The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 Saturday night at the ShoWare Center.
This was the first of three consecutive games between the teams. They meet again on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center and then at 7:05 Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane.
Spokane (24-12-1-0) opened the scoring at 15:26 of the first period when Dylan Walchuk scored. Tyler King and Jason Fram had the assists.
The Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 20-12 in the first period.
Seattle (16-20-2-1) tied the game 1-1 at 5:22 of the second period with an unassisted power-play goal. Jesse Forsberg got to a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated into the Spokane zone. Forsberg put a wrist shot on goal from between the circles that beat Spokane goalie Eric Williams on the glove side.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 7:21 of the second. Branden Troock moved the puck up the left board to Griffin Foulk at the left point. Foulk wristed a shot towards Williams. Alexander Delnov slid into the high slot on Foulk’s shot and tipped it. The puck went past a lunging Williams on the stick side.
The Chiefs tied the game 2-2 at 8:28 of the second on Collin Valcourt’s eighth goal of the season. Connor Chartier had the only assist on the goal.
Spokane went in front 3-2 at 11:40 of the second when Mike Aviani scored. Jackson Playfair and Todd Fiddler were credited with the assists.
Spokane had a 39-24 advantage in shots after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 19-12 in the second period.
Blake Gal scored a five-on-three power-play goal at 11:41 of the third to extend the Chiefs lead to 4-2. Brenden Kichton and Reid Gow had assists.
Kichton added a four-on-four goal at 13:32 of the third for the Chiefs fifth goal of the game. Todd Fiddler and Aviani were credited with the assists.
Seattle goalie Brandon Glover stopped 45 of 50 shots and his record is now 15-16-2-1.
Williams made 34 saves on 36 shots and his record is now 19-10-1-0.
T-Birds single game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
T-Birds season tickets are on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Spokane, Walchuk 11 (King, Fram), 15:26. Penalties – Elliot, Sea (roughing), 5:00. Foulk, Sea (high-sticking), 7:54. Aviani, Spo (roughing), 8:24. Troock, Sea (high-sticking), 11:04. Walchuk, Spo (charging), 13:06.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Forsberg 4 5:22 (pp). 3, Seattle, Delnov 13 (Foulk, Troock), 7:21. 4, Spokane, Valcourt 8 (Chartier), 8:28. 5, Spokane, Aviani 19 (Playfair, Fiddler), 11:40. Penalties – Wedman, Spo (high-sticking), 4:00. Hauf, Sea (tripping), 15:41
Third period – 6, Spokane, Gal 7 (Kichton, Gow), 11:41 (pp). 7, Spokane, Kichton 11 (Fiddler, Aviani), 13:32. Penalties – McIntosh, Spo (interference), 4:28. Hickman Sea (hooking), 5:26. Hickman, Sea (roughing), 10:07. Wardley, Sea (cross checking), 11:29. Gal, Spo (tripping), 11:52. Sanvido, Sea (tripping), 13:03. Proft, Spo (major-fighting), 19:28. Troock, Sea (major-fighting), 19:28. Wedman, Spo (major-fighting, game misconduct), 19:28. Wardley, Sea (major-fighting, 2 game misconducts), 19:28. Elliot, Sea (roughing), 19:50.
Shots on goal – Seattle 12-12-12 36, Spokane 20-19-11 50. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 50 shots-45 saves (15-16-2-1); Spokane, Williams 36-34 (19-10-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-5; Spokane 2-7. A – 4,191. Referee – Jason Cramer, Steve Papp. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Chris Sweeting.
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