Chiefs Beat Thunderbirds To Advance In Playoffs
SPOKANE — The Spokane Chiefs have punched their ticket to the second round of the playoffs with Saturday’s 5-3 win against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
In an all to familiar scenario, Spokane’s Drayson Bowman started off the scoring for Spokane. He scored his first goal of the night 6:29 in the second period off an assist from Jared Spurgeon and Mitch Wall.
Spokane’s Justin McCrae would strike next, scoring with a backhand shot at 13:30 in the second period to give Spokane a 2-0 lead.
Seattle tried to keep it close, Colin Jacobs goal would make it 2-1 at 15:50 in the second.
Spokane would bump up their lead early in the second thanks to Brady Calla’s breakaway goal at 5:21 in the third period.
A pair of penalties to Tyler Johnson and Bowman would yield a Seattle power play goal to make it 3-2 at 12:59 in the third.
The Chiefs took advantage of a Seattle penalty as Mitch Wahl scored on the power play at 14:31 in the third to help the Chiefs build their lead to two goals.
Seattle pulled goaltender Calvin Pickard to grab an extra attacker late in the third, an advantage that proved successful as the Thunderbirds scored on the power play at 18:39.
Spokane showed first hand why it’s risky to pull your goalie, as Bowman scored his second of the night on an empty net at 19:18 to make it 5-3.
Bowman tallied five goals and seven points in the series with Seattle. The Chiefs have won their last three games, but have a tough test ahead.
Spokane draws the Vancouver Giants in the second round of the playoffs, a team they have struggled against this season.
Games one and two of the series will be played in Vancouver on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th. Games three and four will be played in Spokane, those dates have yet to be scheduled.
