The fat lady is warming up in Portland....with the Hawks' loss last night, they are now on the brink of being the first team in the league mathematically eliminated from the playoffs this year. The only way they can make the playoffs now is to win every single game the rest of the way, and have Chilliwack lose every one of their games in regulation. That would get them a tie with the Bruins for the last playoff spot in the West and set up a one-game tiebreaker for the right to make the playoffs. You know, I just don't like the chances of this happening.
Portland was mathematically eliminated on February 10 last season. It will almost certainly happen earlier than that this year. I bet Portland gets shown to the golf course tomorrow night when they host Tri-City.
What's required for teams to make the playoffs.....
East:
Lethbridge: 4 wins or Edmonton losses
Regina: 5 wins or Edmonton losses
Moose Jaw: 6 wins or Edmonton losses
Kootenay: 6.5 wins or Edmonton losses
Medicine Hat: 6.5 wins or Edmonton losses
Swift Current: 7 wins or Edmonton losses
Brandon: 8 wins or Edmonton losses
West:
Kelowna: 1 win or Prince George loss
Seattle: 5 wins or Prince George losses
Everett: 5.5 wins or Prince George losses
Kamloops: 9 wins or Prince George losses
Chilliwack: 9.5 wins or Prince George losses
And what it will take for the 6 non-playoff teams to be eliminated:
Portland: 0.5 losses or Chilliwack wins
Red Deer: 3 losses or Brandon wins
Saskatoon: 5 losses or Brandon wins
Prince Albert: 5.5 losses or Brandon wins
Edmonton: 8 losses or Brandon wins
Prince George: 9.5 losses or Chilliwack wins
Portland isn't alone....I would put money on Red Deer being mathematically eliminated by the end of the weekend as well. They have three tough games this weekend against Calgary, Swift Current, and Medicine Hat, while Brandon plays Prince Albert (twice) and Saskatoon. I'm sure somewhere in those six games there will be a total of three Rebels losses and/or Wheat King wins.
Speaking of Red Deer's weekend games, they are bringing in their 2007 first round bantam pick, Connor Redmond, for his first taste of WHL regular season action in those games.
Happy Chinese New Year today to those of you who celebrate it. I understand this coming year is the year of the rat, which no doubt bodes well for at least one WHLer.
Back to something I mentioned last week.....the Patriots obviously fell short in their quest for a perfect season, but the AAA midget Winnipeg Thrashers are still 36-0 with four games to play. They play tomorrow and Saturday, and then again next Friday and Sunday. A perfect season is an impressive feat at any level, and AAA midget hockey might not be the NHL or even the WHL but it's still a very competitive level. Half of the kids on the Thrashers are property of WHL clubs and could be in the WHL next year, including defenceman Cory Baldwin (Spokane 2007 4th round), right wing David Conrad (Spokane 2006 3rd round), center Matt Glowa (Prince Albert 2007 7th round), center Jesse Hall (Brandon 2007 6th round), center Mike Hay (Swift Current 2007 4th round), left wing Rob Lazo (Tri-City list player), goaltender Brett Martyniuk (Tri-City list player), right wing Kyle Mulder (Regina 2006 8th round), defenceman Jesse Pearson (Edmonton list player), right wing Mark Stone (Brandon 2007 5th round), and defenceman Jeff Weselake (Kamloops 2006 10th round). Mulder, Conrad, Hall, and Stone are all in the top 15 in league scoring.
No comments:
Post a Comment