Tacoma Rockets At Spokane Chiefs

Time: Tonight at 7 in the Coliseum.

Records: Spokane (27-35-3), Tacoma (38-25-2).

Radio: KGA-AM (1510) 6 p.m. Chiefs Talk with Craig West, 6:20 Mike Babcock Show, 6:50 pre-game.

Tickets: $9.50 and $7.50 with seats in the blue sections discounted to $6.50 for seniors, military, children under 14 and students with I.D.

Key players

Spokane: C Jason Podollan (41 goals, 33 assists), GK Jarrod Daniel (3.62 goals-against average), D Sean Gillam (16, 40), RW John Cirjak (18, 32), LW Greg Leeb (19, 31), RW Jeremy Stasiuk (24, 24), LW Joe Cardarelli (23, 21) LW Kevin Sawyer (7, 6), C Darren Sinclair (15, 17).

Tacoma: RW Vaclav Varada (48 goals, 35 assists), LW John Varga (34, 48), RW Marty Flichel (24, 50), GK Todd MacDonald (3.26 goals-against average), RW Tavis Hansen (29, 39), D Dallas Thompson (8, 10), C Jason Deleurme (23, 22), Kyle McLaren (12, 16).

At a glance

Rockets were playing hot and cold until they blasted a hot Tri-City club and beat Portland for a weekend sweep that indicates they’re back on track. Top defenseman Alexandre Alexeev (wrist) is again not expected to play for Rockets. Key for Spokane is to lean on Tacoma’s Killer V’s - Varada and Varga - with aggressive forechecking. The Chiefs, 6-3-1 at home in their last 10 games, can even their home-ice record at 16-16-1. It’s important to continue strong second-period play because the Rockets are virtually unbeatable when they go into the third period with a lead. Tacoma is 28-1-1 in games they’ve led after two periods.