The Portland Winterhawks have 2 games this weekend. Neither of them mean much. They're locked into the 5th seed and nothing they or anyone else do will change that. So it's a warmup for next weekend and the goal is to not get anyone hurt.
With this being the final home game of the regular season, it will be a chance to honor the older players who are leaving, although we don't know exactly how many there are.
Everyone (well, some) will have one eye on the scoreboard, where the Prince George Cougars and Victoria Royals battle to see who wins the BC Division, with the loser getting the Winterhawks in the 1st round of the playoffs as consolation. They play Friday and Saturday; Prince George has to win both to capture the title.
You would guess it might be Chyzowski's last regular season game; then again, that's just one theory of how to do it.
Buttazzoni looks to extend his 9-game point streak into double figures. Zakreski has a 4-game point streak.
Jugnauth, who seems like he's had some long point streak all season, currently has a 5-game streak.
Surely each goalie will get a game this weekend.
The Tri-City Americans have something to play for, barely. They could still finish 6th, although it would take a miracle. The team they're chasing, the Vancouver Giants, are ahead 3 points and play the conference's 2 worst teams. Even if they only stumbled in one game, the Ams would have to win their final 3, including a game where they're currently trailing 2-0 with 2 periods left (the game with Seattle suspended because of the injury to Terrell Goldsmith).
Since they're probably relegated to 7th, they will also have their eye on Prince George-Victoria, as they are set to play the winner.
They looked to be in good shape to finish 6th, but 5 losses in a row have stuck them in 7th; they're not going into the playoffs well.
Jake Sloan, another of those players who seems like he's been around forever, plays his final game against the Winterhawks.
Goldsmith has missed all 3 games since his fight with Seattle's Ashton Cumby turned serious.
Smith is ranked 9th by Central Scouting, the 3rd-best ranking in the league, so he has an excellent chance of being an NHL 1st-round draft pick.
Matecha has had an up-and-down season, and it's been down lately--5, 5, and 6 goals allowed in his last 3 games. You would think he's in goal as long as they still have a chance at 6th.