SPOKANE, Wash. — Just three weeks are left in the regular season for the Chiefs and there's no doubt a sense of urgency is felt by the club as they hope to return to the post season for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. Spokane has positioned itself to returning to the playoffs as the Chiefs carried a 9 point lead over Tri City for the 8th and final playoff berth in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference.
Spokane returned home from a 3 game road trip through Canada last week, where the club went 1-1-1 and gathered 3 of the possible 6 points. The Chiefs gained three points over Tri City during the week as the Americans went winless for the week. The team now has 9 games left this season, with 5 of those on home ice. Spokane returned home to play two of those 5 home contests this week as they would host Victoria and Seattle. The Chiefs also were going to head to Seattle in the front half of a home and home series with the Thunderbirds Friday and Saturday.
First up were the Royals, whom the Chiefs had lost 2 of the 3 previous meetings. Spokane lost both games in Victoria in overtime after losing 3rd period leads in both contests. The Chiefs had battered the Royals in Spokane over Thanksgiving weekend though by an 8-1 count in the two teams last meeting. With a win, the Chiefs would achieve a season split with the Royals, who were the last team outside of the U.S. Division the Chiefs would play this year.
The Chiefs were still down forwards Rasmus Ekstrom, Coco Armstrong and Owen Martin as they faced the Royals Tuesday night at the Arena. First round pick Mathis Preston was called up to fill out the forward line for the contest against the Royals, who featured former Chiefs defenseman Jaren Brinson. Victoria got an early power play opportunity and cashed in the chance as they scored 8 seconds in to take a 1-0 lead. Spokane would answer as rookie forward Lukas Kral scored his 2nd goal in 4 games midway through the period to tie the contest at 1-1. Berkly Catton then extended his points scoring streak to 14 straight with his 46th of the season at 13:39 to give Spokane a 2-1 advantage. Connor Roulette notched an assist on the goal to also extend his points streak to 14 in a row. Victoria would counter with their second power play tally of the period in the final 3 minutes to send the game to the second all even at 2-2.
Chase Bertholet would score just over 3 minutes into the second period with his 22nd of the year to put Spokane back on top 3-2. Victoria responded with their 3rd power play of the game halfway through the frame to get back even at 3-3. The Chiefs would get one power play chance in the second and they would convert when Brayden Crampton's shot was tipped over the top of Royals goalie Braden Holt at 15:19 to lift Spokane to a 4-3 lead after two. Catton would take over in the third as he scored his second of the night 1:40 into the period to give the Chiefs a huge insurance goal and a 5-3 advantage. Catton would secure his first career hat trick midway through the third to cap off a 6-3 victory and enable Spokane to even the season series with the Royals at 2-2.
Catton's five point night brought his season total to 103 points, tied for second in the league scoring race. The win pushed the Chiefs 11 points ahead of Tri City for 8th and final playoff spot in the West and brought Spokane within 2 points of 7th place Kelowna with 8 games left in the season. The team then headed West to open a home and home series with defending league champion Seattle. It was the first meeting between the two teams since December 13th when the Thunderbirds knocked off the Chiefs on home ice. The T-Birds had won 2 of 3 from Spokane, with both wins coming at the Spokane Arena. The Chiefs were hoping for their second straight win at the Sho-Ware Center as they squared off Friday night in the first of the home and home. The team got good news that forward Owen Martin returned off the injured list, but the club lost forward Cam Parr to a two game suspension for a hit during the Victoria game.
The start to Friday's contest was not exactly what the Chiefs had dialed up as the Thunderbirds scored the first shift of the game and took a 1-0 lead just 19 seconds into the contest. Spokane would counter just over 4 minutes later as Shea Van Olm scored his 21st of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Connor Roulette picked up an assist to extend his points scoring streak to 15 straight games, a season high. Chase Harrington then scored his second goal in his last 4 games at 8:27 of the period to give Spokane a 2-1 advantage. It would turn out to be the last lead the Chiefs would enjoy. Sawyer Mynio scored off a face off in the last 3 minutes of the period to tie the game at 2-2 heading to the second period.
Mynio's goal would start a 4 goal outburst for Seattle as they would score twice in the second to expand their lead to 4-2 after two. Seattle outshot the Chiefs 19-11 in the second and held a 37-24 edge after two. The Thunderbirds then capped their 4 goal explosion just over 5 minutes into the third to take a 5-2 lead. Spokane got a Hayden Paupanekis goal with just under 5 minutes left to get within 5-3. The Chiefs then pulled goalie Dawson Cowan and got Chase Bertholet's 22nd of the year with 1:31 remaining to get within 5-4. Spokane would pull Cowan again and get another couple quality chances in the final minute but would fail to find the net as Seattle defeated the Chiefs for the 3rd time in 4 meetings this season by a final of 5-4.
The win pushed Seattle past Tri City for 9th in the Western Conference as they moved 10 points back of the Chiefs for the 8th and final playoff spot. It's the last playoff berth up for grabs in the West as both Kelowna and Vancouver clinched spots after Friday night's action. Spokane returned home on Saturday knowing a win over Seattle in regulation and the Chiefs would be just a point away from clinching the final playoff berth in the West. Cooper Michaluk would get the start in goal for Spokane and he would prove to be the difference maker on Saturday for the Chiefs. The offense would get things going on the power play in the first as Berkly Catton notched his team leading 49th goal of the season on Spokane's second power play midway through the period to make it 1-0. Saige Weinstein, who had sat out most of the game the night before after crashing hard into the boards, then one timed home his 10th of the year on Spokane's next power play to give the Chiefs a 2-0 advantage after one.
The second period would be the Connor Roulette show to start the period as the Chiefs second leading scorer scored a beautiful wrap around goal 1:59 to put Spokane up 3-0. Roulette then scored his second of the night and career high 40th of the season midway through the frame to give the Chiefs a commanding 4-0 lead. Spokane's penalty kill unit got a work out the rest of the second as they had to kill off 5 straight Seattle power plays. Michaluk would turn aside 21 of 22 Seattle shots in the period as the Thunderbirds ruined his shutout attempt with a power play goal after a review in the final two minutes of the stanza. The Chiefs would control the third and wrap up a convincing 5-1 victory with a Lukas Kral empty net goal late in the frame.
The win all but clinched the final playoff berth in the conference for Spokane. The Chiefs are now 12 points ahead of Seattle and 13 up on Tri City with just 6 games left in the regular season for Spokane. Tri has 7 games left including a game at Seattle on Sunday that is a must win for the Americans. A loss by Tri will officially eliminate them from the post season. All the Chiefs have to do is earn one point over their final 6 games to clinch. Even if Spokane were to lose their last 6 in regulation, Seattle or Tri would have to win every one of their remaining games. The odds are less than 1% of that happening so the Chiefs are in prime position to move back into the playoffs.
The Chiefs head into the next to last week of the season with 4 games in 6 nights, with three of those on home ice. Spokane will open the week by hosting the U.S. Division leading Portland Winterhawks Tuesday at 7:05 pm. This contest could prove to be a preview of the Chiefs first round series as Portland is just a point back of conference leading Prince George, but the Hawks have a game in hand. A win by the Chiefs would enable them to tie the regular season series as well. The club will then get ready for its' final 3 in 3 of the season as they play at Wenatchee Friday night at 6:05 pm and then return home to host Tri City at 6:35 pm before playing the teams final home game Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, against Wenatchee at 5:05 pm. I'll have the call on 94.1 FM the Bear on Tuesday with the pre-game show at 6:30 pm. The weekend games from Wenatchee on Friday and the Spokane Arena Saturday and Sunday are on 103.5 FM the Game and 1510 AM KGA with the pre-game shows a half hour before puck drop. Let's see if the Chiefs can wrap up a playoff spot and we hope to see you at the rink!
