More magic numbers

Updating the magic numbers today.....three teams (Spokane, Tri-City, and Vancouver) have already clinched playoff spots; I know the league has proclaimed the Hitmen to have clinched one but if you crunch the numbers, you see that in reality they could end up tied with Edmonton for the 8th spot....and while the Hitmen would have more wins, that doesn't get them into the playoffs. Ties for the final playoff spot in the WHL are settled with tiebreaker games. So, in theory the Hitmen could lose all their remaining games (has to be in regulation!), the Oil Kings could win all theirs, and then the Oil Kings could win the tiebreaker game and the Hitmen would then miss the playoffs.

Of course, I could be struck by lightning while claiming a million-dollar lottery ticket too. But the point is, it's not mathematical. Yet.

Here's what is required for the remaining teams to clinch:

East:
Calgary: 0.5 wins or Edmonton losses
Regina: 6 wins or Edmonton losses
Lethbridge: 6 wins or Edmonton losses
Moose Jaw: 8 wins or Edmonton losses
Kootenay: 8.5 wins or Edmonton losses
Swift Current: 9 wins or Edmonton losses
Brandon: 9.5 wins or Edmonton losses
Medicine Hat: 9.5 wins or Edmonton losses

West:
Kelowna: 1.5 wins or Prince George losses
Everett: 6 wins or Prince George losses
Seattle: 6.5 wins or Prince George losses
Kamloops: 9.5 wins or Prince George losses
Chilliwack: 10.5 wins or Prince George losses

And what it will take for the eventual 6 non-playoff teams to be mathematically eliminated:

Portland: 2 losses or Chilliwack wins
Red Deer: 3.5 losses or Medicine Hat wins
Prince Albert: 6 losses or Medicine Hat wins
Saskatoon: 7 losses or Medicine Hat wins
Edmonton: 9.5 losses or Medicine Hat wins
Prince George: 10.5 losses or Chilliwack wins

One actual hockey note.....those 6 Raider losses - plus the other games they'll play this year - will be done with their 2006 1st round bantam pick in the lineup. Yes, Cole Penner has officially rejoined the team, putting an end to his odd travels this season which saw him leave the Raiders in training camp, play Jr A in Brooks, then leaving Brooks in November and dropping back down to AAA midget in Medicine Hat - where he played one game and hasn't played a game since then this year. Now he's back with the Raiders and hopefully can get his WHL career on track.

And now the playoff matchups, if the season ended today.....this is using the standings based on points:

East:
#8 Medicine Hat at #1 Calgary
#7 Brandon at #2 Regina
#6 Swift Current at #3 Lethbridge
#5 Kootenay at #4 Moose Jaw

West:
#8 Chilliwack at #1 Spokane
#7 Kamloops at #2 Vancouver
#6 Seattle at #3 Tri-City
#5 Everett at #4 Kelowna

And the matchups if you based the standings on winning percentage instead:

East:
#8 Swift Current at #1 Calgary
#7 Medicine Hat at #2 Regina
#6 Kootenay at #3 Lethbridge
#5 Brandon at #4 Moose Jaw

West:
#8 Kamloops at #1 Spokane
#7 Chilliwack at #2 Vancouver
#6 Everett at #3 Tri-City
#5 Seattle at #4 Kelowna