UNDERMANNED CHIEFS FALL SHORT ON SUNDAY NIGHT
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs couldn’t find their rhythm on Sunday night at Spokane Arena, losing to the division-leading Everett Silvertips, 3-2. Dominic Zwerger and Markson Bechtold scored for the Chiefs.
The Silvertips got the scoring underway early in the first period as Montreal Canadiens prospect Noah Juulsen slipped a sharp angle shot past Spokane starting goaltender Tyson Verhelst to make it 1-0.
Zwerger tied it up just over three minutes later – at the 6:08 – mark with a wrap-around score. The goal, Zwerger’s 23rd of the season, was assisted by Hudson Elynuik and Keanu Yamamoto, extending Elynuik’s WHL-leading point streak to 10 games.
Buffalo Sabres 2014 NHL Draft pick Brycen Martin scored his 6th of the season on a power play midway through the second period, beating a screened Verhelst on a shot through traffic.
Everett took a two-goal lead with a rebound score from Graham Millar at the 7:51 mark of the third period.
Bechtold fired home a rebound chance of his own with just 1:11 left in regulation to give the Chiefs a chance late, but the Silvertips held on for the 3-2 win.
The Chiefs were without top scorer Kailer Yamamoto, overage forward Wyatt Johnson and team captain Jason Fram. They finished 0-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Spokane has four days of rest before heading to Kent, Wash. for a matchup with the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday, February 19. Mike Boyle will have the radio call on 1510 KGA NW Sports Talk with the pre-game show starting at 7 p.m. for a 7:35 p.m. start.
They next return home for Mike’s Hard Pink Lemonade Breast Cancer Awareness Night & Helmet Giveaway on Saturday, February 20 versus the Tri-City Americans. Tickets for Saturday night and all Chiefs’ home games are available via TicketsWest online at www.ticketswest.com and via the Chiefs’ Ticket Office in-person and over the phone at 509-535-PUCK.