Chiefs break through against Seattle

KENT, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs had several reasons to celebrate after Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds at ShoWare Center.

For one, the Chiefs defeated Seattle for the first time this season, completing the season series with a record of 1-5-2-0. Seattle had blanked the Chiefs in the last three matchups.

Second, the Chiefs (39-24-3-3, 84 points) moved within two points of Seattle (40-23-2-4, 86) for fourth place in the Western Conference with three games left in the Western Hockey League’s regular season. The conference’s No. 4 team will have home-ice advantage during the first round of the playoffs.

Third, Chiefs 20-year-old Mike Aviani showed more signs that he’s out of his recent slump. Aviani scored twice, including his seventh winner of the season with 5 minutes, 26 seconds left, to give him 37 goals for the season and five in the last four games.

The victory also gave Spokane a three-point edge over sixth-place Everett, which visits the Arena tonight. Everett is riding a six-game winning streak, but the Silvertips have lost 18 straight at the Arena.

Dominic Zwerger, Adam Helewka, Hudson Elynuik and Connor Chartier also scored for Spokane. Elynuik’s power-play goal late in the second tied the game at 4.