Blazers scouting report

Spokane Chiefs at Kamloops Blazers
Today, 7 p.m., Interior Savings Centre (Radio NL 610)

SPOKANE (48-14-1-5): Only once in franchise history have the Chiefs won
more than 48 games. They won 50 in 1995-96; they also won 48 in 1990-91. . .
. This is the fifth time in history that they have won more than 40 games. .
. . With 102 points, the Chiefs are two shy of the franchise single-season
record (104, 1995-96). . . . The Chiefs, who have won their last six games,
are tied with the Tri-City Americans for first place overall. Those two
teams meet Saturday in Kennewick, Wash. . . . Bill Peters, in his third
season as head coach, received a three-year contract extension last season.
He now is signed through 2010-11. . . . LW Drayson Bowman has 40 goals, the
first Spokane player to reach that total since Greg Leeb (46, 1997-98). . .
. The Chiefs boast five 20-goal men and have 11 scorers in double figures. .
. . D Jared Cowen, the first overall selection in the 2006 bantam draft,
hasn’t received the rave reviews of some other freshmen, but the 6-foot-5,
220-pounder, who turned 17 on Jan. 25, has been as good as any of them. In
64 games, he has 17 points and 56 penalty minutes, and he is plus-26. . . .
Injuries: None.
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KAMLOOPS (27-37-2-2): The Blazers last played Saturday when they stopped
a 10-game losing skein with a 1-0 victory over the Cougars in Prince George.
. . . G James Priestner, who stopped 35 shots in earning his second shutout,
is expected to start again tonight. . . . The Blazers are eighth in the
Western Conference, three points behind the Chilliwack Bruins. That means
that this could be a first-round playoff matchup — should the Chiefs finish
first and the Blazers eighth they would open a first-round series in Spokane
on March 21 and 22. Games 3 and 4 would be played in Kamloops on March 25
and 26. . . . The Blazers have allowed 90 goals more than the Chiefs. . . .
Kamloops gives up an average of 30.1 shots per game; the Chiefs are at 26.3.
. . . The Blazers are 0-3-1-0 in their last four home games and 1-6-1-0 in
their last seven. . . . Kamloops is 1-2-0-0 against the Chiefs, having split
two games in Spokane and dropped a 2-1 decision here. . . . The Blazers are
in Chilliwack on Friday and then will complete their regular season with two
home games. The Vancouver Giants are here Saturday with the Cougars here
Friday. . . . Injuries: D Mark Schneider (knee, out).
— GREGG DRINNAN