Every team has a pair of games to go except Tri-City and Seattle, where the decision has been made to host the game on Sunday, March 23, in Kennewick following the freak injury and subsequent stretcher job following a fight. Seattle led 2-0 in that game just over a minute into the second period. Seattle can’t change further, and Tri-Cities is not able to catch the Portland Winterhawks, but it could chase down Vancouver Giants, who are currently in 5th but need some help to get there. That game might make the difference.
Then there is the question of who the 2nd place Western Conference team will face. Currently, that is the Victoria Royals, who won both games on the road versus Kamloops and then Kelowna to jump two points up on Prince George. The pivotal games are happening this weekend. Victoria travels for a pair of games with the Cougars. Should Victoria win or tie one of those games, it’s over. If Prince George wins both, then things change in the matchups. Even though both teams trail Spokane in points, the divisions’ leaders are slotted one or two based on points. That hybrid system will change next round, where it’s based on points seeding the teams.
Right now, Everett hosts Seattle, and Spokane hosts Vancouver. If Vancouver loses both games and Tri-City wins 2, the matches will flip to Spokane versus Tri-City. Depending on the outcome of this weekend’s games, Victoria will either host Portland or Tri-City.
The Hawks’ March 22nd game will be on TV as the last CW broadcast of the year, and it may be huge.
The Eastern Division isn’t much better, with both Medicine Hat and Calgary tied with 94 points and two games each remaining. It could come down to the weekend’s last game with Medicine Hat visiting Calgary, especially if both teams win the night prior. With a point separating Saskatoon and Prince Albert, the final two games will decide the top of the Eastern Division and the #2 spot in the playoffs vs the 4th spot. Currently, Saskatoon hosts Edmonton but could host Lethbridge; the same goes for Prince Albert. Brandon could be headed to Calgary or Medicine Hat based on the outcome of the weekend. Swift Current knows they are traveling but to where? Calgary or Medicine Hat could be the hosts.
In the years of covering WHL Hockey, this is the first time I can recall that not a single team knows who they are playing until the weekend games are played.
If there is ever a reason to stick close to your radio to hear the latest of the playoffs, this is it.
It’s about to be a very wild weekend!
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