Only one game left in the regular season and wouldn't you know it, a playoff spot hangs on the outcome of that game. Everything else is decided though:
- Brandon whipped Regina, enabling the Wheat Kings to pass the Pats and claim 6th place in the East. Regina gets 7th.
- Kootenay lost to Calgary for the 2nd straight night, which means the Ice finish 8th. For the Hitmen, the win cemented 3rd place and forced the Tigers to settle for 4th.
- Saskatoon lost but it didn't matter as the Regina & Kootenay losses meant nobody caught them. The Blades stay in 5th place.
- Edmonton's win over Red Deer locked up first overall, so the Oil Kings will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
- in the West, the only game with implications on playoff spots was in Seattle, where the Silvertips scored two late third period goals to beat the Thunderbirds and stay alive. Everett is now holding down 8th place and Seattle must beat Portland tomorrow in the WHL's regular season finale in order to force a one-game playoff in Seattle. A loss for the Birds eliminates them and gives the 8th spot to Everett.
So with 20 of the 22 teams having completed their regular seasons, the eight playoff matchups are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
#8 Kootenay Ice at #1 Edmonton Oil Kings
#7 Regina Pats at #2 Moose Jaw Warriors
#6 Brandon Wheat Kings at #3 Calgary Hitmen
#5 Saskatoon Blades at #4 Medicine Hat Tigers
Western Conference:
#8 Everett Silvertips OR Seattle Thunderbirds at #1 Tri-City Americans
#7 Victoria Royals at #2 Kamloops Blazers
#6 Kelowna Rockets at #3 Portland Winterhawks
#5 Spokane Chiefs at #4 Vancouver Giants
One last note, Prince Albert's loss tonight means they finish last overall and thus will have the best (57%) chance of winning the #1 overall bantam draft pick when the league holds its' draft lottery this week. At stake is the right to pick forward Mathew Barzal, the heavy favourite to go #1 and a player who has drawn comparisons to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
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