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Spokane Chiefs

Kailer Yamamoto keeps Chiefs alive in WHL playoffs with overtime winner against Portland

From staff reports

PORTLAND – The Chiefs’ best player broke through at the most opportune time.

Kailer Yamamoto, the team’s player of the year, scored the winning goal on a one-timer from the top of the circles at 9 minutes, 19 seconds of overtime to give Spokane a 5-4 victory over Portland on Saturday night in Game 5 of their WHL playoff series.

Yamamoto’s first goal of the playoffs cuts Portland’s series lead to 3-2. Game 6 is Monday in Spokane at 7:05 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, would be in Portland on Tuesday.

The Chiefs trailed by one goal four times in the game. Nolan Reid’s shot from the point with 30 seconds left in regulation tied it for the fourth time and sent the game into overtime.

Riley Woods, Hudson Elynuik and Jake McGrew scored Spokane’s other goals. Jaret Anderson-Dolan had three assists, including setting up Yamamoto on the winner.

Cody Glass, who leads Portland with eight points in the series, had a goal and an assist. Dennis Cholowski scored his series-best fourth goal late in the third period for the Winterhawks.