Blazers box

THE SCORE
Spokane 2, Kamloops 1
WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers, with great goaltending -- again -- from Justin Leclerc, gave the
top team in the WHL a real scare. But there is a reason the Chiefs have won
27 games more than they've lost in regulation time.
THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (24-26-1-2) remain seventh in the Western Conference and now are
two points ahead of the Chilliwack Bruins, who hold three games in hand.
Kamloops trails the sixth-place Seattle Thunderbirds by four points.
THE SEASON SERIES
The Chiefs hold a 2-1-0-0 edge over the Blazers. The series concludes here
March 12.
THE CROWD
Attendance was announced at 4,255, but there were a lot of no-shows. In
fact, there appeared to be perhaps 2,500 people in the arena. The announced
crowd was the eighth smallest since the 1993-94 season. Seven of the 12
smallest crowds since then have come from this season.
THE PLUS MEN
Five Chiefs were in the WHL's top 10 in plus-minus going into last night -- C
Chris Bruton, D Jared Spurgeon and C Mitch Wahl are tied for fourth (+29),
LW Drayson Bowman is tied for seventh (+29), with Justin Falk 10th (+25).
Tops on the Blazers? RW Juuso Puustinen (+12).
THE LINE
The Blazers line of, left to right, Ivan Rohac, Alex Rodgers and Juuso
Puustinen has combined for 36 points in its last eight games. They have been
on on 18 of the club's last 29 goals.
THE FLU BUG
RW Brady Calla returned to the Blazers' lineup after missing a game because
of the flu. C Alex Rodgers was questionable because he wasn't feeling well,
but he took the pregame skate and was deemed fit enough to play.
THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
1. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. Kept his side in it.
2. G Dustin Tokarski, Spokane. Diving glove save on Nick Ross was a keeper.
3. RW David Rutherford, Spokane. Lots of energy and got the winner.
UP NEXT
The Blazers hit the road for three games before returning home to face the
Kelowna Rockets on Feb. 8. Game time is 7 p.m.