Big second period lifts Everett past Spokane Chiefs

EVERETT – Nikita Scherbak accounted for two goals on breakaways and one assist, and the Everett Silvertips used a three-goal second period Wednesday to turn back the Spokane Chiefs 4-2 in Western Hockey League play at Xfinity Arena.

Scherbak, who has 14 goals on the season, broke a 1-all tie at 13 minutes, 16 seconds of the second period and assisted on Kohl Bauml’s goal 2:41 later on a 2-on-1 play for a 3-1 advantage.

The Chiefs cut Everett’s lead to 3-2 at 5:57 of the third when Dominic Zwerger’s shot hit the skate of a Silvertips player and went past goalie Austin Lotz.

But Everett took advantage of its first power-play chance of the game as Scherbak capped the scoring with 3 minutes left.

Spokane’s Adam Helewka scored his team-high 14th goal at 9:08 of the first on a power play, assisted by Calder Brooks.

The Chiefs (14-9-3-0, 31 points) lost a chance to tie idle Portland (33 points) for second place in the U.S. Division. Spokane had won seven of its past 10.

Division-leading Everett, which had lost four of its past six games, improved to 17-5-3-1, 38 points.

Spokane dropped to 7-4-1-0 on the road and 8-4-2-0 against the division.

The Chiefs are 2-1-1-0 against Everett. The teams will meet four more times but not until Jan. 16.

• The Chiefs announced that defenseman Tamas Laday will represent his country of Hungary at the IIHF U20 World Championship, Dec. 14-20 at Dunaujvaros, Hungary. Laday, who is expected to miss four Chiefs games, will compete in Division I Group B.