the game away.

Spokane outshot the Thunderbirds 15-3 in that decisive third period.

The teams take the ice again tonight in Spokane at 7.