Sports stats

WHL Portland Winterhawks

2022 WHL Playoffs: Examining Potential First-Round Scenarios

April 15, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Yesterday, it was announced that the Winterhawks will be hosting the first two games of the opening round at the VMC on Friday, April 22 at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday, April 23 at 6:00 P.M., regardless of the opponent. It's the first time in three years the team will get to host playoff action at the VMC, and we can't wait!

But determining who the team's opponent will be remains a bit tricky, even as we enter the final weekend of the regular season, so let's take a look at the candidates.

There are four teams vying for just three playoff spots - Vancouver currently sits in sixth place with 52 points, followed by Spokane in seventh with 51 points, Prince George in eighth with 51 points and Victoria on the outside looking in with 50 points. Each of those teams has played 66 games, meaning they have two left to play this weekend, and whichever one finishes with the most points (or comes out on top in a tie-breaking scenario) will earn the #6 seed and take on the Winterhawks in round one.

Vancouver Giants

Vancouver opens the weekend at home tonight against fifth-seeded Kelowna before traveling on Saturday to take on second-seeded Kamloops. The Giants have been competitive against the Rockets this year with five wins in 11 games, but have come out on top just once in their last six meetings. Vancouver has struggled against Kamloops to the tune of a 2-8-1-0 mark in the season series, though each of the clubs' last three contests have been decided by just one goal.

How they stack up vs. Portland:

Vancouver proved a difficult nut for the Winterhawks to crack this year, taking a 3-1-0-0 record against Portland this year. The Hawks did get the last laugh, a rousing 7-2 win last week to kick off the team's current five-game winning streak. Fabian Lysell led the way with six points against the Hawks for Vancouver, followed by Adam Hall and Ty Thorpe with five points apiece. Clay Hanus' six points paced Portland, with James Stefan notching five of his own and four players recording four points across the season series.

Spokane Chiefs

Meanwhile, Spokane and Victoria could be the must-watch series of the weekend as they play back-to-back at Save-On-Foods Centre in Victoria. This one's a bit of a coin-flip - the Chiefs and Royals have played just once this year, a 6-5 affair won by Spokane in overtime on November 30. Of course, both teams have grown since then, lineups have shifted and trades have been made, so it's anyone's guess who wins a tilt between those two at this stage of the year. But a regulation win tonight guarantees the Chiefs a spot in the postseason and a shot at the #6 spot should Vancouver and Prince George drop points.

How they stack up vs. Portland:

The Winterhawks relished games against the Chiefs in 2021-22, notching 10 wins in 12 meetings between the clubs. Eight different Portland skaters finished with double-digit point tallies against Spokane, and eight produced at a point-per-game pace or better. Goaltender Taylor Gauthier also met Spokane six times in 2022, and came out victorious in each of those contests. For the Chiefs, defenseman Graham Sward was the only player to hit double digits against the Hawks, posting 11 points in the 12 matchups. Bear Hughes led the forwards with nine points in that span.

Prince George Cougars

Prince George takes on the same teams in reverse order, but both of the Cougars' games come on the road. The Cougars have not fared well against either opponent, boasting just two wins against both Kelowna and Kamloops this year. Prince George did halt a five-game losing skid in very timely fashion last weekend, however, as they ousted the visiting Royals to give themselves a one-point advantage over Victoria and a bit of momentum heading into this week.

How they stack up vs. Portland:

Portland was perfect against Prince George this year, picking up four wins in four meetings and outscoring the Cougars 22-8 in that span. The Winterhawks tallied four or more goals in each contest while limiting the Cougars to three or fewer goals. Jaydon Dureau caught fire with 11 points against Prince George this year, followed by Tyson Kozak and James Stefan with seven points each in the season series. Meanwhile, Riley Heidt proved tough to handle for the Hawks as he recorded five points, the only Cougar to put up a point-per-game average or better.

Victoria Royals

As mentioned above, Victoria hosts Spokane for a two-game winner-take-all series this weekend on the island. It's a tall task for the Royals to climb all the way to #6, but they certainly have the talent to take care of their own business should they get help from Kelowna and Kamloops in the other matchups.

How they stack up vs. Portland:

Victoria picked up two wins over Portland - a 5-4 OT win at the VMC on Dec. 4 and a 5-3 decision in Victoria on Apr. 8 - before falling to a resurgent Hawks team 5-2 on Apr. 9. Top producers Bailey Peach, Tarun Fizer and Riley Gannon have carried the Royals this year, and the season series with the Winterhawks was no different. In just three games, Fizer posted seven points, Peach recorded five and Gannon nabbed four to lead their team. Meanwhile, Robbie Fromm-Delorme hit his stride against the Royals, particularly on the road, as he and Cross Hanas grabbed six points apiece to lead the Hawks in the season series.

The Winterhawks could find out their opponent as soon as tonight - a Vancouver win coupled with regulation losses for both Prince George and Spokane would lock in the Giants as the #6 seed. Any other result, and they'll have to wait until Saturday's games wrap up to confirm their first-round foe.

So keep an eye on that scoreboard tonight, and get ready for the return of playoff hockey to the Rose City!

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2022


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Portland Winterhawks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central