Messier's goal helps Ams shut door on Chiefs
SPOKANE - Jordan Messier scored on a rebound with 12:23 remaining to give the U.S. Division-leading Tri-City Americans a 4-3 win over the Spokane Chiefs in Western Hockey League action in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,528 at the Spokane Arena on Friday night.
Mitch Wahl had two assists for Spokane (43-22-3-2 91 points), which plays the Americans in Kennewick, Wash., tonight at 7.
"It's very disappointing," Wahl said. "We had some guys that didn't show up tonight and that hurt us. It was a big game for us and we just didn't respond."
Former Coeur d'Alene Laker Tyler Johnson evened the score at 3 on a power-play goal early in the third period for Spokane, which falls four points behind Everett for second place in the division, following its 3-1 win over last-place Seattle on Friday.
The Chiefs finish the regular season Sunday night against Everett in Spokane.