Spokane falls to Vancouver
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Right wing Michael Grabner continued his late-season scoring binge with his 15th goal in 18 games.
So much for the highlights.
Spencer Machacek scored two goals and Gilbert Brule scored one and assisted on another to lead the Vancouver Giants to a 4-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Spokane Chiefs Tuesday night.
The loss was Spokane’s 14th straight on the road – since winning at Prince George on Dec. 20 – and eighth straight overall, the longest losing skid of the season.
With Vancouver leading 2-1, Grabner stole a puck in the offensive end and scored unassisted between the legs of Giants goalie Tyson Sexsmith.
Spokane (21-34-5-3, 50 points) trails fourth-place Portland (26-30-3-4, 59) by nine points with nine games to play for the final WHL U.S. Division playoff berth. Portland beat division-leading Everett 2-1 Tuesday night.
B.C. Division-leading Vancouver improved to 43-16-0-6.
Giants 4, Chiefs 1
| Spokane | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Vancouver | 0 | 1 | 3 | — | 4 |
First Period—No scoring. Second Period—1, Van, Machacek (Scharff), 1:37. Third Period—2, Van, Brule (Albers, Reese), 9:06 (pp). 3, Spo, Grabner, 14:58. 4, Van, Machacek (Reese, Festerling), 17:28. 5, Van, Rutherford (Brule, Franson), 18:52.
Power-play Opp.—Spokane 0 of 3; Vancouver 1 of 7. Saves—Spokane, Stehr 6-10-14—30. Vancouver, Sexsmith 7-6-4—17. A—8,754.