The Spokane Chiefs defeated host Everett 4-1 on Wednesday night to close within one point of the Tri-City Americans for fourth place in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference. Spokane's gap on fifth-place Victoria grew to seven points, so it's looking more and more as if the Chiefs and the Americans will meet in the first round of the WHL playoffs. If so, finishing in fourth place means claiming home-ice advantage. Spokane and Tri-City meet two more times during the regular season, March 15 in Spokane and March 16 in Kennewick. Read story