Portland, Ore. – The Spokane Chiefs put themselves back in the win column Saturday night as they took down the Portland Winterhawks 4-3.
Strong Start for Spokane
The Chiefs got off to their hottest start in nearly a month, as second-year defenseman Rhett Sather scored his third goal of the season at the 13:54 mark of the first period. It’s the first time Spokane has scored the game’s opening goal since their 4-0 victory over the Wenatchee Wild on October 10.
Portland was quick to answer, though, as Alex Weiermair capitalized on a power play opportunity only a minute later. Carter Sotheran earned an assist on the play.
Chiefs Surge in the Second Period
Spokane surged in the second with three unanswered goals by Sam Oremba, Chase Harrington, and Owen Martin, respectively.
Persistence paid off for Oremba at 2:29 when he hammered a stubborn puck across the line from right in front of the net to put the Chiefs back in the driver’s seat with a 2-1 lead. Defenseman Will McIsaac and rookie forward Gavin Burcar earned the assists on the play.
At 7:17, NHL Draft-eligible winger Chase Harrington swept the puck up the far side of the ice before firing it to the twine for the seventh time this season to put Spokane up by two goals. Sather picked up his second point of the night with an assist, while rookie blueliner Harry Mattern logged his second point of the season.
At 12:39, Winnipeg Jets center prospect Owen Martin scored what would be the game winning goal and the Chiefs’ fourth and final of the night.
Late Push by the Winterhawks
Right at the final buzzer, Portland seemed to break through Vieillard’s defenses one more time to tie the game and send it to overtime, but it was ultimately waved off upon review.
The Chiefs were barely outshot by the Winterhawks, 37-35. Special teams went 0-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Up next, Spokane will head north of the border for a pair of match-ups against B.C. Division teams next weekend – Friday, November 14 at Penticton and Saturday, November 15 at Kelowna.