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2024-25 WHL Playoffs Game Thread

macbowes

Registered User
Aug 1, 2022
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Victoria
Figured we may as we just have one big thread, because it will probably keep the discussion more active.

WHL Playoffs begin Friday, March 28th.

ALL PLAYOFF GAMES ARE STREAMED FOR FREE ON VICTORY+

Round 2:

Medicine Hat Tigers vs Prince Albert Raiders

Calgary Hitmen vs Lethbridge Hurricanes

Everett Silvertips vs Portland Winterhawks

Spokane Chiefs vs Victoria Royals

Round 1:

Medicine Hat Tigers vs Swift Current Broncos [4-1]

Prince Albert Raiders vs Edmonton Oil Kings [4-3]

Calgary Hitmen vs Saskatoon Blades [4-0]

Lethbridge Hurricanes vs Brandon Wheat Kings [4-1]

Everett Silvertips vs Seattle Thunderbirds [4-2]

Victoria Royals vs Tri-City Americans [4-1]

Spokane Chiefs vs Vancouver Giants [4-1]

Prince George Cougars vs Portland Winterhawks [3-4]
 
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I'm going to the Royals game on Friday, should be a great game. For this to be a successful playoffs for the Royals, they need a minimum of 1 series win. They are a very deep team, and Reschny gives them the elite scorer they haven't had in a long time. Should be a fun series. I'm going to say the Royals win 4-1, going 3-0 at home.
 
Any teams on upset alert in the first round or do we think it is going to be fairly chalk? The two I'm looking at right now with upset potential before any start are PA-Edmonton and PG-Portland, but it's not like there's a huge point differential between those teams.

My hot take before the playoffs start is that people already penciling in a Med Hat vs Everett final are premature. Med Hat has been shown to be beatable (though we'll see if someone can beat them to four wins) and Everett have to shake the choker label and I don't know if Steve Hamilton will be able to outcoach another team if they find themselves in a tight series
 
macbowes said:
I'm going to the Royals game on Friday, should be a great game. For this to be a successful playoffs for the Royals, they need a minimum of 1 series win. They are a very deep team, and Reschny gives them the elite scorer they haven't had in a long time. Should be a fun series. I'm going to say the Royals win 4-1, going 3-0 at home.
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I'm still concerned that their goaltending is spotty. Some days great, but some days sub-par. Can't go this weekend, but would like to go just so I can sit down for the US anthem.
 
MeHateHe said:
I'm still concerned that their goaltending is spotty. Some days great, but some days sub-par. Can't go this weekend, but would like to go just so I can sit down for the US anthem.
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I actually think our goaltending is a strength, now that we have Hicks as a backup. We might have one of the better tandems in the league, actually. We'll see tonight!
 
macbowes said:
I actually think our goaltending is a strength, now that we have Hicks as a backup. We might have one of the better tandems in the league, actually. We'll see tonight!
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From your lips to God’s ears, I suppose. I’ve seen some goals scored that shouldn’t have been scored. Junior hockey, I know. I still think this team’s window really opens next year, and that includes the goaltending.
 
I have to be honest I've somewhat lost interest in the whl over the past few years between covid and the Hurricanes being pretty mediocre over the past few years. But the games being free to watch has somewhat reinvigorated the interest plus the Canes having a good team. It will be interesting to see who of the 3 of them, Calgary Medicine Hat will ending up being the best of the three.
 
Halakitlikethat said:
Crazy game in PG tonight
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I started watching the PG game after the Canes game ended which is when the comeback started. I really enjoyed the PG homer announcer TBH. They really brought life to the broadcast. The crowd was energized and invested in the team.
That OT goal was 'controversial' but in my eyes a goalie shouldn't be able to dislodge the net in anticipation of a game ending scoring chance. The puck went between the goalie's legs so there should be no doubt the puck was entering the net even though there was close to a second between the dislodge and the crossing of the goal line.
The goaltender was the sole reason for the dislodging of the net. By NHL rule that means it is a good goal, I assume the WHL has the same ruling?
That isn't a scenario you see very often and for it to occur in a playoff OT game would have Winterhawks fans screaming, no fair. I say, don't dislodge the net to void a scoring chance.
 
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MeHateHe said:
Indeed. Watched the end. That OT goal was the most stunning officiating decision I can remember. Gotta say, I understand why the call was made, but if I’m the referee, I would not have made that call. Ballsy.
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Do you think the goaltender was intentional in dislodging the net? From what I see on the replay he actually knocked both posts free about a heartbeat apart. It looked intentional but it also seems like that would be something difficult to do intentionally in the moment. Also, does that matter? Kind of the same idea that a player is still responsible for an accidental high stick and is thus penalized.
 
Bocephus said:
Do you think the goaltender was intentional in dislodging the net? From what I see on the replay he actually knocked both posts free about a heartbeat apart. It looked intentional but it also seems like that would be something difficult to do intentionally in the moment. Also, does that matter? Kind of the same idea that a player is still responsible for an accidental high stick and is thus penalized.
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Like I say, I understand why the call was made: had the net not been dislodged, the puck would have gone in for a good goal. Where I have a problem with it though is that it looked to me the net was well off long before the shot was taken. So the whistle should have gone before the shot was taken. I’m not fully aware of how the WHL rules would be applied in this case, so that take is a little more than lukewarm. And yes, I absolutely think that the Portland goalie should have been penalized on the play.
 
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If any moderators see this, consider this a plea for a moderated subforum where people could ask was-this-a-penalty questions without them getting bogged down in fanbase stupidity. Lots of guys on here have officiating experience and this could actually improve the knowledge base of posters - to the extent, obviously, that people want to learn.
 
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Bocephus said:
I started watching the PG game after the Canes game ended which is when the comeback started. I really enjoyed the PG homer announcer TBH. They really brought life to the broadcast. The crowd was energized and invested in the team.
That OT goal was 'controversial' but in my eyes a goalie shouldn't be able to dislodge the net in anticipation of a game ending scoring chance. The puck went between the goalie's legs so there should be no doubt the puck was entering the net even though there was close to a second between the dislodge and the crossing of the goal line.
The goaltender was the sole reason for the dislodging of the net. By NHL rule that means it is a good goal, I assume the WHL has the same ruling?
That isn't a scenario you see very often and for it to occur in a playoff OT game would have Winterhawks fans screaming, no fair. I say, don't dislodge the net to void a scoring chance.
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It was the right call for sure.
 
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Bocephus said:
I started watching the PG game after the Canes game ended which is when the comeback started. I really enjoyed the PG homer announcer TBH. They really brought life to the broadcast. The crowd was energized and invested in the team.
That OT goal was 'controversial' but in my eyes a goalie shouldn't be able to dislodge the net in anticipation of a game ending scoring chance. The puck went between the goalie's legs so there should be no doubt the puck was entering the net even though there was close to a second between the dislodge and the crossing of the goal line.
The goaltender was the sole reason for the dislodging of the net. By NHL rule that means it is a good goal, I assume the WHL has the same ruling?
Click to expand...
Sounds like Canucks goalie Garry "Suitcase" Smith in the mid 70s, he did that alot.


www.nytimes.com

How Gary ‘Suitcase’ Smith, unemployed and out of shape, revived his career in Winnipeg

Smith, who had a reputation as a good-humoured eccentric, made the most of his one last shot with the Winnipeg Jets.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com
Bocephus said:
That isn't a scenario you see very often and for it to occur in a playoff OT game would have Winterhawks fans screaming, no fair. I say, don't dislodge the net to void a scoring chance.
Click to expand...
 
I feel like it's harder to find the replays on the Victory+, and the livestream took more time to load than CHL tv, but whatever, it's free.
 
Friday & Saturday notes:

PA versus EDM will be a hard fought series despite the Game 2 blowout. Have to feel for PA drawing such an insanely tough #7 Seed.

MH and VIC look like they'll be done in 4 or 5 games. The fire power and depth of MH is already showing itself. Hard to believe they are missing 2 of their best offensive weapons in Basha and Lindestrom. Victoria seems to be well coached and has contributions from their top guns.

Seattle looks like they won't go down easy. Everett has had a tough recent stretch with performing in the playoffs. They might be in for a 7 game series with Ratzlaff performing so incredibly. Easy to see why the asking price on him was so high at the deadline.

Haven't seen the other series yet. Would be interested to watch PG versus POR and BDN versus LETH.
 
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email harvesting then the hand out for $$$ down the road. I'll stick with O H with an adblocker.
 
Victory+ feed is a great feature for the playoffs.

After the weekend, here are my predicted winners.

MH in 4
PA in 7
Calgary in 5
Lethbridge in 5

Everett in 6
Victoria in 5
Spokane in 4
Portland in 6
 
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Goldsmith returned to the TC lineup for a (maybe the last) game late in the regular season but hasn't played in the playoffs. Did he get hurt again? Does anybody have detail on why he hasn't played since?
 
Kaizen said:
Goldsmith returned to the TC lineup for a (maybe the last) game late in the regular season but hasn't played in the playoffs. Did he get hurt again? Does anybody have detail on why he hasn't played since?
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He has not played since his injury. He was listed on the boxscore for the final game of the regular season because it was a continuation of the suspended game from his injury. He will not be playing again this season.
 
hockeykid87 said:
He has not played since his injury. He was listed on the boxscore for the final game of the regular season because it was a continuation of the suspended game from his injury. He will not be playing again this season.
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Thanks for clarifying - I didn't remember it was a continuation.
 
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