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The WHL playoffs saw the first two teams move on to the
second round last night, with the Tri-City Americans knocking off the Everett
Silvertips and the Kamloops Blazers defeating the Victoria Royals. The
Americans and Blazers both completed the sweep in convincing fashion,
outscoring Everett and Kamloops by a total of 40-17.
It's no surprise that the Americans and Blazers were able to
handle the opposition so easily, as the Silvertips and Royals snuck into the
playoffs with winning percentages below 0.400. The fact that one game even made
it to overtime (the elimination game last night between Tri-City and Everett) is a shock.
The Americans and Blazers will now wait to find out their
next opponent, with the Portland Winterhawks currently holding a 3-0 advantage
over the Kelowna Rockets, and the Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs all tied
up at two games apiece.
Will the easy first round prove to work in Tri-City and Kamloops favor, giving
them time to rest after not having to expel much energy to get into the second round?
Or will the lack of competition in the first round come to haunt them as they
take on significantly stronger opponents?
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