WHL Gameday Preview: March 12th, 2019

DUBNetwork Feature Game of the day: Chiefs @ Blazers 7 PM PDT

It’s a Western Conference battle with playoff implications as both teams have just four games left a piece.

The Spokane Chiefs (37-20-2-5) already have their playoff spot sewn up and will be taking on the Portland Winterhawks for the second straight year and 12th time overall. What is at stake though, is home-ice advantage.

The Chiefs have road games against Kamloops, Kelowna and Tri-City before heading home for the regular season finale against the Americans on Sunday.

They trail the Winterhawks for second in the division by just three points and they have one more game left to play.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Dayna Fjord)

If the Everett Silvertips can beat the injury-plagued Winterhawks down in Portland on Tuesday and the Chiefs can take care of their business, that gap would be down to a single point.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan is one to watch as the L.A. Kings prospect has eight goals in his last seven games.

Meanwhile, the Kamloops Blazers (25-35-5-2) are playing for their playoff lives.

They took both games over the weekend from the Kelowna Rockets, who they are chasing, narrowing the gap down to four points. They have a game-in-hand against the idle Rockets.

Kamloops plays tomorrow at home against Victoria then finishes the regular season with a home-and-home with the Prince George Cougars.

Expected in net:

  • Dylan Garand (KAM) 3.14 GAA, .897 SV%- Garand was stellar over the weekend, stopping 54 of 56 total shots over the two games and all shooters in their shootout win Friday.
  • Bailey Brkin (SPO) 2.73 GAA, .915 SV%- Brkin also was solid over the weekend with only two allowed goals over the two Spokane wins over two B.C. Division playoff teams.

    Dylan Garand – Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers

Other games to look at:

Everett Silvertips (46-15-2-2) @ Portland Winterhawks (39-20-3-3)

  • This was once thought to be a big game with division title implications. Instead recent injuries have Portland needing these two points to hold onto home-ice.

Edmonton Oil Kings (39-18-4-4) @ Red Deer Rebels (33-25-4-2)

  • The Oil Kings have home-ice in the first round but they have their eyes firmly on a Central Division title. They are tied with Lethbridge for first, but have three games left while the Hurricanes have two. Red Deer, meanwhile can secure at least a tie for the last playoff spot with two big points.

Vancouver Giants (46-15-2-2) @ Seattle Thunderbirds (28-28-6-2)

  • The Giants are in a race for the top overall seed in the Western Conference. They are tied with Everett at 96 points with each having three games left. Meanwhile, with a Kamloops loss and a Seattle win, the T-birds will lock up a playoff spot.