KENNEWICK, Wash. - Brendan Shinnimin broke a 2-2 tie with less than five minutes to play as the Tri-City Americans rallied past the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 in Game 7 to win their WHL Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday night in front of 4,679 at the Toyota Center.

Spokane opened the scoring in the first period as Dominik Uher scored his fifth goal of the playoffs on a tip of a Blake Gal shot to take a 1-0 lead after one.

Brian Williams scored 5:03 into the second period to tie the game for Tri-City.

Spokane regained the lead as Mitch Holmberg scored his team-leading 11th goal of the playoffs off Mike Aviani's 13th assist to go up 2-1 early in the third period.

Tri-City tied it again on a goal by Malte Stromwall at the 14:38 mark of the third. Schinniman's goal 1:04 later gave Tri-City its second series win over the Chiefs in six playoff meetings.

Eric Williams had 45 saves for Spokane, which was outshot 48-19.

Tri-City faces Portland in the Western Conference final starting Friday at Kennewick.