I decided to take a look at the current standings and try out the various ways playoff positioning can be determined as well as magic numbers for the top three seeds in each division. Here is the magic number for for the current standings for the 2018-19 Western Hockey League playoffs.
| US Division | |
| Everett Silvertips | 22 |
| Portland Winterhawks | 33 |
| Spokane Chiefs | 38 |
| BC Division | |
| Vancouver Giants | 34 |
| Victoria Royals | 45 |
| Kelowna Rockets | 52 |
| Central Division | |
| Edmonton Oil Kings | 38 |
| Lethbridge Hurricanes | 40 |
| Red Deer Rebels | 41 |
| East Division | |
| Prince Albert Raiders | 17 |
| Saskatoon Blades | 36 |
| Moose Jaw Warriors | 41 |
These magic numbers represent the number of points that need to be gained by the team OR the number of points lost by the team currently in ninth place in the conferences. Those teams are the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Next, I thought it would be fun to compare the match-ups in all the different styles we have seen in recent years as well as how the QMJHL does things.
Here are your current match-ups for the 2018-19 playoffs which, of course, are subject to change:
Everett Silvertips vs. Prince George Cougars
Vancouver Giants vs. Tri-City Americans
Portland Winterhawks vs. Spokane Chiefs
Victoria Royals vs. Kelowna Rockets
Prince Albert Raiders vs. Calgary Hitmen
Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. Red Deer Rebels
Saskatoon Blades vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
We can now look at the old format where the division leaders are seeded one and two and then all the remaining teams in the conference are positioned by points:
Western Conference
(1) Everett Silvertips vs. (8) Prince George Cougars
(2) Vancouver Giants vs. (7) Kelowna Rockets
(3) Portland Winterhawks vs. (6) Tri-City Americans
(4) Spokane Chiefs vs. (5) Victoria Royals
Eastern Conference
(1) Prince Albert Raiders vs. (8) Calgary Hitmen
(2) Edmonton Oil Kings vs. (7) Medicine Hat Tigers
(3) Saskatoon Blades vs. (6) Moose Jaw Warriors
(4) Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. (5) Red Deer Rebels
Not much changes in the Eastern Conference but that is based on points currently obtained by the teams.
On points percentage, Red Deer would actually take over the Central Division, Lethbridge would also pass Edmonton, and Moose Jaw would leap ahead of Saskatoon.
Also based on points, here are seeds one through sixteen the division leaders again will be seeded one through four regardless of position:
(1) Prince Albert Raiders vs. (16) Kelowna Rockets
(2) Everett Silvertips vs. (15) Brandon Wheat Kings
(3) Vancouver Giants vs. (14) Victoria Royals
(4) Edmonton Oil Kings vs (13) Tri-City Americans
(5) Saskatoon Blades vs. (12) Calgary Hitmen
(6) Portland Winterhawks vs. (11) Medicine Hat Tigers
(7) Lethbridge Hurricanes vs. (10) Spokane Chiefs
(8) Red Deer Rebels vs. (9) Moose Jaw Warriors
In the 16-team format, the Brandon Wheat Kings bump the Prince George Cougars from the playoffs.
Which playoff format would you prefer? Feel free to leave a comment and join the conversation.
