First, Saskatoon beat Moose Jaw 3-2 in a shootout. This game had no playoff implications at all since Saskatoon has clinched first place overall and Moose Jaw is locked in to the #5 seed in the East.
Next, Prince Albert beat the Hitmen 6-2. This was a big win for the Raiders because it clinches them at least a tie for the 8th playoff spot in the East. The only way Lethbridge can make the playoffs now (and knock Prince Albert out) is to win both their remaining games and hope the Raiders lose both their remaining games in regulation. Then the two teams would have a one-game playoff to decide who gets the 8th spot. In other words - it's all over, Lethbridge.
Portland beat Vancouver 5-3. Important win for the Hawks as they try to hold off Spokane (who also won) for #1 seed in the West. Still one point apart and both teams have three games left. For the Giants, it's their 7th straight loss and they've now fallen out of 5th place down into 6th. It's looking more and more like Vancouver's season might have its earliest end in years.
Spokane topped Chilliwack 2-1 in a shootout. As mentioned above, Spokane is pursuing Portland for #1 in the West and they needed the win to keep pace with the Hawks. For Chilliwack, the loser point moves them ahead of Vancouver and into the #5 spot. Pretty good for a team that was battling for a playoff spot just three weeks ago.
As an aside, the shots on goal in the Spokane-Chilliwack game were recorded as 78-23 for the Chiefs. If this is true, then Chilliwack goalie Lucas Gore turned in the goaltending performance of the year in the WHL (by a mile!) in stopping 77 of 78 shots. However, that shot count is very, very hard to believe so hopefully the league will verify whether it is in fact accurate.
Everett edged Tri-City 2-1. Big win for Everett and they take a giant step towards clinching a playoff spot. One more win in their last three games should do it for them, I would think.
And lastly, Seattle shutout Kelowna 5-0, a huge win for Seattle as they try to get themselves into a playoff spot. They are now 3 points back of Prince George in 8th and have a game in hand on the Cougars. It's still an uphill climb for the Birds but since a loss would have almost killed their chances, they are still alive at least. For Kelowna, the loss represents a blown chance to pass Tri-City for 3rd overall in the West, since the Ams lost. Kelowna still trails the Americans by one point and the Americans have a game in hand. Of course Kelowna is going to be #2 seed for the first round but the overall standings could be important in the 2nd round.
2 comments:
Secretly, although not so much now that I am posting it, I am hoping for a tie for 8th between the Silvertips and Thunderbirds. A one game playoff between the two teams would do wonders for the rivalry.
The shot clock in Spokane has always been a mystery. I think the Chiefs get three shots if it's a scoring chance, two if it's from the perimeter and one if it's a whiff, mind you, it has to be a "solid" whiff.
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