Sports by Hartley Miller as of 6:05 a.m. Friday, April 22nd
WHL:
It is playoff time for the Prince George Cougars.
The Cougars visit the Portland Winterhawks tonight and Saturday in the first two games of their WHL Western Conference quarterfinal.
The best-of-7 first-round series will shift to P.G. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Winterhawks won all four regular-season meetings between the two teams, outscoring the Cats 22-8.
As we count down to the start of the 2022 #WHLPlayoffs, we’re previewing each first-round series.
We continue our previews by looking at the best-of-seven set between @pdxwinterhawks and @PGCougars! #PORvsPG
MORE 📰 | https://t.co/TZ2N2wxu4a pic.twitter.com/PQWyH1sfQL
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2022
Ethan Samson of the PG Cougars was named to the WHL B.C. Division Second All-Star Team.
PG Cougars Playoff Schedule vs. Portland
Friday, April 22nd at Portland (Game 1)- 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 23rd at Portland (Game 2)- 6:00 pm
Tuesday, April 26th vs. Portland (Game 3)- 7:00 pm
Wednesday, April 27th vs. Portland (Game 4)- 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 30th at Portland (Game 5)- 5:00 pm If Necessary
Monday, May 2nd vs. Portland (Game 6)- 7:00 pm If Necessary
Wednesday, May 4th at Portland (Game 7)- 7:00 pm If Necessary
The WHL standings are right here.
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @PGCougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb on this week’s episode
| https://t.co/xPHvw5qatB #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports #northernuprising pic.twitter.com/wMokbpbMLv— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 20, 2022
Columns:
HART ATTACK: @Hartley_Miller chats about the playoff series between the @PGCougars and @pdxwinterhawks in this week’s column | https://t.co/KCzBk6P74a #cityofpg #princeGeorge #northernbc #sports #northernuprising pic.twitter.com/8myROGOqEb
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 22, 2022
Timing not right for one WHL award . . . Oil Kings draw first blood as playoffs begin . . . Wheat Kings borrow Broncos’ radio voice https://t.co/woLFF9hsSO
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) April 22, 2022
Lafleur:
Hockey legend and Montreal Canadiens icon Guy Lafleur has passed away. He was 70.
The 5-time Stanley Cup champion had been receiving treatment for cancer since September of 2019.
NHL: (11 Thursday games with Edmonton and Ottawa the only Canadian teams idle)
Minnesota 6 Vancouver 3
The Wild broke open a 3-3 game with three unanswered goals in the final eight minutes of the third period.
With four games left, Vancouver is four points behind the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference wildcard spot.
The (38-29-11) Canucks visit the Calgary Flames Saturday night at 7:00 (PT).
They will also host Seattle on Tuesday, host LA on Thursday, and conclude with a road game at Edmonton on Friday, April 29th.
The Canucks are 30-13-8 since Bruce Boudreau took over as coach.
Calgary 4 Dallas 2
The Flames clinched the Pacific Division title.
Tampa Bay 8 Toronto 1
Carolina 4 Winnipeg 2
Philadelphia 6 Montreal 3
The @FlaPanthers and @NHLFlames each clinched their respective division titles on an 11-game Thursday.#NHLStats: https://t.co/XxRkGuRyXN pic.twitter.com/817fBTpEyV
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 22, 2022
BCHL:
The BCHL playoff results and upcoming schedule are right here.
PG Spruce Kings results against Penticton:
Game 1 – Thursday, April 14th – Prince George @ Penticton – Penticton won 2-1
The game stats are right here.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 16th – Prince George @ Penticton – Penticton won 6-2
The game stats are right here.
Game 3 – Monday, April 18th – Penticton @ Prince George – Penticton won 5-3
The game stats are right here.
Game 4 – Tuesday, April 19th – Penticton @ Prince George – Penticton won 3-2
The game stats are right here.
The Spruce Kings’ entire playoff results are right here.
The BCHL final regular-season standings are right here.
NBA:
The Toronto Raptors host the Philadelphia 76’ers on Saturday (11 a.m. PT).
The 76’ers lead the best-of-7 Eastern Conference quarterfinal 3-0.
No NBA team has ever won a series after trailing three games to none.
The NBA playoff results are right here.
The Raptors playoff schedule against Philadelphia is right here.
MLB:
Toronto Blue Jays 3 Boston Red Sox 2
The 8-5 Blue Jays visit the 6-6 Houston Astros tonight (5:10 PT).
The Blue Jays schedule is right here.
The MLB standings are right here.