The playoff picture is finally settled for the second round.
After Everett and Kelowna dispatched their foes in four straight games, Penticton next defeated Seattle in five. The Prince George Cougars were a bit of a quandary, as Spokane gave them a rough go. The Cougars led 3-0, only to see the Chiefs pick up two at home.
Back in PG, the Cougars held court, leading 4-2 with over three minutes left. Spokane pulled their netminder and, try as they might, couldn’t solve Ravensberger. After pummeling the Cougars with shots, the PG crew was able to free the puck and score into the empty net. With three seconds left, Sam Oremba, who will age out after this season, scored to make it 5-3, but the Cougars secured the win and the series. They will now travel to Penticton to face the Vees. Everett will host Kelowna, who will host the Memorial Cup this season.
In the East, Calgary won in four, and Prince Albert got by Red Deer in five, with the same result between Medicine Hat and Regina. It was the Edmonton-Saskatoon pairing that slowed things down. The Oil Kings looked like the dominant team before the playoffs began, but someone should have informed Saskatoon. The Blades gave Edmonton all they could handle and more, taking Game 6 to overtime, where Edmonton’s power-play heroics propelled them to victory.
With Game 7 on the line in Edmonton, the Blades and Oil Kings squared off, with the 3 vs. 6 matchup at stake. In what could be called an upset, Saskatoon carried through regulation and scored less than a minute into overtime, extending their season. Saskatoon is the lowest seed advancing to the next round.
As a result, the Blades will travel to Prince Albert, and Medicine Hat will host Calgary. Both of these series have been tough, season-long rivalries and should deliver strong matchups in the next round.
In the OHL, the teams are set: the first overall in each division hosts the fifth seed, and the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds face off. The West will see Brantford host North Bay and Barrie host Ottawa. The East will see Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie faces off against Windsor, which will host Flint, the only remaining U.S. team in the OHL playoffs.
The QMJHL will see Moncton face Val-d’Or, Chicoutimi host Quebec, Rouyn-Noranda take on Shawinigan, and the final pairing will feature Newfoundland traveling to Blainville-Boisbriand, with those series getting underway this weekend.
The Winterhawks, even though they aren’t in the running for a Memorial Cup championship, are still in contention for more hardware. Along with the Prince Albert Raiders in the East, Portland is in the running for the WHL Business Award for increasing attendance to an average of more than 5,000 fans per game, along with merchandise growth and renovations to the VMC that have enhanced the fan experience.
Alex Weiermair is among several finalists for the Brad Hornung Award, which honors the league’s most sportsmanlike player. Weiermair, who ended his career in Portland, recorded 93 points while serving just 28 penalty minutes. The awards will be announced in a week.
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