2019 #WHLPlayoffs Clinching Scenarios – March 12

Here are the 2019 Western Hockey League Playoff scenarios for Tuesday, March 12.

The Seattle Thunderbirds will clinch a spot in the 2019 WHL Playoffs:

If they win in any fashion against the Vancouver Giants (7:05 p.m. PT/WHLLive.com)

OR 

If they earn a single point against the Giants AND the Kamloops Blazers lose in any fashion to the Spokane Chiefs (7:00 p.m. PT/WHLLive.com)

OR

If the Kamloops Blazers lose in regulation to the Chiefs.

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Entering play Tuesday, the Thunderbirds have 28 wins and 64 points in 64 games, occupying the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Blazers have 25 wins and 57 points through 64 games.

In scenario one, the Thunderbirds would have 66 points while the Blazers can only achieve a maximum of 65 points by the end of the regular season.

In scenario two, the Thunderbirds would earn their 65th point of the season while a maximum of a single point by the Blazers means they could only achieve 64 points by the end of the regular season.

In the third scenario, the regulation loss by the Blazers, regardless of what the Thunderbirds do, would cause Seattle to retain their current seven-point lead against the Blazers at a minimum. With Kamloops then having three games left in their regular season schedule, they’d only be able to earn a maximum of 63 points by the end of the regular season.

In addition to the Wild Card race, the Blazers are still in contention for third place in the B.C. Division, sitting four points behind the Kelowna Rockets with four games left in their regular season schedule.

To date, 12 teams have secured their spot in the 2019 WHL Playoffs: Prince Albert Raiders, Everett Silvertips, Vancouver Giants, Portland Winterhawks, Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs, Edmonton Oil Kings, Victoria Royals, Tri-City Americans, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen and the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Raiders, Giants, and Silvertips have each clinched their respective divisions while the Raiders have also secured the top record in the Eastern Conference and WHL, earning them the 2018-19 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions.