Dawson Cowan earns league-leading third shutout, Spokane Chiefs blank Tri-City 4-0

KENNEWICK –The Spokane Chiefs blew a three-goal third-period lead on Saturday in a road loss at Wenatchee. They made no such mistake in their annual New Year’s Eve rivalry game against the Tri-City Americans.

The Chiefs built a four-goal lead through two periods and cruised past the Americans 4-0 in a Western Hockey League game at Toyota Town Center on Tuesday.

Dawson Cowan made eight of his 33 saves in the third period to secure his WHL-leading 19th win and third shutout of the season.

Chase Harrington backhanded a rebound of a Mathis Preston shot past Americans goalie Lukas Matecha at 5:07 into the first period for his 10th of the season and the early lead.

The Chiefs (24-12-0-0) made it 2-0 with 7:31 left in the first when Sam Oremba picked up a loose puck on the move into the left wing circle and snapped a wrister top shelf on Matecha for his 10th goal of the campaign.

Rasmus Ekström scored his 17th goal of the season with 7:04 left in the second period, taking a pass from Smyth Rebman out of the corner and putting a snap shot past Matecha.

Spokane added to its lead with 3:25 left in the period. Shea Van Olm collected a puck in the defensive zone, maneuvered up ice and dished to Hayden Paupanekis on his left wing, who beat Matecha with a wrist shot for his second goal in as many games and his ninth of the season.

The Americans fell to 19-11-2-1.