Chiefs edge Silvertips in playoff-like battle on Wednesday Night in The Dub
Spokane, Wash. – It had all the makings of a playoff game, and as anticipated, Wednesday Night in The Dub between the Spokane Chiefs and Everett Silvertips did not disappoint, as the Chiefs skated away with a 3-2 victory over their U.S. Division rivals.
Rasmus Ekstrom was the catalyst on offense Wednesday night, slamming home two rebound goals, while netminder Dawson Cowan turned aside 30 of 32 shots to backstop the Chiefs to the win.
With playoff-like energy and emotion, the Chiefs and Silvertips went back and forth right from the opening puck drop through to the final buzzer.
The Chiefs opened the scoring 12:36 into the first period after Chase Harrington set up Coco Armstrong with a nifty drop pass on a two-on-zero break.
Cuckoo for Coco Armstrong! 😵💫
The @spokanechiefs forward gets things started for Wednesday Night in the Dub!#WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/phMmA3Hadq
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2025
For the 18-year-old Armstrong, it was his fifth goal of the season, matching the career best mark he established in 2023-24. In his second season with the Chiefs, the 6-foot, 186-pound right winger has collected a career high 14 points (5G-9A) in 26 games.
Though the Chiefs got the raucous home crowd of 4,203 into the game early, it didn’t take long for the Silvertips to respond, as Dominik Rymon snuck a low shot through Cowan to tie the game 1-1 with 4:30 to go in the first period.
The 20-year-old Rymon, hailing from Karlovy Vary, Czechia, struck for the 22nd time this season, running his point total up to 53 in only 43 games. The 5-foot-10, 156-pound left winger enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023-24, registering 81 points (34G-47A) in 57 games.
A game-tying trickler off the stick of Dominik Rymon!@WHLsilvertips | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/n9iyu3YjU1
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2025
Silvertips netminder Jesse Sanche did his part to give his team a shot at the win Wednesday night, making 17 saves, including a number on high-danger opportunities.
It started in earnest early in the second period as the 18-year-old puckstopper kept the game knotted 1-1, stretching out the left pad to stymie reigning Tempo WHL Player of the Week and Seattle Kraken prospect Berkly Catton less than five minutes into the second period.
A sensational stop by Sanche!
The @WHLsilvertips goaltender keeps the game tied early in the second.#WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/fuVy1Il2ag
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2025
Moments later, 2025 NHL Draft eligible forward Carter Bear scored a power-play goal, snapping a quick shot from the slot past Cowan to give the Silvertips their first lead of the night, 2-1.
For the 18-year-old Bear, who was recently ranked 11th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, it was his 30th goal of the season, marking the first time reaching the 30-goal plateau for the product of West St. Paul, Man. Bear exploded onto the scene in 2023-24, tallying 57 points (25G-32A) in 67 games for the Silvertips.
Getting ranked 15th on Bob McKenzie’s mid-season #NHLDraft rankings by day, sniping goals on Wednesday Night in the Dub by night!
Carter Bear makes it 2-1!@WHLsilvertips | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/yUXs8xKK7A
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2025
With 4:47 left in the second period, it was Ekstrom’s time to get involved, as the 20-year-old product of Stockholm, Swe., shovelled home a backhand effort, tying the game 2-2.
The 5-foot-10, 169-pound Ekstrom wasn’t done doing damage in the second period. With the Chiefs on the power play, the import forward once again wreaked havoc on top of the blue paint, banging home another rebound to restore the advantage for Spokane with 54 seconds to go before intermission.
How SWEDE is that?! 🇸🇪
Rasmus Ekstrom strikes in front to make it 2-2.@spokanechiefs | #WHLWednesday pic.twitter.com/3Fzf33mXBR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2025
With only 20 minutes left to play, the stage was set for a great finish in a high-octane U.S. Division clash.
Spokane had a glorious opportunity to extend the lead early in the third period, as Harrington broke in alone on Sanche. Going to the deke, the puck bounced on Harrington and Sanche was able to turn it aside, keeping it a one-goal game.
Sanche was called upon once again with the time winding down in the third period. Chiefs rookie Mathis Preston burned down the left wing, driving the net hard for another scoring opportunity, only to be rejected by Sanche, who held the fort to keep Everett within one.
There was more for Sanche with the game on the line as Assanali Sarkenov broke in alone with just more than three minutes to go in regulation. The big import forward barrelled towards the Everett crease, but once again Sanche slammed the door to keep Everett within striking distance.
Though they controlled the puck and worked the offensive zone in the dying minutes, the Silvertips weren’t able to come up with the equalizer.
Everett’s best opportunity to force overtime came with the final seconds ticking off the clock. A point shot from 15-year-old Landon DuPont made its way towards the Spokane crease. Sprawling out, Cowan covered up the low ice and kept the puck out of the net, preserving the victory for the Chiefs, in a nail-biting finish.
Ekstrom was named first star of the game for his two-goal effort, while Cowan was named second star. Rymon rounded out the stars for the evening.
How Swede it is 🥹
Overage forward Rasmus Ekström scored two goals tonight in front of his family who are visiting all the way from Sweden!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/IqUGOS88j2
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 23, 2025
Spokane finished the night 1-for-3 on the power play, while Everett went 1-for-4. On the shot clock, it was Everett owning a 32-20 advantage.
The loss represents Everett’s sixth regulation defeat in 44 games this season. It also brought an end to a three-game winning streak for the Silvertips. For the Chiefs, Wednesday’s win represents their 30th triumph of the campaign.
Friday night will see the Everett Silvertips head to Wenatchee for a matchup with the Wild, while the Chiefs host the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Wednesday Night in The Dub action continues January 29, when the Silvertips welcome the Tigers to Angel of the Winds Arena.
Loading ...