The Portland Winterhawks will face the B.C. Division-champion Prince George Cougars in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The Winterhawks entered the final day of the WHL regular season in third place in the U.S. Division, but a 7-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday combined with an overtime win by Tri-City dropped Portland into the first wild card seed in the conference.
The Cougars wrapped up the B.C. Division title Saturday night.
Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-7 series are set for Friday and Sunday at Prince George. The two clubs will meet at Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum for Games 3 and 4 on March 29 and 30. If needed Game 5 will be at Prince George on April 1 with Game 6 at 7 p.m. on April 3 at Memorial Coliseum, and a Game 7 on April 5 at Prince George.
