SPOKANE, WA. -- The Spokane Chiefs won their fourth game in a row and for the fifth time in six outings as they beat the Vancouver Giants 2-1 on Saturday night in the Spokane Arena.
Mitch Wahl had a goal and assist in Spokane’s 10th win of the season. The victory gives the Chiefs 21 points on the season and pulls them even with the idle Everett Silvertips, who visit the Arena on Tuesday, for third place in the U.S. Division.
Levko Koper gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead with just 49-seconds left in the first when he broke in all alone on Jamie Tucker in the Vancouver net and wristed it home scored his 10th goal of the season. The goal came with the teams skating four aside. Wahl and Jared Cowen assisted on the play.
Wahl scored the eventual game winner at 10:31 of the second when Kyle Beach flipped a puck over the Vancouver defense to the Chiefs leading scorer. Wahl’s shot from the top of the right circle deflected off a Vancouver defenseman and past Tucker. Brenden Kichton also assisted on the play.
Vancouver scored their only goal of the game at 15:21 of the second with a power play goal by Brendan Gallagher. The Giants had four power play chances on the night while the Chiefs had just one.
Spokane outshot the Giants 26-25, the 12th straight time they have outshot their opponent. James Reid won his eighth game of the season with 25 saves.
The Chiefs have given up just three goals in their longest winning streak of the season and have killed off 25 of 27 penalties.
The Silvertips and Chiefs will drop the puck at 7:00 on Tuesday in the first of 10 meetings on the year between the two U.S. Divisions rivals.
