It’s my Parting Shot for Part 1 of the Fearless Predictor’s W-H-L first round playoff picks…..
Today, it’s a quick glance at all four Western Conference opening round series, plus two of the four Eastern Conference quarter-finals.
In the Wild West, I’ll start with first versus eighth – the series with the greatest standings points differential of any opening round set. But, it’s a great Pacific Northwest rivalry with Everett taking on Seattle. The Silvertips won six of eight regular-season meetings, but the Thunderbirds won their last two home games after the trade deadline passed. It’ll be closer than the standings would suggest – Everett in six games!
Next, it’s second seed Victoria against seventh place Tri-Cities. These teams split a season-opening series on Vancouver Island, but the Royals out-scored the Americans 15-3 in two meetings after the trade deadline in Kennewick. Victoria prevails here in five games!
The three versus six match-up is Spokane to battle Vancouver. The Chiefs won all four head-to-head meetings, including two after the trade deadline when they added league scoring champion Andrew Cristall from Kelowna to join up with star centre Berkly Catton. The Giants underachieved all season, and are capable of making some noise, but I’m going with Spokane in six games!
The last of the Western Conference quarter-finals is Prince George against Portland – a re-match of last spring’s Conference final that the Winterhawks won. The Cougars were a disappointment then and they were a disappointment this season. They also lost all four head-to-head meetings with the Hawks. I’m tempted to say P-G wakes up and wins this series, but I’m going with Portland in seven games!
The first of the four Eastern Conference quarters to assess is the first of four East Division versus Central Division match-ups – top seed Medicine Hat against eighth ranked Swift Current. Only two hours separates these two franchises and they split four games in the regular season with the enigmatic Broncos winning the last one in Med Hat, the only match-up after the trade deadline. I think the Tigers are coming in and will maul Swifty in five games!
Lastly for today, it’s fourth seed Lethbridge against fifth seed Brandon. Only six points separated these teams in the standings. Both were beset by injuries and both are getting healthy at the right time. The Hurricanes won three of the four head-to-head meetings. The Canes scored the second-fewest goals of all 16 W-H-L playoff teams this season, but are solid on defence and in goal. The Wheat Kings are hurt by not having their arena available to them due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, playing home games next week in Virden, 45 minutes to the West of Brandon. I’m taking Lethbridge in six games!
That leaves Saskatoon-Calgary and Prince Albert-Edmonton for tomorrow, along with my picks for the league final and eventual Ed Chynoweth Cup champion!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
