CHIEFS CLINCH PLAYOFFS WITH 5-4 OVERTIME WIN IN PORTLAND
Hudson Elyniuk’s goal 1:37 into overtime lifted the Spokane Chiefs to a 5-4 overtime win over the Portland Winterhawks Friday night in Portland, OR. It was Elyniuk’s second straight game winning goal in overtime this week, and the victory helped the Chiefs clinch their 10th straight playoff spot in the Western Hockey League post season. The victory also lifted Spokane past Portland into third place in the U.S. Division by a point with one game left in the season.
Portland jumped out to a 3-0 lead late in the first period when the Winterhawks scored their 3 goals in a 1:29 period. Spokane started their comeback at the 18:33 mark of the first when Nik Andersen scored his 8th of the season from Ethan McIndoe and Hayden Ostir to get the Chiefs within 3-1 after one. The Chiefs would cut into the lead in the second when Keanu Yamamoto scored on a power play tally at 8:25 of the period on assists from his brother Kailer and Jason Fram.
The Chiefs would pull back even at 2:43 of the third on a Presten Kopeck short handed goal from Kailer Yamamoto. Spokane would take its’ first lead of the game when Matt Sozanski scored for the third straight game at 12:39 from Yamamoto and Elyniuk. Portland would come back and tie on a Dominic Turgeon goal at 16:30 to send the game to overtime, as the two teams went to extra time for the 5th time in 8 meetings. Spokane picked up their second win of the year over the Hawks in 8 meetings as Elyniuk scored net front on a Sozanski feed.
The victory ensured the Chiefs of at least the 8th playoff spot in the West. Spokane can clinch the third place spot in the U.S. with a win over Tri City Saturday night in the regular season finale, and a Portland loss to Seattle in regulation Saturday. Spokane will travel to Tri City Saturday at 7:05pm. Mike Boyle will have the call on 790 KGA, starting with the pre-game show at 6:30pm.
