Malcolm Gould scored two power play goals and Mitch Gillam made 34 saves to lead the Chiefs to a 4-3 win over the visiting Vernon Vipers Thursday night.
The win was the fifth in a row for the Chiefs who improve to 11-6-0-1 on the season and 8-2-0-0 on home ice.
The Chiefs were on their heels to start the game. Vernon carried the play and had a 4-0 lead on the shot clock three minutes in when a Trevor Hills led rush led to the Chiefs earning a 1-0 lead. After defenseman Tyler Miller broke up a play just inside the Chiefs blueline Hills carried the puck down the left side deep into Vipers territory before hitting Josh Hansen with a centering pass. Hansen wasted no time sweeping his fifth goal of the season behind Vernon starting goaltender Kirby Halcrow.
The Vipers tied things at one with 3:01 left in the opening period. Chiefs goaltender Mitch Gillam made a nice save on a deflection in front but his momentum carried him away from the left post. Marcus Basara took advantage by banking the puck in off of Gillam from behind the net.
Vernon came within inches of taking the lead with 47 seconds left in the period when Geoff Crisfield’s point shot clanged off the crossbar and out of play.
Malcolm Gould’s power play goal at 4:27 of the second period gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. Halcrow made the initial save on Mike Berry's point shot, but was unable to get back in position for the rebound. Gould made no mistake putting the puck into the wide open net. David Bondra also earned an assist.
The Vipers narrowly avoided going down by two when Trevor Hills’ snap shot on a three on one rush hit the post with eight minutes left in the second.
Vernon knotted the game at two when Darren Nowick finished off a two on one rush with just over four minutes left in the period.
Moments later Halcrow kept the game tied at two when he stopped Bondra on a breakaway.
The Chiefs needed just 37 seconds of the third period to take their third lead of the game. David Bondra finished off a three way passing play with a shot over the right shoulder of Halcrow from 20 feet out. Derek Huisman and Gould earned the assists.
Gould’s second power play goal of the game gave the Chiefs their first two goal lead of the game with 8:28 to go in the third.
John Knisley’s goal with 3:01 left rounded out the scoring.
Final shots favored the Vipers 37-25.
Chilliwack was 2/5 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill.
Chilliwack’s next game is Friday night in Merritt. The Chiefs return to home ice Saturday when they host the Westside Warriors.
