Special teams struggles continue, Chiefs fall to Ams 6-2

Kennewick, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs lost to the rival Tri-City Americans on the road Saturday night, 6-2.

The Americans controlled the first two periods of the game after opening the scoring at 10:47 in the first on a power play goal by Lukas Dragicevic. They piled on four more goals in the middle frame – first by Deagan McMillan, then a power play goal by Jalen Lumpen, then Dragicevic, and finally Ethan Ernst on another man advantage.

The Chiefs went into the third period down 5-0 before Carter Streek added a power play goal of his own at 1:26 with help from Mac Gross and Jake Gudelj.

Spokane showed some spark about halfway through the frame when Kooper Gizowski fired a rocket from the left wing that was tipped in by a net-front Grady Lane to make it 5-2. Gross earned his second assist of the night on the play.

Grady Lane: confirmed, good tipper 👍

Laner angles in a shot by Kooper Gizowski to make it 5-2 at 9:44 in the third – another ppg!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/NBkpkeEG2a

— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) January 29, 2023

But the Americans shut down any other opportunities the Chiefs had throughout the rest of the third period, and even tacked on an empty netter at 18:43 to seal the deal at 6-2.

Spokane special teams struggled throughout the night, going 2-for-7 on the power play and 1-for-4 on the penalty kill. They outshot Tri-City 36-27.

Dawson Cowan started in net and turned away 21-of-26 shots faced.

Up next, the Chiefs will travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

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The Chiefs’ next home game is Friday, February 3 versus the Swift Current Broncos. It’s an Avista “Way to Save” poster series giveaway! Tickets for February 3 and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.

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.