Play Off Preview... WHL

With the WHL playoffs right around the corner, I thought I would take a moment to go on record with some of my predictions. I will leave the Hawks and Chiefs until later... so on to the Eastern Conference...

Calgary (107 pts) vs. Moose Jaw (78 pts) - Calgary has been an up and down team at times this year. First year coach Mike Williamson has the Hitmen peaking at the right time. Calgary seems to have everything needed to win this first round match up, including Martin Jones in net. Moose Jaw did win the season 5 pts to Calgary's 4, but in the end I believe Calgary will win this in 5. Their defense, PK, and PP is just too good to not beat the Warriors.

Calgary in 5.

Brandon (104 pts) vs. Swift Current (79 pts) - My how Swift Current has fallen. They are not the same team who was tearing it up when the came to Portland earlier in the year. Brandon is going to the Memorial Cup, but also have the ability to go by winning their way in, not just getting their because they are the host. Swift Current is playing their home games in Regina, so do they really have a home ice? Brandon has some very talented scorers, including Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie and took 4 out of 6 against Swift Current this year.

Brandon in 4.

Saskatoon (99 pts) vs. Red Deer (83 pts) - The Blades lead the East for most of the season, yet stumbled down the stretch dropping to 3rd in the Eastern Conference. You never want to be fading going into post season play... that being said, this should be a very good match up. Red Deer does not have the depth of scorers that Saskatoon has, but the top Rebels can skate and score with anyone. The season match up between them went Saskatoon's way 3-1, with one win coming in bonus time. My guess is that Saskatoon takes the series to advance, but takes a real beating doing it.

Saskatoon in 7.

Kootney (91 pts) vs. Medicine Hat (90 pts) - This should be a real dandy of a series. The teams basically split the season 3-3 with Medicine Hat getting a bonus point. Ex Hawk Tristan King was the big scoring threat against the Ice getting 9 points in the 6 games. This like the Saskatoon / Red Deer match up is going to be close. The Tigers and Ice played very evenly against each other during the season, yet the Ice struggled down the stretch while Medicine Hat caught fire in February and seem to be ready for the playoffs. I see Medicine Hat surviving to see Calgary in the next round.

Medicine Hat in 6.

On to the Western Conference...

Tri City (97 pts) vs. Chilliwack (71 pts) - For the first 5 months of the season, TC was the best team in the west, then February hit and TC started to really slip. Chilliwack took the season series with TC 3 games to 1, and played TC as tough as anyone. So, what has to happen for TC to advance? First they need to get consistent scoring against the Bruins. Against all other teams the Ams offense was strong, yet against the Bruins they produced just 11 goals in 4 games. The Bruins need to keep the TC Offense from getting started as they did in their 3 wins. Ryan Howse needs to get it going like he did while the calendar said 2009 (scoring 30 of his 47 goals before New Years) and Chilliwack will advance. For TC, they need a healthy Drew Owsley back in net and for Lazo, Shinnimin and company need to get the offense going, starting in game 1 or lose home ice and potentially get upset. This is a tough first round match up for TC and I see it going the distance, or Chilliwack taking it in 6. I think I will go for the under dog and take...

Chilliwack in 6.

Vancouver (88 pts) vs. Kamloops (71 pts) - This will be an interesting rematch for Goal Tender Kurtis Mucha. The last time he was in the play offs Vancouver knocked him out as a young 16 year old. Now, several years later and a different team, Mukes has a chance to go out and play as the under dog to the Giants. Back in his first tangle with Vancouver, Hawk fans figured it was just time before Mukes was ready to play, little did we know it would be years before the Hawks or Mukes was back in the play offs. Another interesting note is the Vancouver finished with the 5th highest point total, but since they won the BC Division they get the 2nd seed. The season series favors Vancouver, taking 6 of 8 games, however half of the games ended in bonus time or a shoot out. Not something that Vancouver wants to do against a veteran net minder like Mukes. Neither Vancouver goalie has any playoff time, but Mukes has only played in 12 playoff games... Beating Seattle in 7 and losing to Vancouver in 5. If Kamloops can push the series to a 6th of 7th game, Mukes experience will be a key factor as Kamloops looks to upset Vancouver, if not they will be close games... Kamloops isn't great on defense in front of Mukes, so he will see a ton of shots. It will be a close series.

Vancouver in 5.

Everett (97 pts) vs. Kelowna (76pts) - The Rockets kind of snuck up on folks in the play offs last year before losing in the final of the Memorial Cup. That being said this is a different team... The Tips were not looked at in September to be a US Division contender, but really had a fantastic second half loosing the US Division with a loss to Spokane on the final day of the regular season. Everett dominated Kelowna in the regular season, and has not one but two of the top goalies in the WHL. Not a ton of playoff time for the Everett goalies, but they were both great during the 2009 - 2010 regular season. The defending WHL champion Rockets have both goalies back from last years run. 20 year old former Hawk Mark Guggenburger has not been great this year suffering from some injuries, but his back up Adam Brown has been solid. Brown didn't see a bunch of time last year in the playoffs, but has a good taste of playoff hockey. I think Everett is just too strong both at the blue line and with their top two scoring lines for the Rockets to upset them. As much as it pains me to say it, I see Everett rolling through this match up and getting ready for round two.

Everett in 5.

Spokane (95 pts) vs. Portland (91 pts) - More on this one later... but can you imaging finishing with 91 pts and that being only good enough for 4th in your own division... The US Division top to bottom was the best division in the WHL. I pegged Portland as an 80 pt team and to finish with 91 is fantastic... TC, Everett and Spokane just all finished with a few more. My prediction on this match up later tonight or tomorrow before game 1...

This is a great time of the year, sunny and 70 in town, the NCAAs and WHL Playoffs... what's not to like...