Chiefs head into WHL playoffs as No. 4 seed

SPOKANE — One night after denying Tri-City a chance to win the U.S. Division, the Spokane Chiefs helped the Americans win it anyway.

Mitch Holmberg scored the game-winner from the left circle midway through the third period as the Chiefs beat the Everett Silvertips 3-2 in the Western Hockey League regular season finale Sunday night before 9,204 at the Spokane Arena.

Spokane (45-22-3-2, 95 points), which finished third in the U.S. Division, denied Everett a chance to win the division. Everett and Tri-City each finished with 97 points, but Tri-City won the division via a tiebreaker, with 47 wins to 46 for Everett.

Spokane had already clinched the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed to the WHL playoffs, where the Chiefs will face No. 5 Portland in the first round. Though Spokane owns the home-ice advantage, the first two games will be played at the Rose Garden in Portland, as the Spokane Arena is being used this weekend for the first and second rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Friday and Sunday.

Spokane and Portland play Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Rose Garden. The Chiefs host the next three games at the Arena on March 24, 26 and 27. Game 6 would be March 29 in Portland, and Game 7 would be March 31 in Spokane.