Rugged Foe Awaits As Lencucha Takes His Turn Raiders At Chiefs

Mike Lencucha draws a tough assignment tonight in the Arena.

The Spokane Chiefs tapped him to start in goal against the potent Prince Albert Raiders.

The Chiefs, who’ve won two straight, are trying to put together three in a row for the first time since last November.

The Raiders, who lead the Western Hockey League East, took a four-game win streak into their game in Seattle Friday night.

Lencucha, off to a slow start, was replaced by Shane Gris, who was the winner in goal Wednesday night, although he stopped only 12 of 16 shots in a 5-4 win over Kelowna.

“Shane would be the first to say he wasn’t as good as he wanted to be that night, but it’s not because he wasn’t trying,” Chiefs coach Mike Babcock said.

“He was trying too hard. It was his first game at home. It’s Lenny’s turn to get back and get one.”

Prince Albert swamped the Tri-City Americans 9-5 in Kennewick in their current swing through the state. “The only way we have a chance to be successful is to get on them from the drop of the puck,” Babcock said.“This is a talented team. They’re going to scare the hell out of a lot of people.”