Kelowna powers past Chiefs early

| February 27, 2017 12:00 AM

SPOKANE — The Kelowna Rockets scored the first seven goals of the game and went on to beat the Spokane Chiefs 9-5 in Western Hockey League play Sunday night before 4,927 at the Spokane Arena.

Kelowna led 5-0 after the first period — the most goals Spokane has allowed in a period this season — and went up 7-0 after a pair of power-play goals early in the second.

Keanu Yamamoto and Hudson Elynuik scored power-play goals to pull the Chiefs within 7-2 after two.

Trailing 8-2, Spokane scored three straight goals — two in a span of 14 seconds — to close within 8-5.

The nine goals were the most surrendered by the Chiefs this season.

Spokane remains nine points back of Portland for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with 11 games remaining. The Chiefs last missed the playoffs in the 2005-06 season.

Spokane begins a four-game road trip Wednesday at Everett.