Regina holds off Spokane Chiefs with two-goal third period

REGINA, Saskatchewan – The Spokane Chiefs had won four of their last five matchups with the Regina Pats heading in to Saturday’s game at Brandt Centre.

Jesse Gabrielle and Daniel Wapple teamed to stop that trend.

Gabrielle scored twice and Wapple had 29 saves to lead Regina to a 4-2 Western Hockey League win over the Chiefs. The Pats scored twice in the third period to drop Spokane’s record to 1-1 on its six-game tour of East Division teams.

Regina (30-17-4-2) won its fourth consecutive game since a streak of eight losses in nine games.

The Chiefs fell to 25-23-3-1 (54 points) and held their fourth-place spot in the U.S. Division.

Spokane started quickly when Jackson Playfair assisted on Riley Whittingham’s 10th goal, a shot from the point at 1 minute, 12 seconds of the first period.

Gabrielle tied the game with a power-play goal at 10:37 of the first, winning the race to a loose puck in the crease. Gabrielle gave Regina the lead for good at 9:42 of the second after stealing a pass from Chiefs goalie Garret Hughson.

Sam Steel scored midway through the third for a 3-1 Pats lead. Adam Helewka’s club-leading 28th goal, shorthanded with 5:46 left in the game, gave the Chiefs hope, but Patrick D’Amico sealed the Pats’ win by scoring an empty-netter with 17 seconds left.