Chiefs forge 2nd-place tie with rout of Portland

Sometimes hockey fans – and members of the media who cover a team – worry so much.

But not Spokane Chiefs coach Bill Peters.

His Spokane Chiefs scored three first-period power-play goals, two by Judd Blackwater, and downed the Portland Thunderbirds 6-0 in Western Hockey League play Saturday night at the Arena.

The win, in runaway fashion, allowed Spokane to move into a tie with idle Tri-City for second place in the U.S. Division of the Western Conference.

Spokane (16-11-3-1) also got goals from Michael Grabner and David Rutherford in the first period. Blackwater added two assists in the first period, for four total points, and defenseman Dan Mercer added three assists. Chris Bruton added a second-period goal for Spokane.

Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 25 saves in net for Spokane to post his first WHL shutout and the first for the Chiefs this season, a night after being pulled in the first period after giving up two goals.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Tokarski. “It’s nice to bounce back from last night. The guys played great in front of me, I’ve got to give them all the credit. I saw most of the shots and when I didn’t, or when I made the first save, they were there to help me.”

The win came despite worries from fans and media members who have recently wondered:

“Would the team’s chemistry be spoiled when leaders such as Bruton and Grabner returned from injuries?

“What if the team doesn’t score on Teddy Bear Night (as has been the case in recent history)?

In both cases, Peters said he wasn’t concerned and all fears were eased early against the last-place Winter Hawks. Teddy Bears flew onto the ice less than 2 minutes into a game that was well decided in the first period.

Portland (9-19-0-1) goalie Chris Ward struggled in net, allowing four goals on the first eight shots. He finished with 22 saves.

Blackwater had a career night, all of the points coming in the first 20 minutes. It was an effort that surprised even him.

“I don’t know what happened,” said Blackwater. “I guess my stick was just in the right place at the right time.”

It was his perfect setup pass to Rutherford from behind the net that opened the scoring at the 1:47 mark and caused 3,032 teddy bears to come falling to the ice. The team’s promotion benefits the children of The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund for needy area families.

Blackwater followed with power-play goals at the 7:16 and 11:35 marks. Both goals came on deflections of shots from the point by his defensemen, one from each side.

The first was put on net by Mercer, who had a career-high night, the second by Evan Haw.

Spokane wasn’t done, however. Michael Grabner had his second goal in as many nights at the 16:35 mark of the first, putting a difficult backhanded shot in from the right circle on a pass from Rutherford to make it 4-0 after one period.

Rutherford had his second straight game with two goals and has a team-high 19 on the season. He opened and closed out the scoring on this night. His final score came at the 10:38 mark of the third period when he put in a blast from the right circle.

“We’re playing really good hockey,” said Rutherford. “We knew whatever happened last night, it was over. We’re trying not to live in the past.”

That’s the message Peters is sending his team: It isn’t holiday yet. Early curfew Saturday night. Get back and work hard the next three days, then be ready Wednesday for division-leading Everett.

“It’s great. It’s a team that’s ahead of us and the only way to reel them in is to beat them in a head-to-head matchup,” said Peters, whose team has handed the Silvertips two losses already this season. “They’re a good team, but so are we. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Chiefs 6, Winter Hawks 0

First Period—1, Spo, Rutherford 18 (Wahl, Blackwater) 1:47; 2, Spo, Blackwater 4 (Grabner, Haw) 7:16 (pp); 3, Spo, Blackwater 5 (Haw, Mercer) 11:35 (pp); Spo, Grabner 11 (Rutherford, Blackwater) 16:35 (pp). Second Period—5, Spo, Bruton 6 (Compton, Zimmerman) 18:42. Third Period—6, Spo, Rutherford 19 (Bruton, Mercer) 10:38.

Power-play Opp.—Portland 0 of 5; Spokane 3 of 8. Saves—Portland, Ward 22. Spokane, Tokarski 25. A—6,612.