KENNEWICK, Wash. — Brenden Kichton had the game-winning goal and an assist as the Spokane Chiefs beat Tri-City 3-1 to eliminate the Americans from the Western Hockey League playoffs Saturday.
Spokane won the first-round series 4-1, with its only loss coming in overtime in Game 3. The Chiefs will have to wait for the results of the other Western Conference series to find out who their next opponent will be.
“The 4-1 victory was huge. It gives you a chance to rest,” Spokane coach Don Nachbaur said. “We didn’t want to go back home and play two more games. The fifth game to seal the deal is tough and they made it hard.”
Mike Aviani and Alessio Bertaggia also scored for Spokane, which also got 36 saves from Eric Williams.
Malte Stromwall scored the Americans’ lone goal, while Troy Trombley had 31 saves. Trombley also stopped a Bertaggia penalty shot at 9:29 of the third period.
It’s the first time the Americans have ended the playoffs with a first-round loss since 2007.
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Royals hold off elimination against Blazers
THE CANADIAN PRESS
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Defenceman Brett Cote broke a 2-2 tie in the third period and the Victoria Royals went on to beat the Kamloops Blazers 4-2 in a Western Hockey League playoff game on Saturday night.
The Blazers hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. Game 6 will be played in Victoria on Monday. If a seventh game is needed, it would be played in Kamloops on Wednesday.
The Royals got 47 saves from goaltender Patrik Polivka, while Cote scored twice. Jamie Crooks and Logan Nelson, the latter into an empty net, also scored for Victoria.
Chase Souto and Colin Smith replied for Kamloops.
Kamloops goaltender Cole Cheveldave stopped 21 shots.
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Everett to stave off elimination against Portland
THE CANADIAN PRESS
PORTLAND, Ore. — Austin Lotz made 43 saves as the Everett Silvertips staved off elimination Saturday with a 3-2 victory over the top-seeded Portland Winterhawks in Game 5 of a first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.
The Winterhawks, who finished the regular season with a league-high 117 points and 60 more than the Silvertips, still lead the series 3-2.
Joshua Winquist and Logan Aasman scored in the first period for the Silvertips, while Reid Petryk cashed in on a breakaway in the second period as Everett built a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes.
Portland tried to rally in the third period, getting power-play goals from Brendan Leipsic and Derrick Pouliot to pull within one goal with 1:25 left in regulation.
Ty Rattie had a prime chance to tie the game for the Winterhawks in the waning seconds, but the puck was cleared off the goal-line by the Silvertips before it went in the net.
Portland goaltender Mac Carruth faced just 18 shots, stopping 15.
The Winterhawks went 2 for 5 on the power play, and are 11 for 28 in the series with the man advantage. Everett went scoreless on two opportunities.
The Silvertips have won two of three games played in Portland, while the Winterhawks took Games 3 and 4 in Everett, Wash., by a combined 18-7 margin. Game 6 takes place in Everett on Monday.
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Rockets stay alive in series
THE CANADIAN PRESS
KELOWNA, B.C. — The Kelowna Rockets held off a late rally and stayed alive in their Western Hockey League playoff series with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday.
Dylen McKinlay, Tyson Baillie, Colton Heffley and Myles Bell each scored for the Rockets, which still trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Alexander Delnov, Seth Swenson and Robert Lipsbergs scored for Seattle.
The Thunderbirds trailed 4-1 in the third, but goals by Swenson and Lipsbergs in the final minute of the game nearly completed the comeback.
Jordon Cooke made 14 saves in net for Kelowna, while Brandon Glover stopped 23 shots for Seattle.
