Chiefs fall flat in 5-0 loss to Portland

PORTLAND – This early-season six-game road trip is starting to take its toll on the Spokane Chiefs.

The Portland Winterhawks scored three third-period goals and blanked Spokane 5-0 in a Western Hockey League game Friday night.

The Chiefs just simply ran out of gas. They were outshot 12-2 in the third period and came up empty on all five of their power-play opportunities. Spokane is now 0-15 on its power-play chances in its last three games.

Paul Bittner and Keegan Iverson scored first-period goals for Portland (1-3-0-0) and Alex Schoenborn, Rodrigo Abols and Cody Glass all scored in the third.

Chiefs goalkeeper Tyson Verhelst stopped 32 of 37 shots. Adin Hill stopped all 23 shots for the Winterhawks.

It was the first shutout loss for Spokane this season.

The Chiefs (3-3-0-0) play at Everett on Saturday before returning home for give games, starting next Friday against Prince Albert.