Spokane Chiefs At Calgary

Time: Tonight at 6 p.m. in the Saddledome.

Records: Spokane (27-13-3), Calgary Hitmen (13-29-2).

Radio: KGA-AM (1510) 5 p.m. Hockey Tonight with Craig West. Chiefs coach Mike Babcock 5:25.

Key players: Spokane: RW Jason Podollan (20 goals, 10 assists), C Trent Whitfield (20, 36), D Sean Gillam (7, 32), C Darren Sinclair (21, 29), D Hugh Hamilton (5, 33), LW Dmitri Leonov (21, 33), Greg Leeb (26, 13), RW John Cirjak (19, 22), RW Randy Favaro (13, 22), GK David Lemanowicz (3.00 goals-against), RW Jay Bertsch (7, 13), LW Joe Cardarelli (8, 9).

Calgary: GK Scott Rideout, RW Boris Potsenko, LW Kevin Marsh, C Brad Moran, D Kirk Dewaele.

At a glance: The Chiefs, on a three-game win streak, make a rare Monday nighter hoping to end their losing ways on the road. Spokane has dropped three straight away from home but they catch the expansion Hitmen at a good time. Calgary, on a seven-game losing skid, traded away veteran GK Rod Branch last week. It was Branch who kept the Hitmen close in Calgary’s 5-0 loss in Spokane with 47 saves. In his place is Scott Rideout, who hasn’t had much luck against Spokane. Rideout was cut loose last week by Portland. Protsenko was the first pick in the import draft, taken before Jarolsav Svejkovsky of Tri-City and Spokane’s Martin Cerven. Hitmen, a dismal 1-9 against WHL West clubs, will have to control Podollan, who registered a pair of goals against them here. They’ll go without center Nathan Strueby (shoulder). This first game of five with WHL Central Division clubs is interesting for the Chiefs, who are hot at home, lukewarm on the road. To remain the hunt for the West title Spokane, 9-9-1 on the road, has to keep it together in this stretch away from the Arena. Knowing that, watch Cardarelli, who is approaching full strength. Hitters will have their hands full with Cardarelli-Podollan-Cirjak line. And keep an eye on Lemanowicz. Only five goaltendrs in WHL history have wound up with a goals-against average below 3.00.

, DataTimes