Chiefs News: Chiefs Enter Final Week Of Regular Season
Published on March 8, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release
The Chiefs have played 68 games all so the final four of the regular season will matter. Spokane will finish up regular season play this week with first place in the Conference still up for grabs. Fifth place is also in the discussion, for that matter.
Of their four remaining games, three will be played against teams above them in the standings, two versus Tri-City and one against Everett. After Spokane hosts the Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday, the Chiefs will play a home-and-home series with the Americans on Friday and Saturday before Everett visits on Sunday in the regular season finale. Tuesday and Friday will begin at 7:00 in the Arena with Sunday's start time scheduled for 6:00.
In a conference that advances the top eight teams to the post-season, the Chiefs can finish anywhere from first to fifth (with the exception being second). The first place seed will play the eighth place team, two will play seven, three versus six and four against five in the first round. At this point, Spokane's opponent could be Chilliwack, Kelowna, Kamloops or Portland.
Everett and Tri-City are tied for the Conference lead with 93 points. Tri-City has played 69 games and has three left while the Silvertips have played 68 and with four remaining this week.
To finish with the top seed, Spokane will need to win all four games this week and hope for Everett to slip up at least one more time (plus a loss to the Chiefs in the finale). Spokane can't finish second as that spot is reserved for the B.C. Division Champion Vancouver Giants. Spokane can also finish third, fourth or fifth depending on how the final week goes for all teams involved.
Portland will play three more times; home versus Everett and at Chilliwack and Seattle. Before Everett's season finishes in Spokane on Sunday the Silvertips will play at Portland and at home against Seattle and Chilliwack. Tri-City plays at home against Seattle before the home-and-home with the Chiefs.
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the highest seed would go to the team with the most wins. The second tie-breaker would be points in the head-to-head match-up during their season series.
After Sunday's game, the only guarantee the Chiefs have is they're going to be playing in the post season. Beyond that, their four games this week will decide a first round opponent and schedule. No matter if the Chiefs have home-ice advantage in the first round, Spokane's post-season will begin on the road the weekend of March 19th and 20th due to the NCAA Men's basketball first and second round tournament games that will be played in the Arena.
For more information, check back at www.spokanechiefs.com as the week progresses.
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