Spokane Chiefs’ hold on playoff spot slips slightly

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The Spokane Chiefs can feel the Tri-City Americans creeping closer.

Brad Morrison snapped a 1-all tie with a backhanded goal 27 seconds into the second period Saturday and the Prince George Cougars defeated the Chiefs 4-1 in Western Hockey League play at CN Centre.

Spokane, in losing for the seventh time in 11 games, fell to 30-26-5-4 (69 points) with seven games left in the regular season.

The Chiefs’ hold on the Western Conference’s final wild-card spot was cut to four points over Tri-City (31-31-2-1, 65), which defeated Everett 5-3.

Spokane and Tri-City will meet two more times during the regular season, Friday and March 19.

The Chiefs tied Prince George (36-27-3-1) at 1 when Dominic Zwerger scored his team-leading 25th goal at 3 minutes, 14 seconds of the first period.

Morrison broke the tie by scooping up a puck off the wall and beating Tyson Verhelst.

The Cougars added late goals by Brogan O’Brien, with 2:20 left in the game, and an empty-netter by Kody McDonald.

Verhelst stopped 38 of 42 shots.

The Chiefs competed without six players on their injury list.

Spokane and Prince George split the four-game season series.

The Chiefs’ next three games are at home, starting Wednesday with Kamloops.