SPOKANE, Wash. — With just 5 games remaining in the first half of the season before the holiday break for the Chiefs, Spokane found itself on its' third 3 game losing streak of the 2023-24 campaign. The team had managed to snap those streaks the first two times they faced them in October, so the Chiefs were hoping the third time was the charm as well as they faced off with two of the top 3 teams in the U.S. Division as they took on Portland and Wenatchee.
Spokane had their toughest week opponent wise last week as they faced two of the top 6 teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League in Saskatoon and Prince George. The Chiefs fell in two tight competitive games before falling for the third time to Vancouver this season to end the week with a 4-3 defeat. Portland was struggling a bit themselves, as they had dropped a season high 4 games in a row, including an uncharacteristic 3 straight at home, capped by a 4-0 shutout loss to Prince George in their last game.
Something had to give as the Chiefs and Winterhawks met for the second time in the last two weeks in the Rose City. Spokane had won the opening meeting between the two clubs on November 26th with a come from behind 5-2 victory. The Chiefs put up a 4 goal third period to rally from a 2-1 deficit the first time around. Spokane's penalty kill was huge in that win, going a perfect 8 for 8.
Friday's game in Portland would see two desperate teams trying to get back on the winning path. Chiefs goalie Dawson Cowan got the start, coming off his memorable performance against the Hawks the time before when he not only turned aside 34 shots, but also put up a goal and an assist offensively in the Chiefs 5-2 win over Portland November 26th. Friday's game would see the Winterhawks score just 50 seconds into the game when James Stefan batted a puck out of mid-air to give Portland a 1-0 lead. Spokane came right back as Hayden Paupanekis scored on a breakaway just over 3 minutes later to even the game at one.
The tie was short lived as Stefan scored 17 seconds later with his second of the night to make it 2-1 Hawks. Portland scored again 29 seconds later as they took a 3-1 lead 4:43 into the game. The Chiefs settled things down the rest of the period as they would pull within 3-2 on Berkly Catton's goal from inside the left circle midway the period as Spokane came out of the first down by just one goal. Portland would come out in the second though and put up two goals in the first half of the frame, including Stefan's hat trick goal, to go back up 5-2. Spokane got a power play chance late in the second and capitalized as Connor Roulette got his team leading 19th of the year to bring the Chiefs within 5-3 at the end of two.
Spokane needed a quick start to the third and they got it as Chase Bertholet scored just 33 seconds into the final period to get the Chiefs within 5-4. Portland answered right back though as they scored 56 seconds later on an end to end rush to go up 6-4. Back would come Spokane once again, as Catton scored shorthanded midway through the third with his second goal of the game to make it 6-5 Portland heading down the stretch. Spokane pulled Cowan from goal in the final minute and a half, but a turnover at the Portland blue line led to an empty net goal from the Hawks to seal it at 7-5. Another empty net goal from Portland just 14 seconds later after another puck miscue wrapped up an 8-5 Portland victory as the Winterhawks evened the season series at one apiece.
The Chiefs have now dropped a season high 4 in a row, but the club got some help from Tri City as they went to Seattle and beat the Thunderbirds 4-1 to keep Spokane within a point of Seattle for 5th in the U.S. Division. Portland then helped the Chiefs as the Hawks beat Seattle on Saturday to keep the Thunderbirds within striking distance. As for Spokane, the team got a rare Saturday night off as they headed home to open a 3 game homestand with division leading Wenatchee on Sunday night. The Wild had traveled to Tri City on Saturday and suffered their worst loss of the season as the Americans ran the Wild out of the building with a 9-3 thrashing. Needless to say, Wenatchee was not going to arrive Sunday in good humor.
Slow starts have been plaguing the Chiefs during their 4 game losing streak as they had fallen behind in the first period in every defeat. Sunday's game with the Wild would be different. Spokane jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead as Berkly Catton scored his team leading 19th of the season just 1:53 into the game. The Chiefs would expand their lead to 2-0 when Chase Harrington scored on the power play late in the period to give Spokane a two goal advantage heading into the second period. Spokane outshot Wenatchee 14-7 in the first and were controlling the offensive end. In the second, Wenatchee scored midway through the frame to cut the Chiefs lead to 2-1. Spokane then countered when Carter Streek tipped a Ben Bonni feed in at 16:11 to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead going to the third.
It's often said a two goal lead going in the third can be the worst lead you can have because the leading team has a tendency to relax a little bit and if the trailing team scores to get within one, the leading team can suddenly find the momentum the other team has to be too much to overcome. Well, that's exactly what would happen to the Chiefs on this night. Wenatchee forced a turnover and Hayden Moore drove the puck to the net and scored 1:53 into the final period to cut Spokane's lead to 3-2. The Chiefs were on their heels and the Wild showed it as Wenatchee would score on the rush just 55 seconds later to even the game at 3-3. The Wild then went on the power play less than a minute later and converted on a one timer from the left wing to take their first lead at 4-3.
Spokane had a power play chance late in the third, but would take a penalty less than a minute into the man advantage to negate their final good chance to tie things up. The Chiefs managed just 14 shots over the final two periods after a 14 shot first stanza and generated just one power play after scoring on the man advantage in the first. It all added up to Wenatchee's third straight win over the Chiefs with a 4-3 victory and the defeat extended Spokane's losing streak to a season high 5 in a row. The Chiefs held Wenatchee to just 20 shots in the game, a season low surrendered by Spokane to an opponent. Despite that defensive work, the 4 minute meltdown in the third cost Spokane a valuable 2 points in the standings.
Fortunately for the Chiefs, they remained just one point back of Seattle for 5th in the division. Spokane is also just 3 points out of a playoff spot, so any kind of a winning streak will turn the Chiefs season around. The Chiefs now get a chance to finish off the first half of the season with 3 games against the team directly in front of them, Seattle, and against third place Portland this upcoming week. The absolute last thing the Chiefs want to do is head into the holiday break on an 8 game losing streak. Wednesday's game with Seattle is in my mind, as close to a must win as Spokane has had this season. The Chiefs need to find a positive result and get some confidence back before they head into a home and home with Portland on Friday and Saturday.
Wednesday's game with Seattle will be a 7:05 pm start at the Spokane Arena, as will Friday's contest with Portland. Saturday the Chiefs head to Portland for the third time in the last three weeks to close out the first half with a 6:05 pm start in the Rose City. It's a challenging week for Spokane as they get ready to head to the holidays, but it's a huge week for the club as they look at their standing in the league. The Chiefs have their longest road trip of the season looming after the New Year, so some success in the win-loss column is much needed right now. I'll have the call for Wednesday's and Saturday's games on 103.5 FM the Game and 1510 AM KGA while Friday's game will be on 94.1 FM the Bear and 790 AM KJRB due to Gonzaga basketball that night. Pre-game shows start a half hour before game time and we hope to see you at the rink!
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