KENNEWICK -- The Spokane Chiefs celebrated a delayed New Year's Eve on Monday night with a move into first place in the Western Conference.
Matt Marantz and Levko Koper each had a goal and an assist, and Mac Engel finished with 28 saves in a 5-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans before an announced crowd of 5,691 at Toyota Center.
"We have a goal in mind, and the kids haven't taken a back seat to any one all year," said Spokane coach Don Nachbaur. "They are committed to what we are doing."
The annual holiday matchup between the two U.S. Division rivals, in its 21st year, was interrupted at 2:35 of the second period on Dec. 31, as a hole in the ice in front of the Tri-City team bench made the playing surface unsafe.
Tri-City (36-17-2-2, 76 points), which lost two in a row at home for the first time this season, would have clinched a playoff spot with a win.
"I thought we had plenty of chances in the first half of the game to get a handful (of goals)," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller. "Right now, we just aren't getting those chance to go our way. We have to stay positive. We are an outstanding team, and rough patches come along. We'll be back."
The Chiefs (38-16-4-2, 82 points) have won four in a row -- the last two coming at Toyota Center.
"It doesn't taste good," Tri-City captain Kruise Reddick said of the back-to-back losses to the Chiefs. "We can't expect things to come to us, we have to work for them. You have to grit your teeth and work harder. We just have to forget about this and come out back (today against Everett) and get two points."
Spokane held a 2-1 lead after the first, and after 15 minutes of stingy defense and hard hits to open the second, Brenden Kichton extended the Chiefs' lead to 3-1 with a blast from the high slot.
The Americans had a couple of missed opportunities in the period and failed to capitalize on two power plays.
"I thought the third goal for them was clearly a turning point," Hiller said. "Schmitty (Tyler Schmidt) had just missed a power play opportunity at the other end -- that hurt."
The Chiefs padded their lead in the third with goals by Kenton Miller and Levko Koper, but missed on a penalty shot by Brady Brassart at 17:51 as Tri-City goalie Chris Driedger made a left pad save.
In a physical first period, the Chiefs scored first as Matt Marantz beat Driedger from the mid-slot at 9:08.
Tri-City evened things up at 13:25 as Drydn Dow held the puck in at the top of the right circle. Dow sent the puck to the net, where Brendan Shinnimin sent it out front to Connor Rankin, who banged it home.
Chiefs enforcer Darren Kramer gave Spokane a 2-1 lead at 15:44, pulling the puck around the top of the crease and backhanding it into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
The Americans, who have been outscored 11-3 in their last two games, have had very little production out of their top line of Shinnimin, Adam Hughesman and Carter Ashton. The trio has accounted for just two goals in the last four games, but it was down right lethal against Everett the last time they played, scoring four goals.
"We have high expectations of them, but it's not going to click every night" Hiller said. "They are great players, they will be back."
* Annie Fowler: 509-582-1574; afowler@tricityherald.com
