Chiefs need full effort to stay in playoffs

The pressure is building for the Spokane Chiefs, and coach Don Nachbaur insists his team will handle it better this time.

The Chiefs – coming off a 2-1 loss on Wednesday night – host the Tri-City Americans tonight at the Arena in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Ams lead the best-of-7 Western Hockey League playoff set 2-1.

In Game 3 on Wednesday, the Chiefs started the game strong, and finished in the same manner – it was in between that was a problem for Spokane.

“There was lots of pressure, and we didn’t handle it real well,” Nachbaur said following the loss. “We’re going to be better next game.”

To avoid a 3-1 deficit in the series, the Chiefs are going to need fluid and physical play from their younger players, as well as leadership from the older players on the team.

And they need it to happen for the entire game.

“We expected different results, but there’s lots of reasons for (not achieving them),” Nachbaur said regarding Game 3.

“We had some guys that didn’t play at the top end of the scale and you need your best guys to be their best,” he added. “I think the bottom line is we weren’t, in the first period, real crisp. (We) came out of it down 2-0. I thought we had a good third period but, again, we’ve got to be better for 60 minutes.”

• Wednesday’s loss ended Chiefs forward Mitch Holmberg’s goal-scoring streak, which was tied for the longest streak in the postseason this year at five games.

• Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart declared today Spokane Chiefs Hockey Day. Condon will drop the puck to start the game.