CHIEFS, WHL

The Chiefs were cruising along, up a couple of goals in the third period and ready to look forward to tonight's matchup with the team directly above them in the U.S. Division standings.

Then the bottom fell out. And they lost, 4-3, to Calgary in a shootout. When tonight's opponent (7; Comcast channel 12; 790-AM), Tri-City, defeated Everett, the Chiefs dropped to five points behind the Americans.

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• The Americans' win over the Silvertips was a pretty heated affair, one Tri-City coach Don Nachbaur called a "playoff-type game" in the Tri-City Herald.

I didn't know playoff games ended in a brawl. Actually, they don't, because players are usually smart enough during the playoffs to skate away from altercations, not wanting to risk a season-ending suspension or injury.

• Seattle picked up a point on Spokane with a 3-0 victory in Portland.

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