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Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs continue to struggle with power plays during loss to Portland

By Kevin Dudley For The Spokesman-Review

Six games into the Western Hockey League season, the Spokane Chiefs are looking for some chemistry and are in desperate need of an improved power play.

Line combinations are still fluctuating and the special teams – the power play and penalty kill units – are struggling. That was all evident in the Chiefs’ 6-1 loss to the Portland Winterhawks in the first of a three-game series between the two U.S. Division foes.

The Chiefs had seven power plays, including a 5-on-3 for 41 seconds. They couldn’t cash in on any of them, leaving head coach Dan Lambert frustrated.

“First of all, when you make a pass you need to make a pass on the tape,” Lambert said, referencing the team’s basic struggles. “And then the guy receiving the pass needs to be able to handle the pass to make the next play. We have five, they have four. We have an extra guy. At the end of the day, if we don’t make plays it’s not going to work.”

The Chiefs trailed 4-1 as the second period wound down and found themselves with one of the seven power plays. It was a golden opportunity to get back in the game, and the Chiefs were able to get some possession time in the offensive zone.

Alas, they squandered the opportunity when Ethan McIndoe took an interference penalty in his offensive end.

“We’re not going to beat a team like that playing the way we played in the second and third periods, that’s for sure,” Lambert said.

Through the first six games of the season, the Chiefs have just two power-play goals in 28 chances – third worst in the WHL.

The other side of special teams, the penalty kill, allowed two power-play goals. On the season, the Chiefs have allowed eight power-play goals on 27 penalty-kill opportunities. That’s sixth worst in the league.

“We have individuals that need to be better,” Lambert said.

The Chiefs actually started well and got the game’s first goal just 1 minute, 17 seconds into the game. Jake McGrew put in a rebound off a Jeff Faith shot from the point to secure the early lead.

It was a special moment for McGrew. He missed all of last season after suffering a bad knee injury early in the preseason. Despite missing all of his rookie season, he was still selected by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round of the NHL Draft in June.

“I Just saw the puck go to the net, so I crashed the net,” McGrew said. “I got a lucky bounce and put it home.”

Lambert praised McGrew’s work ethic while he was injured, noting that he kept himself in great shape despite not being able to skate. McGrew said he felt nerves but didn’t feel out of shape.

“I’ve been preparing for quite a bit, so I didn’t feel too fatigued out there,” he said.

After McGrew’s opening goal, Portland’s Ty Kolle split the Spokane defense and got a short breakaway to put one past Chiefs goalie Dawson Weatherill. The Winterhawks got goals from Bronson Sharp, Skyler McKenzie and Keoni Texeira in the second period.

The Winterhawks’ dominance continued in the third when Ryan Hughes and Cody Glass put pucks past Weatherill.

The teams meet again Sunday and Tuesday in Portland.