Tonight in Spokane, the Prince George Cougars kick off a busy stretch of five straight games away from the CN Centre. Lately it has been a struggle for the Cougars who have won just once in their past eight games, and are just one point ahead of ninth place Vancouver in the race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Tonight will be no easy task as the Cougars get set to face a Spokane Chiefs team that boasts the league’s top scorer, Mitch Holmberg.

OVERVIEW:

Don Nachbaur’s Spokane Chiefs come into tonight’s game with a 14-7 record, which puts them fourth in the Western Conference standings. The Chiefs are 5-5 in their past 10 games and are just two points ahead of the Tri-City Americans in the US Division. The Chiefs were 3-1 against the Cougars last season and won both games at the Spokane Arena.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

The Spokane Chiefs roster features the two top goal scorers in the WHL. Mitch Holmberg (23) and Mike Aviani (18) are one-two in league goal scoring, and those two along with linemate Adam Helewka (10 goals) have supplied 62 percent of Spokane’s goals this season. Holmberg has also chipped in with 28 assists, and leads the WHL with 53 points in just 21 games.

WHO’S ON D:

With the departure of Brendan Kichton from last season, many wondered who would supply offense from the back end for Spokane this season. Reid Gow has more than answered the bell so far this season. The 19-year-old has 25 assists in 21 games, and is a +15 as well, which shows that he’s capable in his own zone too. Holmberg, Aviani and Helewka are the trigger-men, while Gow has done a fine job at setting up the Chiefs snipers on a regular basis.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

20-year-old Eric Williams is putting together a heck of a season so far for the Chiefs between the pipes.  He is 11-5 with a .917 goals-against-average and a 2.36 save percentage. His backup is 18-year-old Garrett Hughson who has a 3-2 record in six games.

X-FACTOR:

The Spokane Chiefs enter play tonight with the league’s second best power play (27.2 percent). It’s quite simple: If the Cougars get into penalty trouble, the Chiefs will make them pay. The trouble is, the Chiefs are a very difficult team to play against, and have been historically good at drawing penalties. The Cougars need to try and play as much five-on-five hockey as possible tonight to be successful.

OVERVIEW:

Mark Holick’s Prince George Cougars come into tonight with a record of 8-12-1-3 through 24 games. They are eighth place in the Western Conference and third in the B.C. Division. Despite their recent struggles they only trail seventh placed Seattle by four points, and are a few wins away from being right back in the thick of things in the Western Conference playoff picture.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Tonight is a big night for Cougars 20-year-old forward Todd Fiddler. Fiddler has four goals in his past two games, and tonight will get to face his former team for the first time since a summer trade that sent him to the Moose Jaw Warriors. Last season Fiddler scored 42 goals for the Spokane Chiefs, and you know that he’ll want to put on a show in his old stomping grounds. A big night from Fiddler would be a huge boost for the Cougars in a tough building.

WHO’S ON D:

The good news for the Cougars in the back end is that Marc McNulty is back skating with the team, and is likely a game-time decision tonight for the Cougars on the road. They sure miss his offense from the back end as the Detroit Red Wings prospect leads the Cougars blueliners in goals (4) and points (10).

WHO’S IN GOAL:

Rookie netminder Ty Edmonds received some good news yesterday when he learned that he had cracked NHL Central Scouting Service’s Preliminary November Watch List. Maybe this good news can help him bounce back from his recent struggles as he’s been pulled in three of his past four outings. That said, Edmonds will always give you a strong compete level, and tonight he’s going to be tested by some of the best scorers in the league. A big night from Edmonds might be needed if the Cougars are going to leave Spokane with two points.

X-FACTOR:

The game plan doesn’t change tonight for the Cougars as they once again try to cut down on the number of shots and chances against. Last Tuesday at home, the Cougars surrendered 39 shots against from the Tigers, and allowed six goals on those opportunities. If the Cougars can buckle down defensively, and keep the Chiefs under the 30 shot mark, they will improve their chances emphatically tonight in Spokane. Defense, discipline and timely scoring are keys on most nights, and tonight is no exception.