Prince Albert At Spokane Chiefs

Time: Tonight at 7:05 in the Arena.

Records: Spokane (32-15-3), Prince Albert Raiders (34-15-4).

Tickets:$6, $8, $10, $12.,

Radio: KGA-AM (1510) 6:05 p.m. Hockey Tonight with Craig West. Chiefs coach Mike Babcock 6:20 (approximate).

Key players: Spokane: C Darren Sinclair (25 goals, 31 assists), C Jason Podollan (21, 15), D Sean Gillam (9, 40), C Trent Whitfield (25, 38), RW John Cirjak (20, 27), D Hugh Hamilton (6, 39), LW Dmitri Leonov (23, 37), LW Greg Leeb (28, 16),GK David Lemanowicz (3.02 goals-against), C Jan Hrdina (20, 29), RW Jay Bertsch (12, 15).

Prince Albert: C Curtis Brown (23 goals, 18 assists), LW Roman Vopat (1 goal, 4 assists), C Steve Kelly (21, 48), RW Shane Willis (30, 27), LW Brad Church (24, 33), LW Mike McGhan (26, 28), GK Rod Branch (3.95 goals-against), D Chris Phiilips (8, 19), C Russell Hogue (13, 30).

At a glance: You wouldn’t have to come from too far out of left field to see this as a preview of the WHL championship series. It’s still a horse race in both the WHL West and East, but two contenders - Spokane and Prince Al - made serious trades to muscle up for the playoffs. Hrdina, picked up from Seattle, was an instant hit here Saturday night with a goal on the power play and an assist. He started at center with Whitfield moving to right wing. Leeb opened on the left flank of that line. Mike Babcock said that could change. “We don’t want to take Whitfield’s game away from him,” the Spokane coach said. “We’ll see if we can get something working this way. If we can’t, we’ll put Whitter back in the middle and maybe Hrdina or possibly Jack (Cirjak) will go to the wall.” Ex-Chief Blaine Russell has found a home in Prince Albert. Russell’s single appearance this season for Spokane came last October in a 10-8 loss in Portland, when he relieved Lemanowicz and gave up five goals in 36:30. Since then he’s quietly emerged as one of the league’s top stoppers, ranked third in the WHL with 3.31 goals against, behind only Lemanowicz and David Brumby of Lethbridge. Chiefs may see Russell or Branch. Raiders won Tuesday night in Tri-City. Branch was spectacular here Nov. 29 with Calgary. Brown and Vopat - acquired from Moose Jaw - add punch to Raiders, who were good enough before they showed up to beat Spokane 4-2 in Prince Albert on Nov. 6..

, DataTimes