Mathieu Tibbet scored twice and added an assist to help lead the Chiefs to a 5-2 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters in Trail Sunday afternoon.
The win was the 21st of the season for the Chiefs who remain in fourth place in the Interior Conference. Chilliwack is one point back of the third place Prince Spruce Kings and increased their lead over the fifth place Vernon Vipers to five points.
Chiefs goaltender Mitch Gillam bounced back in a big way after getting pulled eight minutes into the previous night’s 5-1 loss in Merritt. Gillam finished with 33 saves, many of them on good scoring chances early in the game to keep Trail off the scoreboard.
Mathieu Tibbet and Trevor Hills scored goals 71 seconds apart in the first period to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes. Hills goal was scored on the power play. It was the first time in seven games the Chiefs held a lead of more than one goal.
Shots on goal after twenty minutes favored the Smoke Eaters 12-10.
No goals in the second period but the Chiefs may have benefitted from an early whistle by the referee late in the period. After a scramble in front of the net the whistle blew just before Trail tucked the puck in the net. The goal was immediately waved off.
The Chiefs increased their lead to 3-0 three minutes in to the third period when Tibbet struck for his second goal of the game.
Chilliwack then ran into some penalty trouble. With David Thompson and Shay Laurent off serving penalties, the Smoke Eaters needed just three seconds of five on three time to pull within two. Brandon Egli took the faceoff win from Luke Bertolucci and quickly snapped the puck behind Gillam.
Two minutes later with the Chiefs down a skater after a two many men on the ice penalty, Tanner Clarkson potted his ninth of the season to pull the Smokies within one.
Less than two minutes later the Chiefs got goals thirty seconds apart from Spencer Graboski and Garrett Forster to round out the scoring and make the final 5-2.
Final shots on goal favored the home team 35-31.
Next action for the Chiefs is a pair of games in Prince George Thursday and Friday. Chilliwack returns to home ice on Sunday January 22nd when they host the Westside Warriors. Game time is 5pm.
