Emmitt Finnie scored in his return to the lineup but the Kamloops Blazers came up just short, in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday.

Blazers rookie Andrew Thomson opened the scoring late in the first period at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

Spokane’s Cameron Parr and the Blazers’ Emmitt Finnie traded second period goals to leave the Blazers up 4-1 after 40 minutes of hockey.

The Chiefs’ forced overtime after Conner Roulette scored a shorthanded goal at 13:43 of the third period. That goal proved to be costly for the Blazers who played on their heels for most of the third period.

Neither team was able to cash in during a back-and-forth overtime, before Chase Bertholet scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Chiefs the extra point.

The Blazers’ Dylan Ernst turned aside 32 of 34 shots he faced in regulation and overtime in a losing effort. Dawson Cowan turned aside 32 of 34 shots as well to earn the win.

The shootout loss drops the Blazers to 5-12-2-2 on the season, while the Chiefs improve to 8-8-2. Both teams remain in the basement of the B.C. and U.S. Division respectively.

Next up for the Blazers is a three-game homestand at Sandman Centre. It’ll begin when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday, Nov. 22.