Chiefs slip past T-Birds 4-2 in Kent

O’Brien has goal and assist in 4-2 loss to Spokane

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 Tuesday night at ShoWare Center.

Seattle (31-30-1-4) took a 1-0 lead at 18:41 of the first period on an unassisted power-play goal by Jim O’Brien. O’Brien got to a loose puck along the left boards and curled along the top of the left circle to the high slot. O’Brien put a wrist shot on goal that beat Spokane goalie Dustin Tokarski low on the stick side.

Both teams had 12 shots on goal in the first period.

Spokane(42-20-0-3) tied the game 23 seconds into the second period on a goal by Drayson Bowman. Ondrej Roman had the only assist.

The Chiefs went ahead 2-1 at 1:17 of the second on a goal by Mitch Wahl. Justin McCrae assisted on the goal.

David Richard tied the game 2-2 at 13:38 of the second by jamming home a loose puck on a scramble in front of the Spokane net. The puck rebounded off the glass behind the Chiefs net from a shot and landed in the crease. Jeremy Boyer and O’Brien both got a stick on the puck before Richard snuck the puck under Tokarski.

Spokane outshot Seattle 13-12 in the second period and led 25-24 in total shots after two periods.

Bowman scored a second goal at 11:24 of the third period to put the Chiefs in front 3-2. Roman had an assist on the goal.

Levko Koper added an unassisted empty-net goal at 19:11 of the third for the final Chiefs goal.

Spokane outshot Seattle 37-36 in the game.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard made 33 saves on 36 shots and his record falls to 20-14-1-4.

Tokarski made 34 saves on 36 shot and his record is now 31-15-0-2.

The T-Birds take on the Tri-City Americans in back-to- back games on Friday and Saturday at ShoWare Center. The game on Friday is at 7:35 p.m. and game on Saturday is at 7:05 p.m.

The T-Birds have clinched a spot in the 2009 WHL Playoffs. The T-Birds will start the playoffs on the road against an opponent to be determined. Games 3 and 4 of the first round playoff series will be at ShoWare Center on Tuesday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 25. Both games are at 7:05 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, O’Brien 24, 18:41 (pp). Penalties – Bench, Sea (too many men- served by Lockhart), 1:10. Bartman, Spo (tripping), 13:35. Kuhn, Spo (hooking), 18:03.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Bowman 41 (Roman), :23. 3, Spokane, Wahl 28 (McCrae), 1:17. 4, Seattle, Richard 9 (Boyer, O’Brien),13:38. Penalties – Calla, Spo (major-fighting), 20:00. Acolatse, Sea (major-fighting), 20:00.

Third period – 5, Spokane, Bowman 42 (Roman), 11:24. 6, Spokane, Koper 21, 19:11 (en). Penalties – Donaghy, Spo (hooking), 6:28. O’Brien, Sea (high-sticking), 6:37. Cloud, Sea (holding), 11:32. Wahl, Spo (interference), 12:15. Dillon, Sea (major-fighting), 19:51. McCrae, Spo (major-fighting), 19:51.

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-12-14 36. Spokane 12-13-12 37. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 36 shots-33 saves (20-14-1-4); Spokane, Tokarski 36-34 (31-15-0-2). Power plays – Seattle 1-4; Spokane 0-3. A – 2,725. Referee – Chris Savage, Derek Zalaski. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Nathan Van Oosten.