CHIEFS JUST FALL SHORT IN GAME 2 IN VICTORIA 4-3
Despite out shooting Victoria 33-21, the Spokane Chiefs fell short to the Royals 4-3 in game two of their Western Conference playoff first round series. With the win, Victoria now takes a 2-0 lead to Spokane as the Chiefs will host games 3 and 4 of the series.
Spokane jumped out to their first lead in the opening round when Jacob Cardiff scored his first goal of the playoffs on a rebound of a Presten Kopeck shot at 9:56 of the first period. Victoria’s Jack Walker would tie the game at one with his first tally of the post-season at 12:32 as his pass richocheted off the Chiefs Kailer Yamamoto past goalie Lasse Petersen. The Royals took a 2-1 lead after one when Jared Dmytriw got a back hand past Petersen at 14:08 of the period.
The Chiefs would tie the game at two in the second when Hudson Elyniuk’s shot from the right wing beat goalie Coleman Vollrath at 4:12. Elyniuk’s second goal of the playoffs was assisted by Kailer Yamamoto and Markson Bechtold. Victoria re-took the lead on Walker’s second goal of the night, as he beat Petersen far post at 17:27 to give the Royals a 3-2 edge after two.
Victoria’s Tyler Soy got the eventual game winner as he tipped a Vladimir Bobylev pass in mid air past Petersen at 6:31 to make it 4-2 Royals. Spokane would pull Petersen in the final 3 minutes and get a Dominic Zwerger goal with the extra attacker on at 17:54 to draw within 4-3, but that was as close as the Chiefs would come. Spokane out shot Victoria 23-9 over the final two periods but could only get a 2-2 draw over those 40 minutes. The Chiefs went 0-1 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill in a game that had only 5 penalties called.
The Chiefs return home to host game 3 against the Royals Tuesday night at 7:05pm at the Spokane Arena. Mike Boyle will have the call on 1510 KGA starting with the pre-game show at 6:30pm.
