Victory Gives Chiefs Chance To Place Third

The Spokane Chiefs will not have a losing season.

They can still finish third in the Western Hockey League West, and with it take an important edge into the first round of the league playoffs.

The Chiefs are in Seattle tonight after spanking the Prince George Cougars 4-0 Saturday night in their last home game of the season before 10,455, who pushed attendance in the Arena to a franchise-record 285,743.

If they can beat the T-Birds tonight, the Chiefs will head into the first round of the WHL playoffs with home-ice advantage, meaning that if their best-of-7 series with the Kelowna Rockets goes the full seven games, four will be played here.

The Rockets finished their season at 35-35-2. The Chiefs are 34-33-4. Both have 72 points in the West Division standings but the Rockets, with an extra victory, have the edge.

A win tonight gives the Chiefs third place. A loss leaves them in fourth, forcing them to win at least one game in Kelowna to avoid elimination.

The Chiefs beat the Cougars for the sixth time in eight tries. Nine players scored points including Greg Leeb, who took over the club scoring lead with a goal and an assist. Leeb has 83 points. John Cirjak, who had an assist, has 82.

Trent Whitfield notched the important first goal - the Chiefs are 24-10-3 when they score first - with one of two Spokane power-play goals 10:40 in the first period.

Joe Cardarelli registered his teamhigh 34th goal. , DataTimes