Spokane Chiefs At Portland

Time: Tonight at 7:30 in Portland Coliseum

Records: Spokane (24-12-3), Portland Winter Hawks (17-20-1).

Radio: KGA-AM (1510) 6:30 p.m. Hockey Tonight with Craig West. Chiefs coach Mike Babcock 6:50.

Key players: Spokane: C Trent Whitfield (20 goals, 33 assists), D Sean Gillam (7, 29), C Darren Sinclair (16, 27), D Hugh Hamilton (5, 32), LW Dmitri Leonov (20, 30), LW Greg Leeb (24, 13), RW John Cirjak (19, 20), RW Randy Favaro (12, 22), GK David Lemanowicz (3.19 goals-against), RW Jay Bertsch (7, 10).

Portland: C Todd Robinson (17 goals, 34 assists), RW Brad Isbister (22, 29), GK Brent Belecki (4.11 goals-against), D Kevin Haupt (3, 19), LW Colin Forbes (21, 23), D Andrew Ference (3, 15), LW Brendan Morrow (8, 6), D Brad Symes (8, 10).

At a glance: It’s a meeting of two teams traveling in opposite directions. The Winter Hawks have won seven straight, the Chiefs have lost three in a row. Forbes, who scored twice Wednesday night in a 6-3 breeze over the Moose Jaw Warriors, has stepped up for the absent Richard Zednik, who’s at the World Junior Tournament. He’s had 10 goals and 5 assists in the 7-game streak. Bilecki has taken over for Scott Rideout in goal. Portland forward Matt Davidson, back home for his grandfather’s funeral, is among the missing, leaving Hawks with 10 forwards - and third-line matchup problems. Morrow, Bobby Russell and Chris Jacobson will have their hands full with whomever Chiefs’ Mike Babcock sends out. Chiefs, who have missed Jason Podollan, also off at the World Juniors, gave an honest effort for two periods in their 4-3 Wednesday night loss to Red Deer but a ho-hum opening 20 minutes cost them a share of the WHL West Division lead. Chiefs return home Saturday night to meet the division-leading Tri-City Americans.

, DataTimes