Spokane drops home opener to Kamloops in playoff rematch

The Spokane Chiefs opened their home schedule Saturday night against the team that ended their postseason five months ago, and for Spokane, the results were no better than they were in that elimination game.

A more experienced Kamloops Blazers team forced the Chiefs into a number of miscues and spoiled their home opener 4-2 in front of an announced crowd of 7,572.

It was the first of five straight home games for the Chiefs (2-1-0-0), who won their first two games of the season, both in Victoria, by scores of 7-5 and 5-4.

But offensive opportunities were harder to come by against the Blazers (1-1-0-0), who have six NHL draft picks on their roster. That doesn’t include Blazers captain Logan Stankoven, who scored 45 goals for them last season. He remains in training camp with the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

It hardly seemed the Blazers missed him. They scored twice in the first period: Connor Levis from the right circle on a power play, followed 11 minutes later by Matthew Seminoff’s goal in front of Chiefs goalie Mason Beaupit.

The Chiefs drew a 4-minute power play later in the second period on a high-sticking call against Seminoff, but instead of capitalizing, it was the Blazers who scored, on a puck that was misplayed deep in the Chiefs’ zone by Beaupit and defenseman Graham Sward – Spokane’s two NHL draft selections. Caedan Bankier’s shot into an open net made it 3-0 Blazers just 3 minutes into the period.

Spokane played nearly 20 minutes of game time without top-line winger Ty Cheveldayoff, who was sent off for a 10-minute misconduct midway through the first period after he was called for instigating and then participating in a fight with Kyle Masters. Spokane was already playing with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

The Chiefs finally scored with 14:14 left in the third, when Grady Lane deflected Raegan Wiles’ shot from the point past goalie Dylan Ernst. That cut the Blazers’ lead to 4-1.

The Chiefs resume their homestand Friday against the Edmonton Oil Kings, who last played in Spokane on Oct. 6, 2018.