VICTORIA, British Columbia (Interstat) — The Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals, two Western Hockey League teams seeking consistency, will meet Friday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in a matchup of clubs hovering near the .500 mark.

The Chiefs (19-19-0) arrive after a 5-1 home loss to Penticton on Jan. 3, which snapped a brief two-game win streak. Spokane has alternated wins and losses in its last five contests. Defenseman Rhett Sather, a player to watch for the Chiefs, scored the lone goal in that defeat. He has points in three of his last five games, including a goal and an assist.

The Royals (16-21-0) enter on a stronger note, having routed Tri-City 5-1 at home on Jan. 4. That victory followed a 4-1 loss to the same Americans a day prior. Forward Jacob Schwartz, who scored in the Jan. 4 win, has been a bright spot for Victoria. He has goals in two of his last three appearances.

This will be the second meeting of the season between the clubs. Spokane won the first encounter 2-1 in overtime at home on Nov. 22. Friday’s game opens a critical home-and-home set, with the teams facing off again in Victoria on Saturday night.

Both teams are looking to string together victories as they approach the second half of the WHL schedule. Spokane holds a slight edge in the standings, but Victoria has shown resilience at home, including a recent overtime win against Calgary on New Year’s Day.

The Chiefs will continue a road swing through Everett next week, while the Royals embark on a lengthy six-game road trip through the East Division following Saturday’s rematch.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PST.