T-C turns back Chiefs

KENNEWICK – The Tri-City Americans needed all of 14 seconds to catch the Spokane Chiefs’ attention Thursday night.

Neal Prokop scored 14 seconds into the game to spark the U.S. Division-leading Americans to a 5-2 victory over the Chiefs in Western Hockey League play at the Toyota Center.

Prokop wasn’t finished hassling the Chiefs. His second goal of the game, and 11th of the season, gave the Americans a 3-1 edge midway through the second period.

The outcome left T-C with a record of 29-9-0-0, 58 points. The Chiefs, third place in the division, are 21-13-3-0, 45 points.

The Americans lead the season series 3-2.

Defenseman Brock Sutherland’s first goal of the season gave the Americans a 2-0 lead at 8:47 of the first period.

Levko Koper’s short-handed score for Spokane, at 13:22 of the first period, trimmed the lead to 2-1.

The score stayed that way for nearly 19 minutes, until Mason Wilgosh and Jarrett Toll fed Prokop at 11:59 of the second period.

T-C put a stamp on the period with Sergei Drozd’s goal at 19:15 for a 4-1 advantage.

Koper added a power-play goal, his 18th of the season, with less than 6 minutes left. Johnny Lazo’s empty-net goal with 25 seconds left ended the scoring.

The Americans did about everything right except complete the power play. T-C finished 0 for 7 on power plays.