The Road to the 2012 WHL Playoffs - Fourth Edition
Published on February 27, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - The 2011-12 Western Hockey League regular season is in the stretch run, with just three weeks remaining on the schedule before the post-season begins.
The Eastern Conference saw its first playoff berth locked up this past week, while a few more Eastern Conference clubs are closing in on playoff spots.
The WHL's Eastern and Western Conferences will use a Conference playoff format.
The first place teams in the two Divisions in each Conference will receive the top two playoff seeds based on regular season points. The next six Clubs in each Conference, based on regular season points, will receive the 3rd - 8th playoff positions. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5 in a best-of-seven series.
The first place Clubs in each Division will be guaranteed the top two playoff seeds in the first round. As in previous seasons, the format for the remaining three rounds of the WHL Playoffs will remain the same. The four Clubs winning first round series in each Conference will advance to the second round, where they will be ranked in order of regular season points. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 4, and 2 vs. 3 in best of seven series.
The two Clubs winning the second round series in each Conference will advance to the third round (WHL Conference Championships), where they will be ranked in order of regular season points. The Clubs will be paired 1 vs. 2 in a best of seven series.
The Eastern and Western Conference Champions will advance to the best of seven WHL Championship Series, with the Club having the most regular season points receiving home ice advantage
WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE
X denotes clinched playoff spot, *denoted Division leader
1). *Edmonton Oil Kings X 63gp-41-15-3-4, 89pts (9 games remaining)
2). *Moose Jaw Warriors 62gp-38-17-5-2, 83pts (10 games remaining)
3). Medicine Hat Tigers 63gp-37-21-2-3, 79pts (9 games remaining)
4). Calgary Hitmen 63gp-37-23-2-1, 77pts (9 games remaining)
5). Kootenay Ice 63gp-34-21-4-4, 76pts (9 games remaining)
6). Saskatoon Blades 63gp-36-25-0-2, 74pts (9 games remaining)
7). Regina Pats 63gp-33-23-5-2, 73pts (9 games remaining)
8). Brandon Wheat Kings 64gp-34-26-1-3, 72pts (8 games remaining)
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9). Red Deer Rebels 61gp-28-27-1-5, 62pts (11 games remaining)
10). Swift Current Broncos 64gp-23-33-2-6, 54pts (8 games remaining)
11). Lethbridge Hurricanes 63gp-25-37-0-1, 51pts (8 games remaining)
12). Prince Albert Raiders 62gp-20-37-3-2, 45pts (10 games remaining)
The Edmonton Oil Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors remain in the No. 1 and 2 spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Oil Kings posted a 3-1 record over the past week to lock up a playoff berth and open up a 10-point lead for first place in the Central Division and a six-point lead over Moose Jaw for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Edmonton visits Kootenay on Wednesday before hosting Swift Current and Saskatoon on the weekend.
The Warriors remain in first place in the East Division with a nine-point lead over Saskatoon, but sit six points back of the Oil Kings for first place in the conference. A win over the visiting Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday night would lock up a playoff spot for the Warriors.
Just seven points separates third-placed Medicine Hat from eighth-placed Brandon in the tightly-contested Eastern Conference.
The Tigers hold a two-point lead over Calgary for third spot after posting a 1-1-0-1 record over the last week. The Tigers hit the road for a pair of mid-week games in Prince George before meeting the Giants in Vancouver on Friday night. Any combination of points gained or points dropped by Red Deer totaling four will guarantee the Tigers post-season hockey
The Hitmen posted a pair of wins in three games over the last week to regain fourth place in the conference, but sit just one point ahead of Kootenay. The Hitmen host the Broncos on Tuesday before critical clashes with Saskatoon on Wednesday and Kootenay on Saturday.
The Ice posted a 2-2 record on their East Division tour this past week, and currently sit in fifth place in the conference. Kootenay faces the conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday before taking on Calgary on Saturday night.
The Blades have won just four of their last 11 games, and now sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind the East Division-leading Warriors. The Blades kick off a six-game road trip next Friday in Calgary. Seven of the Blades' final nine games are on the road, where they are 13-15-0-1 this season.
The Pats' 2-0-0-1 record over the past week kept them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and put them just one point back of Saskatoon for sixth place. The Pats face Brandon four more times this season, and will play seven of their final nine games at home.
The Wheat Kings posted a 2-0-0-1 record in three games decided in shootouts this past week, and now hold a 10-point lead over Red Deer for the final playoff spot in the conference. The Wheat Kings have the fewest number of games remaining among current playoff teams in the conference, and will face divisional opponents in seven of their final eight contests.
The Rebels fell 10 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite posting a 2-1 record over the last week. The Rebels conclude their eight-game road trip with stops in Moose Jaw and Regina on Tuesday and Wednesday before hosting Swift Current and Saskatoon on the weekend.
The Swift Current Broncos, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Prince Albert Raiders have all been eliminated from post-season contention..
WHL WESTERN CONFERENCE
1). *Tri-City Americans X 62gp-44-15-1-2, 91pts (10 games remaining)
2). *Kamloops Blazers X 62gp-43-15-1-3, 90pts (10 games remaining)
3). Portland Winterhawks X 62gp-43-15-3-1, 90pts (10 games remaining)
4). Vancouver Giants X 63gp-36-23-1-3. 76pts (9 games remaining)
5). Spokane Chiefs X 61gp-32-22-4-3, 71pts (11 games remaining)
6). Kelowna Rockets 64gp-26-29-3-6, 61pts (8 games remaining)
7). Victoria Royals 62gp-20-36-2-4, 46pts (10 games remaining)
8). Seattle Thunderbirds 61gp-21-38-1-1, 44pts (11 games remaining)
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9). Everett Silvertips 62gp-17-36-1-8, 43pts (10 games remaining)
10). Prince George Cougars 61gp-19-40-0-2, 40pts (11 games remaining)
Only three playoff spots remain up for grabs in the Western Conference, with the Tri-City Americans, Kamloops Blazers, Portland Winterhawks, Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs all guaranteed post-season hockey this spring.
The race for first place in the Western Conference continues as the Americans, Blazers and Winterhawks all sit within one point of each other for top spot in the West.
The Americans skated to another two wins this past week to move past the Blazers and Winterhawks into the conference lead. The Ams need just two more points to lock up a top-four spot in the conference. The Ams host the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday before a showdown with Portland on Friday night.
The Blazers slipped to second place in the conference after posting a 2-1 record over the last week. The Blazers need any combination of points gained or points dropped by Vancouver to clinch the B.C. Division title. The Blazers are in Portland for a big match-up versus the Winterhawks on Tuesday night.
The Winterhawks saw a nine-game winning streak snapped with Sunday's overtime loss to Everett, and slipped to second place in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks will play crucial games versus Kamloops and Tri-Cities this week in their continuing battle for a second straight Western Conference regular-season title.
The Giants hold a five-point lead over Spokane for fifth place in the conference, but have played two more games than the Chiefs. The Giants host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday before heading to Victoria for two games versus the Royals on Saturday and Sunday.
The Chiefs dropped both games they played this past week, and were outscored by a 15-6 margin in losses to Portland and Tri-Cities. The Chiefs will play twice in Victoria and twice in Prince George this week.
The Rockets remain entrenched in sixth place in the Western Conference, trailing Spokane by 10 points for fifth while leading Victoria by 15 points for sixth. The Rockets can lock up a playoff spot with any combination of points gained or points dropped by Everett totaling three. Five of Kelowna's final eight games are at home.
The Royals came away with two wins over visiting Prince George on the weekend, giving them a two-point lead over Seattle for seventh place in the Western Conference, and a three-point cushion over Everett for a playoff spot. The Royals host Spokane and Vancouver for a pair of games each this week.
The Thunderbirds hold down eighth place in the Conference with a one-point lead over Everett and a four-point lead over Prince George. The T-Birds hit the road for five straight games, starting Tuesday night versus the Tri-City Americans. They will play in Everett on Friday in a critical meeting versus the "ËTips.
The Silvertips sit one point back of Seattle for eighth place, and have played one more game than the Thunderbirds. The "ËTips play the T-Birds three more times this season, including a meeting on Friday night at home, and also play Victoria twice more.
The Cougars' recent four-game losing skid has put them four points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Cougars are in the midst of an eight-game home stand, and will host Medicine Hat twice and Spokane twice this week.
BOB CLARKE TROPHY RACE
1. Brendan Shinnimin, T.C. 59gp-52g-63a-115pts
2. Mark Stone, BRN 58gp-39g-66a-105pts
3. Ty Rattie, POR 59gp-52g-52a-104pts
4. Adam Hughesman, T.C. 62gp-38g-63a-101pts
5. Jordan Weal, REG 62gp-37g-63a-100pts
6. Michael St. Croix, EDM 63gp-39g-56a-95pts
7. Patrick Holland, T.C. 62gp-23g-72a-95pts
8. Emerson Etem, M.H 54gp-52g-40a-92pts
Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2012
- The Road to the 2012 WHL Playoffs - Fourth Edition - WHL
- This Week's Mad Monday Tickets Sold out - Victoria Royals
- Weekly Ice Report - Kootenay Ice
- Backyard Rink Winner Announced - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Brett Connolly to Stay in Tampa Bay - Tri-City Americans
- Portland Winterhawks this Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders this Week - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tri-City Americans' Brendan Shinnimin Named WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Shinnimin Becomes First to 50 in 13 Years; Americans Down T'Birds 5-1 - Tri-City Americans
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