Back Home, Chiefs Rested, Ready For Stretch Run Spokane Has Slim Margin, But A Game In Hand On Pg

After two days off, with the worst of their winter travel behind them, the Spokane Chiefs return to the ice today looking forward to the stretch run in the Western Hockey League West.

The Chiefs are two points - one game - up on the second-place Prince George Cougars, who are at Prince Albert tonight. The Cougars have played one more game than Spokane.

With 15 regular-season games remaining - seven at home - Spokane is back at it in the Arena Wednesday night against the Kamloops Blazers.

Prince George concludes its final swing through the Canadian prairies Wednesday night in Saskatoon. Starting tonight, PG has 14 games to play, eight on the road, including a March 15 date in Spokane that could have regular-season championship implications.

The Chiefs, who spent last week playing four games in the prairies, should have Daniel Bohac and Lynn Loyns back to full strength, or close, coach Mike Babcock said Monday.

Bohac missed Saturday night’s game in Calgary after suffering a freak knee injury the night before in Red Deer. The Chiefs’ top goalscorer was checked into the door of the bench as it was swung open during a shift change. Loyns was ill, the coach said.

Bohac’s status is listed as day to day.

Although Tyler MacKay “played well in all three games he played in,” on the trip, Babcock was not ready to name him Wednesday night’s star ter in goal. The Chiefs may opt for Jason LaBarbera in net.

MacKay this week crept up to No. 5 in the WHL in goals-against average, with a 2.81 GAA. “He’s been on fire,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. “Jason hasn’t played the same since he came back from that injury (a pulled hamstring), but that’s what’s nice about having some time (prior to the playoffs), and a strong two-way situation (with MacKay).”

Babcock said, “I thought we played well in three of our four games (on the road). We didn’t have Loyns at his best and we missed that. Bohac got hurt in the third game and didn’t play in Calgary, but he should be fine.

“Just bumps and bruises.

“We’ve had a well-earned two days off,” the coach added. “We want to start making steps that will have us playing our best in the playoffs.”

Should the Chiefs hold their slim lead over Prince George they’ll win their second regular-season division title in six seasons under Babcock. They then would meet the West’s No. 6 team in the first round, right now the Kelowna Rockets.

If they were to win that best-of-seven series, they would sit out the second round and advance to the division finals.

“We know Prince George has made up ground on us,” Babcock said. “We’d love to have that bye in the second round, no question, but we’ve never concerned ourselves with what place we’ll be in, only that we’re at our best for the postseason.

“We’re in a situation now where we got through the February blues, if there is such a thing. That was inbetween time.

“This is playing time.”

The Chiefs have four games in five nights this week. They are in Kamloops on Friday night and at Seattle Sunday night. They’re in the Arena Saturday night with the Tri-City Americans.

Notes

Spokane’s Brent McDonald is tied for eighth in the league in game-winning goals with six… The Chiefs’ Tim Smith is sixth in the WHL in assists but trails league-leading Brad Moran of Calgary by only nine.