A look around the WHL quarterfinals
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Here is a look at the other series around the Western Hockey League.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
REGINA (7) vs. MEDICINE HAT (2)
Carson Carels (4) of Cypress River and the Prince George Cougars will meet the Spokane Chiefs in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
• Records: MH 50-10-5-3. Reg 25-34-7-2.
• Season series: 4-0 MH.
• Special teams:
MH PP 32.2% 1st. PK 78.6%, 11th.
Reg PP 24.9% 8th. PK 72.8%, 18th.
• Goals for/against: MH 348-208. Reg. 234-289.
• Players to watch: MH F Markus Ruck (108 points) D
• Forecast: The skill gap is one thing but the performance of special teams is another. Every penalty will be an adventure for the Pats. For Regina to even win a game, their goaltending has to be spectacular. Medicine Hat takes it in four.
SASKATOON (6) vs. EDMONTON (3)
• Records: Edm 45-18-3-2. Sas 34-27-5-2.
• Season series: 3-1 Edm.
• Special teams:
Edmonton PP 22.1 13th. PK 80.1%, 5th.
Sas PP 24.3%, 10th. PK 75.8%, 13rd.
• Goals for/against: Edmonton 287-205. Sas 220-224.
• Players to watch: Edm F Miroslav Holinka, (59gp, 37g, 43a); Sas Evan Gardner (52gp, 2.96 gaa, .902 save %).
• Forecast: This is a funny series. Both teams have the ability to play better than their records but can also struggle. Gardner can steal a game or two, but Edmonton’s offensive arsenal will prevail in five.
RED DEER (8) vs. PRINCE ALBERT (1)
• Records: PA 52-10-5-1. RD 26-36-4-2.
• Season series: 2-2.
• Special teams:
PA PP 28.3%, 5th. PK 79.4%, 7th.
RD PP 19.8%, 17th. PK 72.5%, 20th.
• Goals for/against: PA 310-165. RD 198-266.
• Players to watch: PA D Daxon Rudolph (68gp, 28g, 50a): RD F Beckett Hamilton (62gp, 24g, 38a).
• Forecast: Rebels coach Mark Habscheid faces his old club, who they beat twice recently. While Red Deer’s young talent and structure will pose some problems for the Raiders, Prince Albert simply has too many weapons and will sweep.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
SPOKANE (6) vs. PRINCE GEORGE (3)
• Records: PG 44-22-2-0. Spo 36-30-2-0.
• Season series: 4-0 PG.
• Special teams:
PG PP 31.6%, 3rd. PK 81.6%, 3rd.
Spo PP 16.7%, 23rd. PK 79.3%, 8th.
• Goals for/against: PG 245-188. Spo 223-209.
• Players to watch: PG D Carson Carels (58gp, 20g, 53a). Spo F Logan Wormald (69gp, 22g, 42a).
• Forecast: Spokane is wildly inconsistent — they are 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 — while Prince George is 9-1-0-0 and has one too many Carson Carels in the lineup for the Chiefs. Prince George in five.
KAMLOOPS (5) vs. KELOWNA (4)
• Records: Kel 38-21-6-3. Kam 31-24-7-6.
• Season series: 4-2 Kel.
• Special teams:
Kel PP 23.1%, 12th. PK 79.8%, 6th.
Kam PP 26.9%, 7th. PK 75.1%, 15th.
• Goals for/against: Kel 259-220. Kam 264-250.
• Players to watch: Kel F Tij Iginla (48gp, 41g, 49a):
Kam F JP Hurlbert (68gp, 42g, 55a).
• Forecast: The two Okanagan rivals make for an interesting matchup. Both can score but the Rockets allow fewer goals and are better on the PK. Kelowna in six.
SEATTLE (7) vs. PENTICTON (2)
• Records: Pen 44-14-6-4. Sea 31-27-6-4.
• Season series: 4-0 Pen.
• Special teams:
Pen PP 27.4%, 6th, PK 81.85, 1st.
Sea PP 17.0%, 20th. PK 77.5, 12th.
• Goals for/against: Pen 268-188. Sea 223-241.
• Players to watch: Pen F Jacob Kvasnicka (65gp, 35g, 50a): Sea F Cameron Schmidt (71gp, 49g, 49a).
• Forecast: The Vees are an outstanding expansion team. They’re older, skilled and play a heavy game. Seattle shook things up at the trade deadline and are 7-1-1-1 in their last 10. Penticton wins its first WHL series in five.
PORTLAND (8) vs. EVERETT (1)
• Records: Evt 57-8-2-1. Por 30-30-7-1.
• Season series: 3-3.
• Special teams:
Evt PP 30.1%, 4th. PK 80.2%, 4th.
Por PP 20.4%, 16th. PK 73.0% 17th.
• Goals for/against: Evt 304-173. Por 235-264.
• Players to watch: Evt F Matias Vanhanen (62gp, 21g, 66a). Por Alex Weiermair (66gp, 37g, 56a).
• Forecast: Everett can’t seem to match its disappointing playoffs with its outstanding regular seasons, and Portland has broken their hearts before. The teams matched up well in the regular season but the deep Silvertips win in five.