Chiefs in need of definition

If you listen to the Spokane Chiefs and their coaching staff, they need to be more like a cheap steak at a diner: greasy and tough.

Those are terms often heard in postgame interviews with coach Bill Peters and his players. Both Peters and Chad Klassen used them after Friday night’s loss to Everett. The “tough” part is probably more obvious: being gritty in the corners; finishing checks; defending a teammate.

The “greasy” part is a hockeyism that might best be defined as:

greasy, adj. – willing to pay the price to score a goal, i.e. getting in close for shots; crashing the net for rebounds; camping in front of the net.

After failing to do those things against Everett, Spokane improved in thumping Portland on Sunday.

“Our (power play) was clicking and we were just keeping it simple, putting the puck on the net,” said Klassen, who had two goals and two assists.

The Chiefs have a chance to avenge the Everett loss tonight when the division-leading Silvertips (37 points) return to the Arena. It’s yet another key home test for fourth-place Spokane (31 points) as it tries to tighten the U.S. Division standings.

The Chiefs’ division rivals are leaving the race wide open. In December, only Spokane and Everett have winning records. The Chiefs are a division-best 6-4 over their last 10 games. Second-place Portland (33) and third-place Seattle (32) are each on three-game skids.

The question for the Chiefs tonight is whether they will play like the team that has struggled at home or the one that seems to thrive on the road. What is the difference between the two?

“I think we play more as a team (on the road),” Klassen said. “We keep things a little more simple, guys don’t try to do too much, and things go a little bit smoother on the road.”

His coach echoed the sentiment, but phrased it differently.

“We play with a little more desperation,” Peters said. “(At home), some guys pressure up. Some guys are looking for the pretty play instead of just making the right play – the simple play. Until we get that figured out, we’ll continue to struggle.”

So, maybe it’s all about keeping it simple – as well as being greasy and tough.

Battle between the pipes

It’s a two-man battle for the team’s top goaltending job.

In December, rookie Thomas Stehr has a goals-against average of 2.21 and a save percentage of .920. Veteran Jim Watt is 0-3 during that span, despite posting his best month statistically this season (2.72, .914).

Stehr has won four straight decisions for the Chiefs. He is the first Chiefs goalie to do that since Watt in early 2003-04, when he was the upstart challenger to Barry Brust.

Stehr arrived in Chiefs camp at 6 feet, 214 pounds and was jokingly dubbed “Snacks” by his teammates. He hasn’t shed the nickname but has lost 19 pounds in the team’s strength-training program.

“It’s made me a lot quicker out there,” Stehr said. “Everything’s a little quicker. I get to pucks quicker – everything.”

Stehr is enjoying being a key contributor after getting only two starts in both October and November and struggling with a 4.45 goals-against average.

“It feels good,” Stehr said. “You’ve got to make the most of your opportunities, because sometimes you never know when you’re going to play again.”

McCue out; Lynch back

Defenseman Matt McCue is out at least three weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone against Portland.

Captain Jeff Lynch is expected back for tonight’s game after being day-to-day with a sprained knee.