Tri-City Americans will Face ________ In First Round of WHL Playoffs – Home March 25th-26th

Fill in the blank with either Kelowna, or Portland.

The Rockets, who have been ranked #1 in the entire Canadian Hockey League for much of the second half of the 2013-14 season, have a 5 point lead over Portland going into this weekend, with both teams having 3 games left to play.   Each game is worth two points for a win, so mathmatically, the Winterhawks could still catch them.

But it's not likely Kelowna would drop 3 in a row.  Either way, the Americans will open the 2014 playoffs on the road.    What we do know is the Americans have announced the first two home games of the first round will be at Toyota Center on Tuesday and Wednesday March 25th and 26th.   If necessary,  game six would also be at home in Kennewick on Saturday the 29th.    The Americans are 8 points behind Vancouver for 7th, and with 3 games left, cannot catch the Giants in the standings.

Call the Americans office at 509-736-0606 for tickets and playoff information.  The Am's will wrap up the regular season Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a home-and-home vs. Spokane, then Seattle on Sunday.

The rest of the WHL playoff bracket in the Western Conference looks like this:

#1 Kelowna/Portland vs. #8 Tri City

#2 Kelowna/Portland vs. #7 Vancouver

#3 Victoria  vs. #6 Everett

#4 Seattle vs. #5 Spokane