Chiefs lose in shootout

KENNEWICK – A golden opportunity slipped away from the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday night.

Ian McDonald scored the only goal in a shootout and the Tri-City Americans pulled out a 3-2 Western Hockey League victory over the Chiefs at Tri-Cities Coliseum.

The last-place Chiefs (18-25-4-2) missed a chance to gain ground on the fourth-place Americans (20-21-3-3) and third-place Portland.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead at the 10:19 mark of the first period on Adam Hobson’s 18th goal of the season. Matthew McCue and Michael Grabner each picked up assists on the score.

Ian McDonald’s 26th goal of the season pulled Tri-City even at 14:05 of the second period and Keith Voytechek’s power-play score 4:22 later put the Americans up 2-1.

The Chiefs battled back in the third period, knotting the score on Grab-ner’s 16th goal of the season with assists from Sean Zimmerman and Hobson.

After a scoreless overtime period the Chiefs came up empty in the shoot-out.

Derek Ryan, Grabner and Hobson all failed to find the net.

McDonald sent a shot past Spokane goaltender Kevin Armstrong to give the Americans the victory.

Armstrong stopped 37 of 39 shots on goal on the night, while Tri-City goalie Carey Price turned away 35 of 37 shots.

Spokane failed to capitalize on all five of its power-play opportunities..