7,565 seconds

That was how long game five lasted. To break it down, a hockey game that doesn't go into overtime is 3,600 seconds. This game was obviously longer. Much, much longer. Regulation was not long enough. Neither were three full overtime periods. This game was settled in the fourth overtime. The game did not end on Friday. It ended Saturday morning around 12:40 a.m. and around three and a half hours after the Tri-City vs. Kelowna game ended. It turned out to be the longest game in the Spokane Chiefs history and the second longest game in the history of the WHL. I don't think the word 'epic' does the game enough justice.

Vancouver got out early with a 1-0 lead. Tyler Johnson countered on the power play to tie it at 1. Vancouver scored again to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. No one scored in the second period. Drayson Bowman scored in the third to tie the game at 2. Then the overtime periods game. No one scored in the first OT. Scoreless in the second OT. Ditto in the third OT. By now it was after midnight and I was starting to feel the effects of the game, and I was sitting on the couch. Someone had to end this up and fast. I was looking to the usual suspects: Bowman, Wahl, Johnson, Koper, Roman, Calla. One of them had to come through, right? Nope. The game was ended with the Chiefs rookie line. Stefan Ulmer sent the puck up to 16 year old Blake Gal who went the rest of the way and put the puck past Sexsmith to give the Chiefs a 3-2 victory on Friday....er.....Saturday morning. I wasn't even sure that it happened right away. I was already fighting sleep. But sure enough, Chiefs win!

Once again Tokarski was absolutely solid in net, stopping 62 shots on net and was rock solid in the overtime periods. What a job he has done in the playoffs. In the last two games alone he has stopped 103 shots while letting in only two goals, and both of those goals came on the power play. Golden goalie? Absolutely! I think he needs a new nickname. He has played a few levels above golden lately. Anyone out there still think he's not the best goalie in the WHL? I submit that there is not!

Then there's rookie Blake Gal. This kid is going to be something special. He has had a terrific rookie season. The line he shares with Kenton Miller and Steve Kuhn (also both rookies) has gotten better as the season has moved on. This line is going to be spectacular in the coming years and I expect great things from them in future. Good on them!

I also have to put in a good word for the defense. The Chiefs have played this series with just five defensemen. These guys have really stepped up their game and played great. Jared Spurgeon, Trevor Glass, Stefan Ulmer, Mike Reddington, and Bret Bartman should all be commended for their contributions in this series. They are a big reason why the Chiefs can hang with, and beat, anybody in the WHL.

With the win the Chiefs now have a 3-2 series and can wrap the series up with a win on Easter Sunday. Hopefully there's a good turnout. I would love it if the arena was full and ridiculously crazy!

Go Chiefs!