In the East, there's a 3-way race for the top three spots in the conference between Calgary (97 pts, 5 games remaining), Brandon (94 pts, 5gr) and Saskatoon (93 pts, 6gr). The team in first place is assured of not having to face more than one of the other two opponents in the playoffs (not to mention having home ice advantage) whereas 2nd & 3rd place could well have to play both of the other two teams in order to get out of the conference, so being #1 is always good. And there is a huge 4-point game on Sunday between Calgary and Saskatoon which will have big repercussions on that race. A win by the Hitmen will pretty much end Saskatoon's chances of finishing #1, while a win by the Blades will put the Blades two points back with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Brandon will play Moose Jaw and Prince Albert this weekend and try to gain ground on Sunday's loser.
The race for 4th-5th-6th in the East is down to Kootenay (85 pts, 5gr), Red Deer (80 pts, 6gr), and Medicine Hat (80 pts, 5gr). They are not going to catch the above three teams for a higher position but they're not going to be caught by the teams below them either. So #4 is kind of a coveted spot here since two of these three teams are going to face each other in the first round and #4 will have home ice for that. As for #6, they'll be punished for finishing "last" in the group of three by having to play either Brandon or Saskatoon in the first round. Anyway, a couple big 4-point games this weekend for these three teams too, as the Tigers play both the Ice and the Rebels this weekend.
And then there's Moose Jaw (74 pts, 6gr), Swift Current (72 pts, 4gr) and Prince Albert (67 pts, 5gr) who are fighting for the last two playoff spots. Honestly, it doesn't look good for the Raiders, who at bare minimum need at least 5 out of 10 points to make the playoffs. They still play Brandon once (on Sunday) and Saskatoon twice so it should be obvious how important it is that they beat Regina on Saturday if they are to have any chance at all. Moose Jaw and Swift Current still have two head-to-head meetings yet, which works in Prince Albert's favour, but only if the Raiders win their own games first. Otherwise those Bronco-Warriors head to heads are only going to decide 7th & 8th and which one plays Calgary and which one plays Brandon/Saskatoon.
To the Western conference now....
The battle for #1 is probably down to just Tri-City (93 pts, 6gr) and Everett (89 pts, 6gr) now.....Spokane (85 pts, 6gr) and Vancouver (83 pts, 6gr) may mathematically have a chance to catch the Americans but with 6 games left to play I think making up an 8 to 10 point deficit on a .700 team is just not realistic. Spokane may have a chance if they can win both their remaining games against the Americans since that would make up four of the eight points, but that still leaves the Chiefs having to make up four other points in four games, no small feat. Anyway, in the current two-team race for first both the Ams and the Tips play two games this weekend that they "should" win. Since there are no head-to-head games left, the Silvertips' chances at #1 basically rest with winning their own games and hoping the Americans lose some.
Since Vancouver is going to get seed #2, and Tri-City has already clinched finishing ahead of #5 Portland, the Ams have clinched at least the #4 seed and home ice in the first round while Everett, Spokane, and Portland (83 pts, 5gr) could all still finish in any of the #3, #4, #5 spots. Portland and Spokane play tonight in what is close to a must-win game for the Hawks if they want #4 and home ice. Losing will leave them four points back of the Chiefs and giving up a game in hand as well. Portland also entertains Tri-City on Saturday.....they can't catch the Ams but a win against a tough opponent (they are 1-8 against the Americans this year) would be big in boosting them up the standings.
Lastly we have Kelowna (68 pts, 5gr), Kamloops (66 pts, 4gr), and Chilliwack (64 pts, 6gr) battling for the #6 through #8 spots. And funny thing, all three of them host the Giants this weekend, who are playing a 3-in-3 weekend set through their three potential first round opponents. As a side note, if you're Chilliwack, wouldn't you really, REALLY like to try playing somebody other than Vancouver in the playoffs for once?
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