SPOKANE - Mike Aviani had a goal and two assists as the Spokane Chiefs downed the Vancouver Giants 3-1 on Sunday night before 5,521 at the Spokane Arena to win their Western Hockey League Western Conference first-round series four games to two.

The fifth-seeded Chiefs, who won the last four games after dropping the first two in Vancouver, advance to play the top-seeded Tri-City Americans in the conference semifinals. Games 1 and 2 are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Kennewick, Wash.

Games 3 and 4 will be at the Spokane Arena, with dates and times to be announced today.

Aviani's backhander on a partial breakaway 15:17 into the game tied it at 1. Corbin Baldwin's slap shot from just inside the blue line with 3 seconds left in the second period gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. It marked the first time the lead had changed hands in a game in the series, and Spokane's win marked the first time the team that scored first had lost the game.

Eric Williams, who took over in net late in the second game, finished with 26 saves for his fourth straight win of the series.