Tyson Verhelst had an outstanding night in the net,\u00a0leading the Spokane Chiefs to a 4-2 WHL victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds at Veterans Memorial Arena on\u00a0Wednesday<\/span><\/span> night.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Verhelst had 37 saves, including 17 in the first period, to help get the Chiefs capture the first game of a home-and-home series between the teams. The T-Birds and Chiefs meet at 7:35 p.m.\u00a0Friday<\/span><\/span> at the ShoWare Center.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Seattle (17-9-2-0) tied the game 1-1 at\u00a017:28<\/span><\/span> of the first. Donovan Neuls had the puck along the right boards and centered it to Jamal Watson in the high slot. Watson took a slap shot that deflected off a Spokane defenseman and past Verhelst. The deflection fooled Verhelst as he was going down make a glove saves and the puck knuckled over his blocker. Ethan Bear had the second assist.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead eight minutes into the second period. Jacob Cardiff tipped a shot from Nik Andersen past Burman. Taylor Ross split the Seattle defense to score on a breakaway at\u00a011:24<\/span><\/span> of the second to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Seattle replaced Taz Burman with Logan Flodell after the third Spokane goal. Burman made 12 saves on 15 shots and his record is now 7-4-0-0.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Keanu Yamamoto stole the puck from the Seattle defense at the blue line to create a breakaway. Yamamoto beat Flodell on the blocker side for an unassisted goal at\u00a018:07<\/span><\/span> of the second.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The T-Birds cut the Chiefs lead to two goals at\u00a014:53<\/span><\/span> of the third period on a shorthanded goal from Watson. Watson got the puck from Scott Eansor and headed up ice on a two-on-one with Eansor. Watson took the puck to the net and beat Verhelst on the blocker side for his fifth goal of the season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n