Sunday . . .

Ahh, it was a slow day . . .
———
So . . . the NHL plays an 82-game regular season, settling the outcome of numerous games in shootouts. On the last day of its regular season, it even needed a shootout to decide one playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. . . . So if a shootout is used to decide a playoff spot, why isn’t it used to decide the outcome of playoff games?
———
Missed on Friday night was the fact that the Vancouver Giants’ victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference final was No. 100 in the playoffs in the distinguished WHL coaching career of Don Hay. . . . He now is one victory behind the WHL record-holder, the retired Ken Hodge, who coached the original Edmonton Oil Kings and Portland Winterhawks. . . . Hay’s next chance at No. 100 comes Tuesday when the Tri-City Americans visit the Giants for Game 3 of the conference final. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.
———
Further east, the ANAVET Cup series between the La Ronge Ice Wolves and Dauphin Kings is tied 1-1 with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday night in Dauphin. However, that may change, what with various members of the Kings have been hit with food poisoning. Kirk Penton of the Winnipeg Sun has that story right here. . . . By the way, oldtimers in the crowd may remember Kirk’s father, Bruce, who covered the Brandon Wheat Kings for the Brandon Sun in the early 1970s. Bruce now is the editor of the Brandon-based Westman Journal.
———
WHL PLAYOFFS
THIRD ROUND
CONFERENCE FINALS
(Best-of-7)
(x — if necessary)
(All times local)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Calgary (1) vs. Brandon (2)
(Series tied 1-1)
April 16: Brandon 4 at Calgary 2 (8,669)
April 17: Brandon 2 at Calgary 3 (OT) (8,697)
Tuesday: Calgary at Brandon, 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Calgary at Brandon, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Brandon at Calgary, 7 p.m.
x-April 25: Calgary at Brandon, 6 p.m.
x-April 27: Brandon at Calgary, 7 p.m.
———
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Tri-City (1) vs. Vancouver (5)
(Series tied 1-1)
April 16: Vancouver 4 at Tri-City 2 (3,899)
April 17: Vancouver 0 at Tri-City 4 (3,875)
Tuesday: Tri-City at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Thursday: Tri-City at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
x-Friday: Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.
x-April 25: Tri-City at Vancouver, TBD
x-April 27: Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:05 p.m.