Merritt Centennials control their own playoff destiny as they battle Cranbrook for the sixth seed

MERRITT — With two games left in the regular season the Merritt Centennials will have two chances at home to clinch sixth place in the eight team Interior Conference.

That being said, they still don’t know who they will face in the first round of the playoffs. Despite only two games remaining on the schedule the Cents could still face either West Kelowna, Salmon Arm or Vernon in the first round of the playoffs.

The Cents are 0-4-1 against Vernon, 2-3-0 against Salmon Arm and 2-5-1 against the West Kelowna Warriors.

Heres a look at how the standings look as of March 27th, 2024.

If Salmon Arm runs the table and wins their final two games and West Kelowna loses their final two games in regulation we will see a swap in second place.

If West Kelowna gets even a point from an overtime or shootout loss (which they have clearly done a lot) they will clinch second. They still do not know if they will face Cranbrook or Merritt though.

The situation is the same with Vernon and Salmon Arm. If The Silverbacks get at least a point in their final two games, third place is all theirs. Vernon would need to win their final two games and Salmon Arm would have to lose their final two games in regulation for a swap.

It’s looking more and more like Salmon Arm finishes in third and Merritt finishes in sixth, but it is hockey and anything can happen.

As for the Merritt Centennials their pathway to finishing ahead of Cranbrook is simple. Tomorrow (March 28th, 2024) the Bucks are in Merritt. If the Cents win their will be no way of Cranbrook catching up anymore.

If Merritt loses their final two games and Cranbrook wins in Merritt and Salmon Arm they would be in 6th place, a point ahead of the Bucks. If the Cents get one point during that stretch (losing both games but one in overtime and one in regulation) the teams would be tied and that’s where things get comlicated.

Here is the BCHL’s tie breaking procedure:

The Centennials can simply win tomorrow or get a second crack at it and win Saturday against Prince George and they’ll clinch sixth place.

Brian Passmore would rather take care of business against Cranbrook and rest his troops Saturday possibly playing third string goaltender Dylan Adams who has yet to start a BCHL game.

Tomorrow it all goes down at the NVMA- Cranbrook versus Merritt, it’s going to be the game of the season for the Centennials.