Swift Current beat Moose Jaw, but in a shootout so the Warriors get the loser point. This result leaves the two teams tied with 77 points each, and one game remaining - against each other in Moose Jaw tomorrow night. Winner gets 7th place and the Wheat Kings in the first round, loser gets 8th place and the Hitmen in the first round.
Swift was 2-4 against Brandon this year and 0-4 against the Hitmen so if that means anything, they'd probably like to win tomorrow and face the Wheat Kings. Whereas Moose Jaw was 2-2 against the Hitmen this year and 1-7 against Brandon so perhaps they'd rather lose tomorrow and face the Hitmen in the first round. We shall see.
Kootenay beat Edmonton, which wraps up 4th place for the Ice, and home ice advantage for their first round series with #5 Medicine Hat. The outcome of the Tigers' game with Lethbridge becomes inconsequential now that the Ice have won.
Everett beat Chilliwack, while Spokane beat Tri-City. These two outcomes mean that Portland will definitely finish in the #5 seed position now, as they cannot catch Spokane anymore. And Spokane will definitely finish in the #4 seed position, because they cannot catch Everett anymore.
As for first place, Everett is now in control. They are tied with Tri-City with 97 points apiece, with the Ams currently having the edge because they have more wins. But Tri-City is finished their season, while Everett plays tomorrow against Spokane. If the Tips get even one point from that game, they will win the division and get the #1 seed, while Tri-City will fall to #3. If the Tips don't get a point tomorrow, then the reverse happens - Tri-City #1 and Everett #3.
Kamloops lost to Vancouver to overtime, which means the Blazers get the loser point. That result, combined with Chilliwack's loss, means the Blazers move ahead of Chilliwack and will finish #7 and play Vancouver in the first round. The Bruins will finish #8 and play Tri-City or Everett.
So, with the final day of the season tomorrow, only two races remain undecided - Everett or Tri-City for #1/#3 in the West, and Swift Current or Moose Jaw for #7/#8 in the East.
Some notes now.....Jordan Eberle of the Pats became the 2nd player to get to 50 goals this season. He did it tonight against Brandon. After a hat trick last night to get to 47, Wheat Kings sniper Matt Calvert was goalless tonight and so he will not get to 50.
For the scoring title, Eberle now sits at #1 with 106 points. The only person who can catch him is Calgary's Brandon Kozun, who is three points back and the Hitmen close out their season tomorrow at home against Red Deer. It's a meaningless game though so maybe Kozun will not even play, which will give Eberle the title. We'll see.
Rumour has it that Shaw is going to cover the Vancouver Giants first round series against Kamloops in the first round. If they decide to cover an Eastern series instead, I hope they do either Kootenay-Medicine Hat or Saskatoon-Red Deer. Please don't do Calgary just because its the biggest market. It won't be a good series, whereas those other two have some promise to go long.
And about the Seattle & Lethbridge games - because Lethbridge lost, they keep alive their chances of landing the #1 overall pick in the bantam draft (aka the "Alex Forsberg sweepstakes"). Only the worst three teams overall have a shot at the #1 pick in the draft lottery. Prince George is going to finish last and get the best chance. Edmonton is going to be 2nd last and will have the 2nd-best chance. But Lethbridge and Seattle are tied with 48 points, with Seattle currently in 3rd-worst and Lethbridge in 4th-worst due to the Hurricanes having more wins. Lethbridge's season is over, while Seattle has one more game to play tomorrow against Vancouver. If they want that shot at the #1 pick, they need to lose both games tonight and tomorrow, in regulation. If they get a point....Lethbridge gets 3rd worst and the last shot at the #1 pick.
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