Chiefs drop second in a row to rival Americans Saturday
Kennewick, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs couldn’t keep up with the Tri-City Americans Saturday night, dropping their second in a row to their rivals 8-2 on the road.
The Americans scored the lone goal of the first period just past the halfway mark as Parker Bell recorded his 23rd of the season.
Tri-City padded that to a 4-0 lead by 9:45 in the second, with goals from Jordan Gavin, Jalen Lumpen and Reagan McMillan.
It was Jake Gudelj who got the Chiefs on the board with his eighth goal of the year at 15:21 when he picked up a Mac Gross rebound right in front of the net and chipped it over the line to make it 4-1.
Right place, right time, Gud goal 🙌
Jake Gudelj gets one for the good guys at 15:21 in the second! Apples for Gross and Catton, it’s 4-1.#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/0jtjopJKML
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 19, 2023
Gross followed that up with a goal of his own on the man advantage just 2:17 later as some back-and-forth between him and Chase Bertholet ended with him firing in a one-timer from the left wing to make it a two-goal game. Kooper Gizowski also notched an assist on the play.
Filthy Gross one-timer 🤮
4-2 at 17:38 in the 2nd!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/r6J2BH6qgu
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 19, 2023
That’s as close as Spokane would get, though, as Tri-City piled on two more late in the middle frame – each Gavin and Bell’s second of the night.
The Americans went on to score two more unanswered goals in the third period, as Reese Belton and Adam Mechura found the twine to eventually cap the scoring at 8-2.
Spokane went 1-for-14 on the power play, but a perfect 8-for-8 on the penalty kill. They were outshot by the Americans 35-32.
Cooper Michaluk played all 60 minutes in net for the Chiefs and stopped 27 Tri-City shots.
Good post, great Mucks 🙅#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/FI0jnwux4Y
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 19, 2023
Up next, the Chiefs return home to take on the Everett Silvertips on Sunday, March 19 at Spokane Arena.
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The Chiefs’ next home game is Sunday, March 19 against the Everett Silvertips. It is Special Olympics Night presented by Les Schwab Tires, and features the famous Weiner Dog Races. Tickets for March 19 and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets. Make sure to use your Flex Pack Tickets and Never-A-Wasted Tickets before the end of the season, as they do not carry over to next season.
The Spokane Chiefs are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players. Since 1985 the Chiefs have been a pillar in the Spokane community, offering family-friendly entertainment and a winning tradition, which includes: two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 & 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 & 2008 and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000 & 2008. Over 60 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.
