Hartley’s Sports Shorts; Friday, April 26th

Sports by Hartley Friday, April 26th as of 12:05 a.m.

(All times listed are PDT)

WHL:

The much anticipated WHL Western Conference Final opens tonight (Friday) at 7:00 as the Prince George Cougars host the Portland Winterhawks.

The Western Conference Championship begins TONIGHT at the CN Centre.

News, notes, interviews, and more ahead of tonight’s clash against Portland👇https://t.co/JSr3MCTVwg#PGWhiteOut • #ForTheNorth • #WHLPlayoffs • #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/E9Mw5z66i1

— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 26, 2024

Game two will also be at CN Centre Saturday night at 6:00 at CN Centre.

“It’s the top dogs going against the top dogs”

Riley Heidt chimes in ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference Championship AND the Ice Cube Concert 😅#WHLPlayoffs • #FeedingTheFuture • #mnwild pic.twitter.com/TZ0zD4L8pL

— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 25, 2024

The series will shift to Portland in the 2-3-2 format for Games 3, 4 and 5 on Monday, Wednesday and if needed Thursday of next week.

If Games 6 and 7 are necessary they will be played in P.G. on Monday, May 6th and Tuesday, May 7th.

Get ready to transform the CN Centre into another sea of WHITE this weekend! ⚪️⚪️⚪️

Wear your white, bring your towels, your thundersticks, and bring the noise, Prince George!#PGWhiteOut • #WHLPlayoffs • #ForTheNorth • #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/v73obQaE7b

— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 25, 2024

The Cougars are appearing in the WHL Western Conference Final for the first time in 17 years and fourth time overall.

(This will be the first time P.G. has home ice advantage in the Western Final)

The Winterhawks are in the Western Final for the first time in nine years.

Prince George is 8-1 and Portland is 8-0 in the playoffs.

.@PGCougars, @pdxwinterhawks on collision course to become Western Conference Champions
| https://t.co/x3llqeFYwY #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports #WHLPlayoffs #pdx #Portland pic.twitter.com/5SFfyinc38

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 25, 2024

The two teams split their four regular season meetings, each winning once at home and once on the road.

SERIES SCHEDULE

*If necessary

The WHL Eastern Conference Final also opens tonight with the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Saskatoon Blades.

The WHL playoff standings are here.

The PG Cougars’ playoff results are here.

The PG Cougars’ regular-season results are here.

CN Centre will welcome fans to watch the remaining @PGCougars road games https://t.co/OMkePgKEng | #CityOfPG #PrinceGeorge

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 25, 2024

Hart Attack column:

HART ATTACK: @Hartley_Miller says @PGCougars, @pdxwinterhawks @TheWHL Western Conference Final could be as good as it gets | #cityofpg https://t.co/UFqJjnFERq #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports #WHLPlayoffs

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 26, 2024

Cat Scan podcasts:

CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller sits down with @pdxwinterhawks voice @NicholasMarek in a special episode ahead of the @TheWHL Western Conference Final | https://t.co/OoXrWl7Z2P #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports #WHLPlayoffs #Portland #PDX #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/P5SNx0WQ0E

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 24, 2024

The coach & GM of the @PGCougars Mark Lamb is back on the Cat Scan #podcast. He shares his views on: making the #WHL final 4, the series win over Kelowna, the Western Final vs the @pdxwinterhawks and how both teams mirror one another, fan support, home ice advantage & more. https://t.co/cCyXB91qpq

— Hartley Miller (@Hartley_Miller) April 23, 2024

NHL: (2 Stanley Cup playoff games)

Florida  5  Tampa Bay  3  (Panthers lead 3-0)
Carolina  3  New York Islanders  2  (Hurricanes lead 3-0)

There are four NHL playoff games tonight (Friday) including Vancouver at Nashville (4:30).

The other matchups have Edmonton at LA (7:30), Winnipeg at Colorado (7:00) and New York Rangers at Washington (4:00).

The Canucks and Predators are tied 1-1, the Oilers and Kings are even 1-1, the Jets and Avalanche are all square 1-1 and the Rangers lead the Capitals 2-0.

#Canucks vs. Predators: Thatcher Demko likely not back until conference finalshttps://t.co/ET0JcyHuiq

— Province Sports (@provincesports) April 25, 2024

The NHL playoff schedule and results are here.

The Vancouver Canucks playoff schedule and results are here.

The NHL playoff scoring leaders are here.

The NHL regular season standings are here.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper shares some poignant words as he reflects on the death of legendary hockey announcer Bob Cole and the impact Cole had on Cooper’s love for hockey. pic.twitter.com/0SHku0co2Q

— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) April 26, 2024

NFL:

A record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks of the NFL Draft.

The top three were all QB’s.

Seven wide receivers were among the 32 picks in the opening round.

The Sportsnet NFL draft-tracker is here.

NBA: (3 playoff games)

Denver  112  LA Lakers  105  (The Nuggets lead 3-0)
Philadelphia  125  New York  114  (The Knicks lead 2-1)
Orlando  121  Cleveland  83  (The Cavs lead 2-1)

There are three Friday NBA playoff games: Milwaukee at Indiana (2:30), LA Clippers at Dallas (5:00) and Minnesota at Phoenix (7:30).

The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1, the Clippers and Mavericks are even 1-1 and the Timberwolves lead the Suns 2-0.

The NBA schedule and results are here.

MLB:

Kansas City Royals  2  Toronto Blue Jays  1

The (13-13) Blue Jays, who have lost three straight, host the LA Dodgers tonight (Friday 4:07) to begin a 6-game homestand.

The Blue Jays schedule is here.

The MLB schedule is here.

The MLB standings are here.