2026 WHL Playoffs: Clinching Scenarios – Friday, March 20

What’s the regular-season equivalent of a Game 7?

How about entering the final weekend of action with no playoff series confirmed, four playoff berths up for grabs, and potential tiebreaker games in the Eastern and Western Conferences?

Three clubs will look to qualify on Friday night.

 

• A Seattle win of any kind versus Spokane; AND

• A Portland regulation loss at Tri-City; OR
• A Victoria regulation loss versus Prince George

• A Regina win or OT/SO loss versus Brandon

• Any Moose Jaw loss at Swift Current

• Any Red Deer win versus Medicine Hat

• A Moose Jaw regulation loss at Swift Current

• A Red Deer OT/SO loss versus Medicine Hat; AND
• Any Moose Jaw loss at Swift Current

The Prince Albert Raiders can first place in the Eastern Conference with:

• Any Prince Albert win versus Saskatoon

 

OR

 

• A Medicine Hat regulation loss at Red Deer

OR

 

• A Prince Albert OT/SO loss versus Saskatoon; AND
• A Medicine Hat OT/SO loss at Red Deer

 

Seattle (28-27-6-4) is 5-2-2-1 in its last 10 games to climb into the seventh position in the west.

WHL goals leader and Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt is eying 100 points and a playoff-clinching win against the Spokane Chiefs (35-29-1-0).

Notably, the Chiefs knocked Schmidt and his former club, the Vancouver Giants, out of the 2025 WHL Playoffs.

Spokane, which reached the 2025 WHL Championship Series, has won three straight games.

The T-Birds will host the Chiefs for a 7:05 p.m. PST puck drop.

Seattle can also qualify if Portland (29-30-6-1) or Victoria (28-29-6-3) lose their respective matches in regulation.

The Winterhawks and Royals both have 65 points with two games remaining.

Portland hasn’t failed to qualify for the postseason since the 2008-09 season, and looks to keep that streak alive as they visit the Tri-City Americans (26-35-4-1) at 7:05 p.m. PST.

Victoria, which won the B.C. Division title in 2024-25, will go head-to-head against the Prince George Cougars (42-22-2-0) at the Save-On Foods Memorial Arena at 7:05 p.m. PST.

In the East, the Regina Pats (25-32-7-2) can clinch with a single point earned against the Brandon Wheat Kings (38-26-2-0).

Regina will welcome the Wheaties to the Brandt Centre for a 7:00 p.m. ST tilt.

The Red Deer Rebels (26-34-4-2) can confirm a return to the postseason after a one-year absence with a win against the reigning WHL Champion Medicine Hat Tigers (48-10-5-3).

Red Deer is on a 3-0-2-0 point streak and has recently earned a pair of statement wins against the Eastern Conference-leading Prince Albert Raiders (50-10-5-1)- but the Tigers have a lot on the line as well as the Tabbies chase the first seed in the East and a 50-win campaign of their own.

That battle is set for 7:00 p.m. MST at the Marchant Crane Centrium.

The Rebels can also clinch with a Moose Jaw Warriors (24-35-5-2) regulation loss to the Swift Current Broncos (14-43-4-5), or a Rebels OT/SO loss combined with any Moose Jaw loss.

Moose Jaw and Swift Current face off at 7:00 p.m. ST.

Prince Albert has already solidified a second consecutive East Division title, but aims to edge Medicine Hat for the top berth in the conference when they host the Saskatoon Blades (34-25-5-2) at the Art Hauser Centre at 7:00 p.m. ST.