Chiefs Update: Winner Take All

Man, it was so close.

After trailing their second round series two games to none, the Spokane Chiefs returned home with an 0-4 record against the Vancouver Giants (regular season included) and had been outscored 16-4 in those games.

But with their backs against the wall, the Chiefs responded with 5-2 and 1-0 victories in Games 3 and 4, the latter thanks to a 41-save shutout by Dustin Tokarski, to turn the best-of-seven series into a best of three.

In Game 5, which started Friday night and ended Saturday morning, Spokane rallied from a 2-1 deficit after the first period to tie it early in the third and send it to overtime. Then double overtime. Then triple overtime. Then quadruple overtime.

That's when a strong push by the Giants failed and resulted in a breakaway for Chiefs fourth-liner Blake Gal. With Vancouver defenseman Mike Berube in pursuit, Gal tried putting a move on Tyson Sexsmith, but lost the puck in the crease. Berube, however, in an attempt to gain control of the puck, inadvertently pushed it into the back of the net, giving the Chiefs an improbable 3-2 win and a 3-2 series lead, heading home with a chance to finish off the Western Conference's top team.

Game 6 would be the second consecutive game in which 60 minutes didn't decide a winner. For that matter, neither did 80. The Chiefs led 1-0 entering the final stanza but weren't able to hang on to the lead as the Giants scored twice in the third to take a 2-1 lead. Spokane sent the Arena into a frenzy with 1:24 left in regulation, scoring on a Stefan Ulmer shot to tie the game, but the Giants staved off elimination, lighting the lamp early in the second overtime to win 3-2 and send the series back to Vancouver for a winner-take-all Game 7. The Chiefs' style of play resulted in several chances to close the game out, but defenseman Trevor Glass, arguably the best Spokane skater of the series, strayed from the system and attempted to push the puck into the offensive zone from center ice. When the puck eluded him and ended up on the stick of Vancouver's James Wright, the Chiefs were left on the wrong end of a 2 on 1. Wright found Evander Kane, who put a great move on Tokarski for an easy goal.

Now, it's Spokane who has to find a way to rebound from a tough multiple-overtime loss at home and go on the road to get the job done. The first three games of this series were all decided by at least two goals. The last three have all been one-goal affairs.

Game 7 should be another one-goal game, with both teams playing for their season. The 2007 Memorial Cup Champions have home ice, but the 2008 Memorial Cup Champions won a Game 7 on the road last season en route to their title. Vancouver has the better scorers but Spokane has the better defensemen and goaltender. The Giants have the momentum, but the Chiefs have won three of four.

Tuesday night, the winner plays for the chance to face the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. And if the first six games are any indication, this series will wrap up with another great nailbiter. Hopefully, Game 7 goes a few more overtimes. And the Chiefs advance.