Chiefs stretching for stretch run
It's the stretch run in the Western Hockey League and the Spokane Chiefs seem to be finding their stride.
After a dismal stretch at home the Chiefs have won five straight at the Arena this month, the last two in overtime, and how have three straight on the road before closng February with three more home games.
"Our ultimate goal is to beat (teams) in regulation but we'll take two points any night, especially on a third-period comeback," red-hot Chief Mitch Wahl said after getting three assists in Monday afternoon's 3-2 OT win over Everett Monday afternoon. "We're just taking it one game at a time. We have 13 games to catch up to first place."
First place, with Tri-City nine points ahead? Well, why not?
"We think Tri-City is catchable," said Wahl, who has moved into sixth in the league scoring race (80 points) and is tied for first in assists (53). "We play them four more times, that's eight points in our division, but we have some work ahead of us. We're trying to fight for the best playoff position, not just home ice."
Spokane is two points behind Everett for home ice and just three behind Portland for the third seed.
"We always worry about position," Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter said. "Right now I just like how we're playing. If we continue to play and take care of the process we'll get the results we want. We'll be feeling good enough about ourselves going into the playoffs."
Although the Chiefs (153 goals against) are among the top defensive team and have the league's top goal scorer in Kyle Beach (42) to go with Wahl, point-per-game defenseman Jared Spurgeon and Tyler Johnson, who has been on a tear lately, until February rolled around the team has been maddenly inconsistent. They are 13-16 in one-goal games, despite winning the last three.
"Come playoff time we're going to have to be as consistent as we can," Wahl said after two outstanding periods against Everett, which carried the play in the second period. "We're hanging in playing a 40-minute game. That just goes to show you how good our team actually is. Once we're able to put 60 minutes together we'll really do some damage. That's our goal."
The Chiefs went 10-2-1 in November but more of those games were outside the tough U.S. Division.
"We've proved we can play," Wahl said. "Back in November we were red-hot. In December we were OK, in January we were gradully getting better. Now in February we're trying to peak at the right time. It's all about what team is hot at the right time."