Finish Line Approaching on Blazers Regular Season
March 1, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
With nine games remaining on the regular season schedule for the Kamloops Blazers, the team is among five Western Conference teams who are in a tight race for the final playoff spots.
With 67 points in 63 games after the weekend, the Blazers currently hold on to eighth in the Conference as the stretch run nears. Teams just ahead in the standings include Spokane (67 points, 62 games), Portland (68 points, 63 games), and, divisionally, Prince George (70 points, 63 games); just behind the Blazers in ninth place is Tri-City (63 points, 62 games). Of Kamloops' final nine games, five will come against these clubs.
At the team's 60-game mark, Blazers Head Coach Don Hay talked about what success his group will need to clinch a playoff spot.
"I think realistically if we win seven of 12 it'll give us a real good opportunity to get in", Hay said. "We play Spokane twice; we play Tri-City - those are teams that we're competing against head-to-head."
The Blazers won games on Friday and Saturday night - 3-2 in overtime against Everett and 4-2 against Vancouver, respectively, before dropping a 4-3 decision on Sunday against Seattle to close out their weekend.
While Victoria and Kelowna are first and second place in the B.C. Division and the entire WHL standings, respectively, Kamloops has gained considerable ground on Prince George in recent weeks. The Blazers are 5-3-0-1 (11 points) since Feb. 12th, while the Cougars are a mere 2-5-1-0 (5 points) in that same time frame.
"Prince George isn't playing lights out right now, so there's a chance if we get going now we can move up into third and pass them", Hay said. "We just have to play well in the game that we're playing, that's the most important thing."
Right now every game is the most important game that you're playing, I don't think you can look ahead and pick out certain games that are more important."
The Blazers will host the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday, before a home-and-home series this weekend with the Kelowna Rockets, beginning in Kamloops on Friday.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2016
- Hurricanes' Tyler Wong Named CHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Hockey Challenge 2016 Raises $200,000 - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hawryluk Earns WHL Honour - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Royals' Griffen Outhouse Named Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month - Victoria Royals
- Royals' Outhouse Named Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month - WHL
- Wheat Kings' Hawryluk Named WHL Player of the Month - WHL
- Cole Kehler Added to Blazers Roster - Kamloops Blazers
- Wednesday Rain Check Date - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Rockets Week: Home and Home with Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
- RE/MAX Announces Phase Two of Home Team Contest - WHL
- Finish Line Approaching on Blazers Regular Season - Kamloops Blazers
- Raiders to Host Military Appreciation Night - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tune in to SWX Tuesday Night for Final Chiefs Insider Episode of the Season - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Notes: Broncos Battle Red Deer - Swift Current Broncos
- Playoff Tickets on Sale March 19th - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Florida Panthers Sign Hawryluk - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game 64: March 1 vs. Kootenay - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Derek Ryan Recalled to Carolina Hurricanes - Spokane Chiefs
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