SPOKANE - After rallying from four goals down in the final 12 minutes of regulation to force overtime, the Spokane Chiefs went on to win the shootout 2-1 to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 7-6 in Western Hockey League play Friday night before 5,626 at the Spokane Arena.

It was the biggest third-period comeback for Spokane in at least a decade.

Mitch Holmberg scored the first three goals of the comeback for the Chiefs (23-8-1-0, 47 points), and Mike Aviani scored on a rebound of his own shot with 55 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 6.

Holmberg also scored in the shootout, and Brenden Kichton scored the game winner in the third round of the shootout.

Garret Hughson came on in goal in the third period for Spokane, after Eric Williams was pulled after allowing five goals in two periods.

Spokane, 8-1-1 in its last 10 games, remains six points behind Portland for first place in the U.S. Division.

Spokane, now 13-2 on home ice, hosts Tri-City tonight at 7 in the annual "Teddy Bear Toss" game.