… and here’s how things stand in the race for first place in both the U.S. Division and the Western Conference:
1. Tri-City, 46-21-1-2, 95 points, two games remaining
2. Everett, 44-20-3-2, 93 points, three games remaining
3. Spokane, 43-21-3-2, 91 points, three games remaining
Tri-City and Spokane play a home-and-home on Friday and Saturday. Everett plays host to Seattle on Friday and Chilliwack on Saturday, then the Tips travel to Spokane on Sunday.
Any of these three teams can finish anywhere between first and third in the division. Spokane can even finish fourth should the Chiefs lose their final three games in regulation and Portland win its final two. So it’s a mad dash to the finish.
There’s all kinds of possible scenarios where teams finish tied. Here’s an effort to unravel that:
– If two teams finish tied, the first tiebreaker is total wins. If the teams are also tied for wins, the second tiebreaker is head-to-head. That means Everett doesn’t want to finish tied with Tri-City, because the Americans are on pace to have one more win if the teams finish equal on points. Even if they finish tied in both points and wins (which can only happen if the Americans get loser points), Tri-City owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. However, Everett is probably safe if the Tips finish tied with Spokane. The teams are on track to finish tied in wins if they finish tied in points (again, this could change because of loser points), and Everett has the head-to-head, regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
– There’s the unlikely possibility all three teams will finish tied (it would require Spokane winning both games against Tri-City in either overtime or a shootout). If that happens, the first tiebreaker is again total wins, but if this plays out then all three teams will have 46 victories. The second tiebreaker in a three-way tie is not head-to-head, it’s goal differential. Right now Tri-City is plus-79, Spokane plus-60 and Everett plus-51, so barring some ridiculous blowouts the Americans would win that one handily.
I hope that clears things up a little.
Anyway, on to injury news. Tips defensemen Radko Gudas and Alex Theriau both got banged up in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Portland. Both injuries are minor and both will be game-day decisions Friday against Seattle. Meanwhile, defenseman Curtis Kulchar is back to full speed and will be available this weekend.
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