The WHL season came to an end Sunday.
Wait a minute. Not so fast. The season actually didn’t end Sunday as originally scheduled, and one of those yet-to-be-played games has direct implications on the Everett Silvertips’ playoff series.
The regular season was extended two days because of three teams: the Spokane Chiefs, Edmonton Oil Kings and Prince Albert Raiders.
The situation that affects Everett involves Spokane. The Chiefs had to postpone their final two games — scheduled for Saturday at Tri-City and Sunday at home against Kelowna — when 11 of the team’s players came down with food poisoning, meaning Spokane couldn’t field anything close to a full lineup.
The Kelowna game was rescheduled for Monday and the Tri-City game for today. Those games are significant because the Chiefs and Rockets are still battling for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, with Spokane needing to win both those games to earn the spot.
That’s where Everett comes in. The Tips are playing Tri-City in the first round of the playoffs, with the series beginning Friday. Tri-City, by having its final game on Tuesday rather than Sunday, loses two days of rest and preparation. All for a game that means nothing for the Americans, but may have major implications for Spokane.
As for Edmonton and Prince Albert, tonight they play a one-game playoff to determine who takes the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They finished tied with 67 points, and the league rules dictate that when teams tie for the final playoff spot a tiebreaker game is necessary. It’s just the fourth time in league history a tiebreaker game has been required.
It was a bitter ending to the regular season for Edmonton, which had the playoff spot in its hands. All the Oil Kings needed to do in their final two games against a Red Deer team that missed the playoffs was secure one point. However, Edmonton ended up losing both contests, thus finishing tied with Prince Albert. To make matters worse for Edmonton, the Raiders had more wins (31) than the Oil Kings (29), meaning the tiebreaker game is being played in Prince Albert.
All of which proves that more than just games can go to overtime.
Around the WHL
The Chilliwack Bruins took the next step in cleaning house, firing head coach Jim Hiller. He followed former general manager Darrell May out the door. May was fired in January. Hiller coached Chilliwack during its first three seasons, but the Bruins missed the playoffs this year after going 19-46-2-5. … There may be a territory battle brewing as the NHL’s Calgary Flames have declared their intention of moving their American Hockey League affiliate from Quad City, Ill., to Abbotsford, B.C. Abbotsford is in the drawing area of both Chilliwack and Vancouver, and there’s concern an AHL team there would have adverse effects on both franchises. … Rumors are swirling that Brent Sutter may be returning to Red Deer. Sutter, the owner and former coach of the Rebels, is currently the head coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. But rumors out of New York say he wants to be closer to his family. … Spokane forward Drayson Bowman was named the WHL Player of the Week. Bowman had three goals and five assists as the Chiefs went 2-0.
League leaders
Points — Casey Pierro-Zabotel (Vancouver) 115; goals — Joel Broda (Calgary) 53; assists — Pierro-Zabotel 79; penalty minutes — Matt McCue (Medicine Hat) 195; wins — Martin Jones (Calgary) 45; goals against average — Dustin Tokarski (Spokane) 1.99; save percentage — Tokarski .936.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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