With anywhere from 4 to 7 games left, the playoff picture is much clearer now than it was last week, which we’ll break down after the news.
The Portland Winterhawks had a busy week. With the home game, which was in the last column, being a win over the Kamloops Blazers, the Hawks had a tough three games in three nights. What made it tough was one team already established in the playoffs having control over the Hawks during the regular season and a pair from a team just barely hanging onto the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and looking to solidify their standing.
First up was the pair dangling onto the last playoff spot in the Western Conference A home and home battle starting in Portland ending in Seattle and then a home game versus the top team in the WHL.
Whether tired from Wednesday or more likely a wounded animal desperate to gain admittance to the playoffs, the Portland Winterhawks had a rough night at home. Portland fell behind in the first with three straight Seattle goals, the first on the powerplay and two regular-strength goals, before Portland hit the board. From just past the 5-minute mark until just past the 13-minute ticker, Seattle had taken control of a game Portland needed in a deadlock with Tri City Americans in the standings.
Just past the 15-minute point, Ryder Thompson breathed some life into the Hawks. Seattle shut that down with a goal less than a minute into the second period, and though no further scoring happened, a 3-goal deficit with 20 minutes to play is a tough order. To be fair, the Hawks also found a hot goaltender in Scott Ratzlaff who saw the Thunderbirds 18-8 shits in the first, to a 23-7 shot held by Portland, but no goals to show for it.
However, even though the shots were fairly even at 13-12 Portland, it was Seattle with three goals and a lone one by Diego Buttazzoni that ended with a 7-2 win for Seattle and two points to keep limited distance in the playoff hunt Ondrej Stebatek faced 37 shots while Scott Ratzlaff with 44 and only two goals in that, was named first star. Portland was 0-4 on the power play, and Seattle was 2-4 on theirs.
In Seattle, where Marek Schleker was between the pipes, either the Hawks were hungrier, or Schlenker was that good, as he rated the game’s number one star. Seattle did get on the board first with Nathan Pilling with his team leading 32nd of the year on a tic tac toe play halfway through the first. It was the only one to get by Schlenker. Portland scored six minutes later with David Hoy getting only his 2nd of the year after being declared no goal on the ice. Reviews showed it was a good goal, and Portland was on the board. Then, one from Ryan Miller on the powerplay, with about thirty seconds left in the period, to hold the lead. Miller scored off a Ratzlaff rebound out in front of the net. Portland and Seattle remained off the sheet in the second period, but Portland added a goal from Kyle Chykowski, his 40th of the year, before the period’s halfway mark. Alex Weiermair added an empty-net goal following a misplay by Seattle, and the Hawks claimed a 4-1 win. Portland outshot Seattle 44-38. Portland again outshot Seattle this time 44-38, but were only 1-3 on the powerplay as Seattle was 1-1 on theirs
The next night was the league-leading Everett Silvertips. The Tips have been solid all year but have shown some signs of cracking under the pressure, with questionable defeats and shaky play. Portland scored twice in the first period, first by Tyson Jugnauth and then Josh Zakreski, two minutes apart as both were shorthanded on the same penalty before the middle of the period elapsed. Everett returned with 2 of their own, both on separate powerplays, one early in the period and one just past the 15-minute mark. No scoring happened either in the 3rd period or overtime, so the two teams went to a shootout. Everett missed twice, and Tyson Jugnauth and Alex Weiermair scored to give the Hawks a 3-2 Shootout win. Portland was outshot 39-31 and went 0-4 on the powerplay while handing Everett 2-6 on theirs.
That win puts Portland up by two points against Vancouver and three points against Tri City. This next week will be interesting, to say the least, as the real tests of the team begin. With the closeness of some teams, a win or a loss can be devastating. It’s also good to enter the playoffs on a winning note to gain momentum, especially if you host. Portland is unique because they do well on the road and at home, so any team needs to be at full gear when facing them.
Now, onto the playoffs. The only situation not ultimately settled in the Western Conference is who Everett Silvertips will host. Most likely, Scotty Munro Champions have 94 points and five games left, and Medicine Hat in the Eastern Division has 90 points but just 4 games left, who will have home-ice advantage throughout the WHL playoffs. Seattle has 55 points, Wenatchee at 52, and Kamloops with 49.
If the standings hold, Everett would host Seattle, and the Prince George Cougars would host the Tri-City Americans, but that may be too close to call as both the Cougars and Victoria Royals have 82 points, with the Cougars having four games left and Victoria 6. The Cougars play those next four at home after the game in Langley versus the Vancouver Giants, which they lost with 2 versus Wenatchee and then 2 against Victoria to finish the year. Besides the two in Prince George, Victoria has just one home game versus Kamloops before road games in Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna, and then PG—a much more demanding schedule for them. For sure, the Kelowna Rockets are out of this year’s playoffs, and it will be interesting to see what off-season and trade deadline moves they can make to become somewhat competitive when they host the Memorial Cup next year. Spokane Chiefs would host Tri City Americans, and if that matchup stays, it will be sellouts for all games as the rivalry is huge! The Vancouver Giants would head to Prince George in another top match! But with just a couple of points separating Vancouver, Tri City, and Portland, each game becomes crucial.
Out East, the Regina Pats Moose Jaw Warriors are out, and Red Deer was also about to be eliminated. Medicine Hat is holding fort now but only 2 points up on Calgary for leadership of the Eastern Division. With that, if standings hold, Medicine Hat will host Swift Current Broncos, Prince Albert hosts Edmonton Oil Kings, Brandon Wheat Kings would travel to Calgary to face the Hitmen which is a long, long drive and Saskatoon Blades will travel to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes, In Sunday action, Calgary beat Brandon 4-1 and ties Medicine Hat with the Hitmen a game in hand. Swift Current earned a point in the game versus Edmonton Oil Kings as they’d lose in a shootout, however, they officially eliminate Red Deer. Prince George played Vancouver and lost 3-1, further complicating things.
This coming week, most teams will be in three games starting Tuesday, with Victoria having Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday as well, which could hamper their ascent to the top of the BC Division. Buckle up as the week of turmoil continues!
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