The Western Hockey League post season gets underway on Thursday in one series with Calgary hosting Moose Jaw. Here now is a Pipeline Show playoff preview from Guy and I.Husky WHL Eastern Conference Quarter-Final
CALGARY vs. MOOSE JAW
(Series A)
Game 1 - Thu Mar 18 7:00 PM Moose Jaw at Calgary
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:00 PM Moose Jaw at Calgary
Game 3 - Mon Mar 22 7:00 PM Calgary at Moose Jaw
Game 4 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Calgary at Moose Jaw
Game 5 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM * Moose Jaw at Calgary
Game 6 - Sat Mar 27 7:00 PM * Calgary at Moose Jaw
Game 7 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Moose Jaw at Calgary
The Hitmen have the most complete team from goaltending to an offensive blueline to depth up front. However Moose Jaw only lost once in regulation to Calgary. Still don't expect and upset here.
Millard: Hitmen in 4
Flaming: Hitmen in 4
Husky WHL Eastern Conference Quarter-Final
BRANDON vs. SWIFT CURRENT
(Series B)
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Swift Current at Brandon
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:30 PM Swift Current at Brandon
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Brandon at Swift Current (in Regina)
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Brandon at Swift Current (in Regina)
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Swift Current at Brandon
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Brandon at Swift Current (in Regina)
Game 7 - Wed Mar 31 7:00 PM * Swift Current at Brandon (in Regina)
The Wheat Kings have home ice advantage but if the series goes 7 games they only get 3 home games because of a winter fair that starts up late March in Brandon. Speedy creek plays all their home games in Regina because of the Women's World Curling Championship.
Millard: Wheat Kings in 5
Flaming: Wheat Kings in 6
Husky WHL Eastern Conference Quarter-Final
SASKATOON vs. RED DEER
(Series C)
Game 1 - Sat Mar 20 7:05 PM Red Deer at Saskatoon
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 7:05 PM Red Deer at Saskatoon
Game 3 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Saskatoon at Red Deer
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM Saskatoon at Red Deer
Game 5 - Sat Mar 27 7:05 PM * Red Deer at Saskatoon
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Saskatoon at Red Deer
Game 7 - Wed Mar 31 7:05 PM * Red Deer at Saskatoon
After a 2 year absence the Rebels return to the post season going from 11th last year to 6th this year. Saskatoon was bounced in the first round last season by Lethbridge and while goaltending could be a question mark for the Blades they have a lot of size and a great blueline.
Millard: Blades in 6
Flaming: Rebels in 6
Husky WHL Eastern Conference Quarter-Final
KOOTENAY vs. MEDICINE HAT
(Series D)
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:00 PM Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:00 PM Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:00 PM * Medicine Hat at Kootenay
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 6:00 PM * Kootenay at Medicine Hat
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Medicine Hat at Kootenay
The most even series of the first round in the east as they two teams finished just a single point apart. Kootenay gets home ice advantage and at one point won 14 straight this year, but it's the Tigers who are red hot right now with 6 wins in a row.
Millard: Tigers in 7
Flaming: Ice in 7
Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Quarter-Final
TRI-CITY vs. CHILLIWACK
(Series E)
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:00 PM Chilliwack at Tri-City
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:00 PM Chilliwack at Tri-City
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Tri-City at Chilliwack
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Tri-City at Chilliwack
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:00 PM * Chilliwack at Tri-City
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 5:00 PM * Tri-City at Chilliwack
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Chilliwack at Tri-City
Tri City only lost 9 times at home this year and finished more then 25 points ahead of Chilliwack. The Bruins did have success against the Americans but will need a better road game than their one game under .500 regular season produced to create an upset.
Millard: Americans in 5
Flaming: Americans in 4
Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Quarter-Final
VANCOUVER vs. KAMLOOPS
(Series F)
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Kamloops at Vancouver
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:00 PM Kamloops at Vancouver
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Vancouver at Kamloops
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Vancouver at Kamloops
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Kamloops at Vancouver
Game 6 - Sat Mar 27 7:00 PM * Vancouver at Kamloops
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Kamloops at Vancouver
It's been over 10 years since Kamloops won a playoff round and one just once against their playoff opponent in 8 games. This is the only divisional match up in the Western Conference first round and the Giants were 7 games above .500 on the road this year.
Millard: Giants in 4
Flaming: Giants in 4
Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Quarter-Final
EVERETT vs. KELOWNA
(Series G)
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:35 PM Kelowna at Everett
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:05 PM Kelowna at Everett
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Everett at Kelowna
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Everett at Kelowna
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:35 PM * Kelowna at Everett
Game 6 - Sat Mar 27 7:00 PM * Everett at Kelowna
Game 7 - Mon Mar 29 7:05 PM * Kelowna at Everett
Everett just missed out on first overall in the conference and instead of getting Chilliwack they must face the defending league champs. However this isn't the same Rockets team. They really struggled on the road scoring averaging less then 3 goals a game and gave up 13 more then the scored.
Millard: Silvertips in 5
Flaming: Silvertips in 6
Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Quarter-Final
SPOKANE vs. PORTLAND
(Series H)
Game 1 - Sat Mar 20 7:00 PM Spokane at Portland
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 5:00 PM Spokane at Portland
Game 3 - Wed Mar 24 7:00 PM Portland at Spokane
Game 4 - Fri Mar 26 7:00 PM Portland at Spokane
Game 5 - Sat Mar 27 7:00 PM * Portland at Spokane
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Spokane at Portland
Game 7 - Wed Mar 31 7:00 PM * Portland at Spokane
Like the Wheat Kings, Spokane doesn't get all of their home ice advantage, as they start in Portland because of March Madness, even though Portland finished 5th while Spokane was 4th. This tight match up features the western conference's 2nd best offence in the Hawks vs. the 2nd best defence from the Chiefs.
Millard: Winterhawks in 7
Flaming: Winterhawks in 7
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