Chiefs blank Thunderbirds, 3-0 | WHL

Published 10:44 am Monday, December 28, 2015

The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-0 in a Western Hockey League game Sunday night at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane.

Seattle is 19-12-3-0 and in first place in the U.S. Division, one point ahead of the Chiefs and Everett Silvertips.

The T-Birds and Chiefs meet again Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.

Spokane (18-3-3-1) took a 1-0 lead at 18:55 of the first period on a goal from Dominic Zwerger. Jason Fram and Jacob Cardiff had the assists.

Spokane outshot Seattle 9-5 in the first period.

Curtis Miske scored a power-play goal from the slot at 13:07 of the second period to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Keanu Yamamoto and Zwerger had the assists.

Both teams had seven shots on goal in the second period.

Hudson Elynuik scored an empty-net goal at 18:48 of the to clinch the win for the Chiefs. Kailer Yamamoto and Zwerger had the assists.

The Chiefs outshot Seattle 12-7 in the third period and 28-19 in the game.

Seattle goalie Logan Flodell had 25 saves and his record is now 12-8-3-0.

Spokane goalie Tyson Verhelst made 19 saves to get the shutout. His record is now 15-8-0-1.

Single-game tickets for the 2015-16 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Zwerger 12 (Fram, Cardiff), 18:55. Penalties – Sozanksi, Spo (hooking), 4:23. Smith, Sea (interference), 10:17.

Second period – 2, Spokane, Miske 8 (Ke. Yamamoto, Zwerger), 13:07 (pp). Penalties – Flodell, Sea (tripping-served by Osterman), 11:12. Fiala, Spo (interference), 15:34.

Third period – 3, Spokane, Elynuik 7(Ka. Yamamoto), 18:48 (en). Penalties – Ottenbreit, Sea (checking to the head), 5:28. Holowko, Sea (roughing), 13:22.

Shots on goal – Seattle 5-7-7 19, Spokane 9-7-12 28. Goalies – Seattle, Flodell 27 shots-25 saves (12-8-3-0); Spokane, Verhelst 19-19 (15-8-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Spokane 1-4. A – 6,634. Referees – Kevin Bennett, Bryan Bourdon. Linesmen – Jeremi Del Campo, Anthony Guzzo.