CHIEFS WIN 7-6 IN OT AT KOOTENAY
Kailer Yamamoto scored 1:10 into overtime to lift the Spokane Chiefs to a 7-6 win over the Kootenay Ice Friday night in Cranbrook, B.C. Yamamoto’s team high 18th goal of the season snapped the Chiefs two game losing streak and moved Spokane within 1 point of third place Portland in the U.S. Division.
Wyatt Johnson scored his 4th goal as a Chief just 14 seconds into the contest to give Spokane a quick 1-0 lead. River Beattie’s goal at 5:28 would bring Kootenay into a 1-1 tie after the first period. The Ice would score just 2:28 into the second period to take a 2-1 lead, but Jacob Cardiff’s 4th goal of the season, on a wraparound at 5:28 would bring the Chiefs back even at 2-2. Kootenay would regain the lead at 7:25 on a Dallas Hines one timer after a Spokane turnover, but Jason Fram would score two goals 52 seconds apart late in the period to give the Chiefs a 4-3 lead after two.
Presten Kopeck would score his first goal as a Chief, on the power play at 4:28 of the third period to help Spokane to a 5-3 advantage. The Ice would score on a breakaway at 5:15 to cut the lead to 5-4, but Markson Bechtold would tip a Fram shot in for his 10th goal of the year at 11:19 to put Spokane back up by two at 6-4. Kootenay would score two goals in the final three minutes, scoring on the power play at 17:08 and again off a face-off at 18:24 to tie the game at 6 and send it into overtime.
Fram would take a Wyatt Johnson face-off win and hit an open Yamamoto net front, and the Chiefs leading scorer would score on the back hand to give Spokane their 4th overtime win in 7 tries this season. Spokane outshot Kootenay 39-34 in the game, going 1-3 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill. Fram led the way offensively with 2 goals and 2 assists, while Kopeck had a goal and 2 assists.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Spokane Arena, as the Chiefs open a 3 game homestand. Mike Boyle will have the call on 1510 KGA at 7:05pm, with the pre-game show getting underway at 6:30pm.
