Spokane Chiefs At Portland

Time: Tonight in Memorial Coliseum at 6.

Records: Spokane (26-35-3), Portland (20-38-5).

Radio: KGA-AM (1510) 5 p.m. Chiefs Talk with Craig West, 5:20 Mike Babcock Show, 5:50 pre-game.

Key players

Spokane: C Jason Podollan (41 goals, 33 assists), GK Jarrod Daniel (3.65 goals-against), D Sean Gillam (16, 39), RW John Cirjak (18, 31), LW Greg Leeb (18, 31), RW Jeremy Stasiuk (24, 24), LW Joe Cardarelli (23, 21) LW Kevin Sawyer (6, 6), C Darren Sinclair (14, 17).

Portland: RW Layne Roland (20 goals, 22 assists), GK Scott Langkow (4.10 goals-against), LW Richard Zednik (28, 45), C Todd Robinson (19, 46), C Colin Forbes (18, 28), D Nolan Pratt (5, 31), C Dave Scatchard (17, 28), RW Brad Isbister (16, 19), D Brad Symes (7, 14).

At a glance

With the season winding down - the Chiefs have only four home game before the playoffs - the Hawks and Spokane find themselves about where Portland coach Brent Peterson said they’d be last summer. Spokane is headed for fifth in the WHL West, Portland for sixth - both good enough for the first round of the playoffs.

Chiefs are the surprise team of the season’s second half. Coach Mike Babcock has maintained all season that he wanted his team peaking in February and March, and that’s what his club is doing. As for Peterson, the Winter Hawks coach says, “I haven’t fallen off any bridges. That’s the positive.” In his last trip to Spokane a month ago he commented, “We have some good kids who aren’t ready to play at the level of the Darcy Tuckers and Daymond Langkows (top scorers in the West). It’s a tough go for us every night.” Zednik is a coming star, a strong skater who creates opportunity without a lot of help.