Spokane looks to gain ground

The Spokane Chiefs will host the Kootenay Ice for the first time this season tonight at the Arena in their final home game of 2005.

Spokane (16-18-1, 33 points) enters tonight’s play in third place in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, two points behind Portland. Everett leads the division with 43 points.

The standings in the five-team division remain tight as teams come off their holiday break this week to finish out the first half of the 72-game season.

Seattle and Tri-City (32 points) are tied for fourth place.

The Ice (26-11-0-2, 54) are co-leaders of the B.C. Division with Vancouver and have beaten the Chiefs twice in earlier meetings this season. Spokane ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 road win at Prince George on Wednesday night.

Chiefs captain Jeff Lynch did not play in Prince George and is still listed as day-to-day with a knee injury. Spokane is also missing defensemen Matt McCue (cheekbone, three weeks) and David Schulz (ribs, indefinite).