Chiefs win streak ends in Vancouver

Langley, B.C. — Luc Smith scored two goals for the second straight game against Vancouver, but the Giants scored 4 unanswered goals to end the Spokane Chiefs four game winning streak as Vancouver defeated Spokane 5-4 Friday night in Langley, B.C.

The Giants have beaten Spokane 3 straight times this season and have won 4 in a row over the last two years.

Smith started the scoring with his team leading 14th power play goal 3:13 into the game to make it 1-0 Spokane. Vancouver equalized with a goal just 15 seconds later to tie the game at one, and then took the lead for good with their first of 3 straight power play goals to lead it 2-1 heading into the second. The Giants then scored back to back power play tallies in the final minute and a half of the second to take a 4-1 advantage into the third.

Spokane started their comeback 3:47 into the third when Smith scored his second of the night to cut the margin to 4-2. Eli Zummack then narrowed the deficit to one with his 12th of the year at 11:51 to make it a 4-3 game. Jake McGrew appeared to tie the game with about 5 minutes left on a rebound net front, but the goal was waived off when it was determined he kicked the puck in the net. Vancouver then took a 5-3 lead with a goal at 15:46, but Spokane would get back within one on Riley Woods team leading 27th of the season with 1:10 remaining.

The Chiefs got a couple of shots in the final minute with the extra skater on, but failed to get the tying goal, as Spokane had a 4 game win streak ended for the second time this season by the Giants.
Special teams were the difference, as Vancouver went 3 for 4 on their power play, while the Chiefs league leading power play was just 1 for 7.

Spokane’s lead over Tri City for third place was cut to three points over the Americans, as the Chiefs will now head to Tri for their next game on Saturday night.