THE ROAD TO THE 2014 WHL PLAYOFFS
Feb 26, 2014 - 07:45 MSTCalgary, AB – The 2013-14Western Hockey League regular season is in its stretch run, with less than three weeks left to play before the post-season begins.
In the Western Conference, the Spokane Chiefs joined the Kelowna Rockets, Portland Winterhawks, Victoria Royals and Seattle Thunderbirds among Clubs to have locked up playoff berths.
In the Eastern Conference, the Medicine Hat Tigers, Edmonton Oil Kings and Calgary Hitmen all clinched playoff spots over the past week.
The WHL's Eastern and Western Conferences will use a Conference playoff format.
The first place teams in the two Divisions in each Conference will receive the top two playoff seeds based on regular season points. The next six Clubs in each Conference, based on regular season points, will receive the 3rd - 8th playoff positions. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5 in a best-of-seven series.
The first place Clubs in each Division will be guaranteed the top two playoff seeds in the first round. As in previous seasons, the format for the remaining three rounds of the WHL Playoffs will remain the same. The four Clubs winning first round series in each Conference will advance to the second round, where they will be ranked in order of regular season points. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 4, and 2 vs. 3 in best of seven series.
The two Clubs winning the second round series in each Conference will advance to the third round (WHL Conference Championships), where they will be ranked in order of regular season points. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 2 in a best of seven series.
The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will advance to the best of seven WHL Championship Series, with the Club having the most regular season points receiving home ice advantage
WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE
X denotes clinched playoff spot, *denoted Division leader
1). X *Edmonton Oil Kings 62gp-44-15-2-1, 91pts (10 games remaining)
2). *Regina Pats 64gp-35-23-3-3, 76pts (8 games remaining)
3). X Calgary Hitmen 63gp-41-15-3-4, 89pts (9 games remaining)
4). X Medicine Hat Tigers 64gp-39-22-3-0, 81pts (8 games remaining)
5). Kootenay Ice 63gp-36-23-2-2, 76pts (8 games remaining)
6). Swift Current Broncos 63gp-31-24-2-6, 70pts (10 games remaining)
7). Brandon Wheat Kings 64gp-30-26-2-2, 68pts (8 games remaining)
8). Red Deer Rebels 64gp-30-30-1-3, 64pts (8 games remaining)
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9). Prince Albert Raiders 64gp-29-30-3-2, 63pts (8 games remaining)
10). Moose Jaw Warriors 63gp-16-38-3-6, 41pts (9 games remaining)
11). Saskatoon Blades 63gp-16-42-2-3, 37pts (9 games remaining)
12). Lethbridge Hurricanes 65gp-12-48-2-3, 29pts (7 games remaining)
The see-saw battle between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Calgary Hitmen for the Central Division lead and first place in the Eastern Conference continues, with the Oil Kings holding a two-point lead.
The Oil Kings, who hold one game in hand on the Hitmen, visit Calgary for a key match-up on Saturday. The Hitmen, who saw their nine-game win streak snapped last weekend, host Kamloops on Friday before Saturday’s important contest versus the Oil Kings.
The Regina Pats continue to lead the East Division, but saw their lead cut to six points over the Swift Current Broncos, thanks to the Broncos’ win over the Pats on Wednesday. The teams meet up for another crucial clash on Friday.
The Medicine Hat Tigers sit five points clear of the Kootenay Ice for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, locked up a playoff spot for the 12th consecutive season with their win in Edmonton on Wednesday. The Tigers are in Red Deer on Friday before hosting Kamloops on Saturday night.
The Ice have already guaranteed themselves a record of .500 or better for a WHL-record 15th straight season, and now have their sights set on locking up a playoff berth. Any combination of points gained or points dropped by Prince Albert totaling four will earn the Ice a spot in the 2014 WHL playoffs. The Ice continue their trek through Saskatchewan this week as Sam Reinhart looks to extend his 21-game point streak.
The Swift Current Broncos currently sit in sixth place in the Conference, and hold a seven-point cushion for a playoff berth. The Broncos will look for another win over the Regina Pats this weekend as they aim to close the gap on the East Division leaders.
The Brandon Wheat Kings, Red Deer Rebels and Prince Albert Raiders all sit within five points of each other in the seventh, eighth and ninth spots, respectively, in the Eastern Conference. All three teams have eight games remaining on their schedules.
The Wheat Kings face division rivals Saskatoon and Swift Current on the weekend. The Raiders kick off a four-game home stand on Saturday versus Kootenay. The Rebels welcome Medicine Hat on Friday.
The Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE
1). X *Kelowna Rockets 63gp-50-9-0-4, 104pts (9 games remaining)
2). X *Portland Winterhawks 63gp-46-12-2-3, 97pts (9 games remaining)
3). X Victoria Royals 64gp-43-17-1-3, 90pts (8 games remaining)
4). X Seattle Thunderbirds 63gp-38-19-2-4, 82pts (9 games remaining)
5). X Spokane Chiefs 63gp-36-21-3-3, 78pts (9 games remaining)
6). Everett Silvertips 63gp-31-23-7-2, 71pts (9 games remaining)
7). Vancouver Giants 64gp-30-24-7-3, 70pts (8 games remaining)
8). Tri-City Americans 63gp-27-28-3-5, 62pts (9 games remaining)
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9). Prince George Cougars 66gp-26-32-3-5, 60pts (6 games remaining)
10). Kamloops Blazers 64gp-13-46-2-3, 31pts (8 games remaining)
The Kelowna Rockets continue to hold down first place in the B.C. Division, Western Conference and overall WHL standings with 104 points. However, the Portland Winterhawks are closing in, thanks to their remarkable 20-game-and-counting winning streak.
The Rockets own a 14-point lead over the Victoria Royals for top spot in the division, and can clinch their third division title in four year with any combination of points gained or points dropped by Victoria totaling three. The Rockets take on the Vancouver Giants in a home-and-home set this weekend.
The Winterhawks, who haven’t lost since January 10th at Victoria, are closing in on the WHL single-season record of 22 straight victories, needing just two more wins to equal the mark set by the Estevan Bruins in 1967. The Hawks can also lock up their third U.S. Division title in four seasons with any combination of points gained or points dropped by Seattle totaling four. The Winterhawks will visit Spokane on Friday before traveling to Kent for a date with the Thunderbirds on Saturday.
The Victoria Royals sit a comfortable 12 points ahead of Seattle for third place in the Western Conference, and will most likely stay there as they also sit 14 points back of Kelowna for the B.C. Division lead. The Royals head to Prince George this weekend for a pair of games versus the Cougars.
The Thunderbirds currently sit four points ahead of the Spokane Chiefs for fourth place in the Western Conference, with both teams having nine remaining games. The teams meet up one more time this season, and appear destined for a first-round playoff match-up. Seattle hosts Portland and Everett this weekend while the Chiefs welcome Portland and Tri-Cities on Friday and Saturday.
The Vancouver Giants currently own a one-point lead over Everett for sixth place in the Western Conference, but the Silvertips hold a pair of games in hand. Vancouver can lock up a playoff spot with any combination of points gained or points lost by Prince George totaling 3 while the Silvertips’ magic number to clinch is four. The Giants face a tough home-and-home set versus Kelowna on the weekend while the ‘Tips have weekend games versus Tri-City and Seattle.
The battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference is a close one, with the Americans holding a two-point lead over the Cougars. However, the Cougars have played three more games than the Ams.
The Americans face a tough stretch run, with seven of their final nine games scheduled against teams among the top five in the Western Conference. The Cougars play five of their final six games on home ice, including a pair of contests versus the Victoria Royals this weekend.
The Kamloops Blazers have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
BOB CLARKE TROPHY RACE
1. Mitch Holmberg, SPO 63gp-57g-50a-107pts
2. Nic Petan, POR 54gp-34g-72a-106pts
3. Oliver Bjorkstrand, POR 60gp-43g-53a-96pts
4. Sam Reinhart, KTN 51gp-33g-59a-93pts
5. Todd Fiddler, P.G. 60gp-42g-47a-89pts
6. Jaedon Descheneau, KTN 61gp-39g-49a-88pts
7. Leon Draisaitl, P.A. 56gp-29g-57a-86pts
8. Henrik Samuelsson, EDM 56gp-30g-52a-82pts
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