Ams score early, take series lead over Chiefs

SPOKANE — The Tri-City Americans scored two goals in the first period and goaltender Ty Rimmer made the lead hold up with 24 saves to defeat the Spokane Chiefs 2-1 in Game 3 of their best-of-7 WHL Western Conference semifinal series in front of 4,742 at the Spokane Arena on Wednesday night.

Tri-City takes a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 on Friday night at 7:05 at the Spokane Arena.

Tri-City opened the scoring on a rebound goal by Nate McMaster 9:20 into the first. Tri-City’s Brendan Shinniman scored his fifth goal of the playoffs on a backhander later in the period.

After a scoreless second period, Spokane’s Steve Kuhn put back a rebound of a Reid Gow shot for his third goal of the playoffs to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Spokane had chances late, but was unable to get the puck past Rimmer, who helped the Americans pick up their second straight 2-1 win in the series.

Eric Williams had 27 saves for Spokane, which was outshot 29-25.