It’s finally upon us!

After a full set of weekdays of preparation for all 16 teams, the W-H-L playoffs start Friday night on eight fronts – including in Edmonton where the Oil Kings host the Saskatoon Blades. This will be the first time since 1971 that the Bridge City Bunch have faced E-O-K in the post-season – although that franchise was moved to Portland in 1976 and a replacement club wasn’t introduced to the league until 2006. As for the playoff history, the Blue and Gold have lost all three post-season series against Edmonton – all opening round series. In 1971, the first place Oil Kings won in five games and in four games in 1969 when Edmonton was first again. Both times the Oil Kings went on to win the league title. In 1968, the Blades took Edmonton to seven games before succumbing.

Edmonton is the favourite in this series after winning the last three of four head-to-head match-ups and finished the regular-season in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 45-18-5 record while Saskatoon were sixth at 34-27-7. While the Oil Kings’ power play was only 22.1 per cent proficient during the regular season, it was seven-for-19 – almost 37 per cent – in the four games against the Blue and Gold this season.

The Bridge City Bunch are, also, coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of Calgary a year ago in the opening round. Captain Tyler Parr (pictured) is one of 13 current players from that Blades team last season. After missing the final game of the regular season this past Saturday against Prince Albert with an Upper Body injury, leading goal-scorer with 31, Rowan Calvert, is a game-time decision for Friday.

CJWW’s broadcast Friday night from Rogers Place in Edmonton starts at 6:45 with play-by-play at 7. Game 2 is Sunday at 2 o’clock with Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, both 7 o’clock first faceoffs, at SaskTel Centre. Following are some pre-series thoughts from head coach Dan Da Silva, goaltender Evan Gardner and Parr…..