Chiefs seek momentum from win
Now, can they make it two in a row?
That is the question facing Spokane Chiefs coach Bill Peters as his team prepares for tonight’s Western Hockey league game with Portland at the Arena.
Spokane is coming off a big 1-0 win over U.S. Division leader Everett on Saturday, a game that allowed the Chiefs (21 points) to stay in the thick of the division race. Portland (23 points) won on Sunday, breaking a three-way tie for second with Spokane and Seattle.
“Obviously, Saturday was a good effort and we hope to build on that,” said Peters. “(Tonight’s) a big game and we want to have good, solid back-to-back efforts and I think we’re capable of that.”
Spokane has four solid lines up front and players have been juggled in an effort to find the right combinations. Peters has liked the recent efforts of captain Jeff Lynch and Adam Hobson.
On the back end, the defense is playing so well that some veterans are having trouble getting into the lineup. Dan Mercer and Matt McCue have been healthy scratches recently, in part to allow the Chiefs to play newcomer Justin Falk and rookie Jared Spurgeon.
Meanwhile, goalie Jim Watt had one of his steadiest efforts of the season in adding to his franchise record for career shutouts (10). Watt faced only 23 shots and did a better job of rebound control.
“I’d hate to take credit for my shutout,” Watt said. “I think the defense was just amazing. I had to make some stops, but when I don’t give up – and they don’t allow – those second and third shots, a lot of teams aren’t going to get a lot of goals on us. That’s what we’ve been lacking.”
Watt also admitted that his confidence had been down after some tough outings recently, so he tried to simplify things in getting the win.
“When things haven’t really been going your way for a little while, you keep working hard, you keep going at it and you just slow things,” said Watt. “I don’t need to make a huge glove save right now, because odds are I didn’t have the confidence to make them.”
Peters likes what he’s seeing at both ends of the ice.
“I think we’ve turned a corner a little bit, he said. “I think there are some positive things happening.”
Top prospects
The initial rankings of WHL players are out from the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau for the 2006 entry draft.
The U.S. Division has three of the top-five goaltenders in the rankings: Leland Irving, Everett (1); Gavin McHale, Seattle (4); and Dustin Butler, Portland (5). Everett has two of the top-five rated skaters: rookie Peter Mueller (1); and Brady Calla (4).
Spokane has two prospects among the top 20 skaters. Right winger Michael Grabner was the highest-rated Chiefs’ player, at ninth among skaters. McCue was tabbed at No. 16.
Grabner has overcome a slow start this season to become an offensive threat for Spokane. He has eight goals in his last 12 games, including a couple of highlight-reel shots from tough spots on the ice.
“I hope I can keep it up and show the NHL guys I can play hockey,” said Grabner, the Austrian import player in his second year with the Chiefs. He first learned of his ranking from former Chief Ned Lukacevic.