We still don’t know where the Chilliwack Chiefs will finish in the BCHL’s Mainland division. The only thing that became fact last weekend was the Surrey Eagles finishing in first place.
It’s still unlikely the Chiefs will finish anywhere but second.
The Chiefs have a six point lead on the third place Prince George Spruce Kings, and each team has five games left to play.
If they finish tied in points, Chilliwack gets the tie breaker and would finish second. To clinch second place the Chiefs need a combination of points earned plus Prince George points not earned to equal two over the remaining games.
Should the Chiefs finish second, their most likely first round opponent is Prince George.
But don’t count out the fourth place Langley Rivermen just yet.
They are six points back of Prince George with a game in hand and they are in Prince George for two games this weekend.
If Langley can win both of those games in regulation, they would have a good chance at moving up to third place and facing Chilliwack in the first round.
A couple random and unrelated thoughts.
Two weeks ago I dedicated an entire column to the Chiefs leading the league in power play opportunities and times shorthanded.
In Saturday’s 5-3 loss to Prince George there were just two penalties called in the entire game with each team getting one power play.
I cannot remember a Chiefs game with just four minutes in penalties. It may have happened but I doubt it.
The Chiefs are now third in power play opportunities with 240 but still lead the league by a wide margin in times shorthanded with 289.
Chiefs forward Luke Esposito is second in the league in points (70) and ranks first in assists (53) and power play assists (20).
You’d think with those numbers he would have been the first star in a number of games.
Nope.
He has been first star just once.
I think there are two reasons for this. One, goal scorers and goalies get all the glory and two, he’s just very consistent.
He’s had one four point game and three three point games.
He’s had two points in 17 games.
Two point games usually won’t get you selected first star. He’s only been held off the scoresheet in nine games.
Mitch Gillam leads the team with nine first star selections.
Spencer Graboski, Trevor Hills, Ryan Donohoe and Phil Zielonka all have three.
I only counted Zielonka’s with the Chiefs, he had more with Coquitlam prior to coming to Chilliwack on January 10.
The Chiefs are in Langley Friday night before hosting the Cowichan Valley Capitals Saturday.
Get Chiefs info at chilliwackchiefs.net.
jb@chilliwackchiefs.net