Fight Guy
02-28-2006, 06:23 PM
A good analysis of the next three weeks of teams and playoff races.
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http://www.whl.ca/news/?id=3846
Just three weeks remain in the 2005-06 Western Hockey League regular season and there remains much to be decided with races for the final few playoff spots and key playoff positioning heating up.
EAST DIVISION * denotes clinched playoff spot
1) Moose Jaw 39-16-5-3, *86pts, 9 games remaining
2) Saskatoon 36-25-1-1, *74pts, 9 games remaining
3) Regina 32-24-1-4, 69pts, 11 games remaining
4) Brandon 24-29-5-4, 57pts, 10 games remaining
5) Prince Albert 21-30-1-10, 53pts, 10 games remaining
Both Moose Jaw and Saskatoon have clinched playoff positions.
Regina's magic number to clinch a playoff spot 2, meaning any combination of Pats' wins and Prince Albert losses totaling 2 ensures the Pats of a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot is tight as the Wheat Kings hold a four-point lead over the Raiders with both teams having 10 games to play. The Raiders and Wheat Kings meet twice this week, with both games being played in Brandon.
CENTRAL DIVISION
1) Medicine Hat 43-13-0-7, *93pts, 9 games remaining
2) Calgary 45-17-2-0, *92pts, 8 games remaining
3) Lethbridge 26-28-3-5, 60pts, 10 games remaining
4) Swift Current 18-31-6-8, 50pts, 9 games remaining
5) Red Deer 21-38-1-1, 47pts, 8 games remaining
Medicine Hat and Calgary have already clinched the top two playoff spots in the Central Division. The Tigers currently hold a one-point lead over the Hitmen for top spot in the Division and first overall in the WHL, and have one game in hand on the Hitmen as well. The Tigers and Hitmen will go head-to-head two more times this season, with both contests being played in Calgary.
Lethbridge's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 3, as any combination of 'Canes' wins and Rebels' losses totaling 3 would guarantee the Hurricanes a spot in the post-season. The Hurricanes visit the Broncos on Tuesday and host Tri-Cities on Wednesday.
The battle for the fourth and final playoff spot is still close with Swift Current holding a three-point lead over Red Deer while also having a game in hand on the Rebels. The Rebels and Broncos meet up on Saturday in Red Deer in what could be a crucial battle.
B.C. DIVISION
1) Vancouver 42-16-0-6, *90pts, 8 games remaining
2) Kelowna 39-18-1-3, *82pts, 11 games remaining
3) Kootenay 39-22-1-3, *82pts, 7 games remaining
4) Prince George 33-26-0-4, 70pts, 9 games remaining
5) Kamloops 31-29-2-3, 67pts, 7 games remaining
Vancouver, Kelowna and Kootenay have all clinched playoff spots in the B.C. Division, with Vancouver guaranteed to finish no lower than third in the division.
The Giants remain in the hunt for the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league's top regular-season record as they trail first-placed Medicine Hat by three points.
Kelowna and Kootenay both trail Vancouver by eight points, and will most likely battle for second place in the B.C. Division. The Rockets have four games in hand on the Ice and three on the Giants, and will face the Ice once and the Giants twice over the last three weeks of the season. Kootenay plays five of its last seven games at home, where the Ice have been very strong.
The battle for the fourth and final playoff spot remains tight as Prince George currently holds a three-point edge over Kamloops, and has three games in hand on the Blazers. The Cougars and Blazers meet three more times this season, including a crucial double-header in Prince George next weekend.
U.S. DIVISION
1) Everett 35-21-2-3, *75pts, 11 games remaining
2) Seattle 30-27-1-4, 65pts, 10 games remaining
3) Tri-Cities 27-29-4-3, 61pts, 9 games remaining
4) Portland 25-29-3-4, 57pts, 11 games remaining
5) Spokane 21-33-5-3, 50pts, 10 games remaining
Everett is the lone team in the U.S. Division to have clinched a playoff spot. The 'Tips need just two more wins to clinch home ice advantage through the first round of the playoffs.
The battle for the last three playoff spots in the division is still open with 15 points separating second place from fifth place.
Seattle's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 5, as any combination of Thunderbirds' wins and Spokane losses totaling 5 will ensure the T-Birds a spot. Nine of Seattle's 10 remaining games are versus divisional opponents, including three contests versus the Silvertips.
Tri-Cities currently holds a four-point lead over Portland for third in the U.S. Division, but the Hawks have two games in hand. The Hawks and Ams meet up two more times over the next three weeks. Portland has to play Seattle and Everett three times while also facing Vancouver and Kelowna. The Ams play six of their last nine games on the road, including visits to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Kootenay.
Spokane currently sits seven points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the U.S. Division, and must still face Vancouver, Kootenay and Seattle twice each.
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http://www.whl.ca/news/?id=3846
Just three weeks remain in the 2005-06 Western Hockey League regular season and there remains much to be decided with races for the final few playoff spots and key playoff positioning heating up.
EAST DIVISION * denotes clinched playoff spot
1) Moose Jaw 39-16-5-3, *86pts, 9 games remaining
2) Saskatoon 36-25-1-1, *74pts, 9 games remaining
3) Regina 32-24-1-4, 69pts, 11 games remaining
4) Brandon 24-29-5-4, 57pts, 10 games remaining
5) Prince Albert 21-30-1-10, 53pts, 10 games remaining
Both Moose Jaw and Saskatoon have clinched playoff positions.
Regina's magic number to clinch a playoff spot 2, meaning any combination of Pats' wins and Prince Albert losses totaling 2 ensures the Pats of a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot is tight as the Wheat Kings hold a four-point lead over the Raiders with both teams having 10 games to play. The Raiders and Wheat Kings meet twice this week, with both games being played in Brandon.
CENTRAL DIVISION
1) Medicine Hat 43-13-0-7, *93pts, 9 games remaining
2) Calgary 45-17-2-0, *92pts, 8 games remaining
3) Lethbridge 26-28-3-5, 60pts, 10 games remaining
4) Swift Current 18-31-6-8, 50pts, 9 games remaining
5) Red Deer 21-38-1-1, 47pts, 8 games remaining
Medicine Hat and Calgary have already clinched the top two playoff spots in the Central Division. The Tigers currently hold a one-point lead over the Hitmen for top spot in the Division and first overall in the WHL, and have one game in hand on the Hitmen as well. The Tigers and Hitmen will go head-to-head two more times this season, with both contests being played in Calgary.
Lethbridge's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 3, as any combination of 'Canes' wins and Rebels' losses totaling 3 would guarantee the Hurricanes a spot in the post-season. The Hurricanes visit the Broncos on Tuesday and host Tri-Cities on Wednesday.
The battle for the fourth and final playoff spot is still close with Swift Current holding a three-point lead over Red Deer while also having a game in hand on the Rebels. The Rebels and Broncos meet up on Saturday in Red Deer in what could be a crucial battle.
B.C. DIVISION
1) Vancouver 42-16-0-6, *90pts, 8 games remaining
2) Kelowna 39-18-1-3, *82pts, 11 games remaining
3) Kootenay 39-22-1-3, *82pts, 7 games remaining
4) Prince George 33-26-0-4, 70pts, 9 games remaining
5) Kamloops 31-29-2-3, 67pts, 7 games remaining
Vancouver, Kelowna and Kootenay have all clinched playoff spots in the B.C. Division, with Vancouver guaranteed to finish no lower than third in the division.
The Giants remain in the hunt for the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league's top regular-season record as they trail first-placed Medicine Hat by three points.
Kelowna and Kootenay both trail Vancouver by eight points, and will most likely battle for second place in the B.C. Division. The Rockets have four games in hand on the Ice and three on the Giants, and will face the Ice once and the Giants twice over the last three weeks of the season. Kootenay plays five of its last seven games at home, where the Ice have been very strong.
The battle for the fourth and final playoff spot remains tight as Prince George currently holds a three-point edge over Kamloops, and has three games in hand on the Blazers. The Cougars and Blazers meet three more times this season, including a crucial double-header in Prince George next weekend.
U.S. DIVISION
1) Everett 35-21-2-3, *75pts, 11 games remaining
2) Seattle 30-27-1-4, 65pts, 10 games remaining
3) Tri-Cities 27-29-4-3, 61pts, 9 games remaining
4) Portland 25-29-3-4, 57pts, 11 games remaining
5) Spokane 21-33-5-3, 50pts, 10 games remaining
Everett is the lone team in the U.S. Division to have clinched a playoff spot. The 'Tips need just two more wins to clinch home ice advantage through the first round of the playoffs.
The battle for the last three playoff spots in the division is still open with 15 points separating second place from fifth place.
Seattle's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 5, as any combination of Thunderbirds' wins and Spokane losses totaling 5 will ensure the T-Birds a spot. Nine of Seattle's 10 remaining games are versus divisional opponents, including three contests versus the Silvertips.
Tri-Cities currently holds a four-point lead over Portland for third in the U.S. Division, but the Hawks have two games in hand. The Hawks and Ams meet up two more times over the next three weeks. Portland has to play Seattle and Everett three times while also facing Vancouver and Kelowna. The Ams play six of their last nine games on the road, including visits to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Kootenay.
Spokane currently sits seven points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the U.S. Division, and must still face Vancouver, Kootenay and Seattle twice each.