Chiefs roll past rival Americans

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Former Coeur d'Alene Laker Tyler Johnson scored twice and added an assist as the Spokane Chiefs clinched a playoff berth with a 6-2 win over the Tri-City Americans in Western Hockey League action in front of 5,829 at the Toyota Center on Saturday night.

Blake Gal gave the Chiefs (37-16-4-2, 80 points) a 1-0 lead at 6:18 of the first period with his 18th goal of the season.

With the score 1-alll midway through the second, the Chiefs received a 5-minute power play after Tri-City's Sam Grist received a game misconduct with a major boarding penalty on Spokane forward Steve Kuhn. Spokane took a 4-1 lead with the man advantage on power-play goals from Johnson, Brenden Kichton and Corbin Baldwin.

Kichton tallied his second goal of the game late in the second period and Johnson added his league-leading 45th goal of the season midway through the third.

Spokane, which trails U.S. Division-leader Portland by one point, and Tri-City play a makeup game from Dec. 31 on Monday night at the Toyota Center.