WEEK 20 (thru Friday)

With his team in a life-or-death struggle for the last playoff spot, Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler made the biggest contribution to the Badger Bob stat sheet, the second round draft selection accounting for 7.0 points (2g, 1a), the Bobs now leading their must-win H2H match by 15.9 points.

Ice Hogs: 15.9
Badger Bob: 31.8
Despite their effort to harness the power of Jobu, the Ice Hogs floundered on Friday, GM Henry's team now just 16.3 points clear of the 2nd place Wild Ducks. Meanwhile, the Bobs were busy keeping their playoff hopes alive, an 11.7 point outing leaving GM Chester's squad a healthy distance in front of their heavily-favored opponent.

Roving FHL reporter, Bud Lyght was at the "Hogs vs Bobs" match and he spoke with GM Chester late Friday evening.

"We know it is down to us and Bluliners for the last playoff spot. We're doing our best to take care of our business, which is the ongoing matchup against the league-leader Ice Hogs," Chester said. "Beyond that, we are rooting for the SC Cobras (to defeat the Bluliners)."

When questioned about Blake Wheeler's season, Chester added, "The only area where I expected more from Wheeler was goals. With the two tonight, he now has 19 so far this season. I expected him to have a shot to score 40 goals. I think he missed long-time linemate Bryan Little being out with injury for essentially the first two months of the season."

The match, and possibly the playoff fate of Badger Bob, will be decided on the weekend.

Wild Ducks: 37.6
Ice Cats: 41.0
The Wild Ducks successfully deployed Day-1 of their 3-Day plan to catch and pass the Ice Cats, a solid 8.0 point Friday drawing the focused Ducks to within 3.4 points of their might-have-went-out-too-fast H2H opponent.

Central Red Army: 34.2
Between the Pipes: 25.7­
Thought to be dead and buried, Between the Pipes resurfaced on Friday, an 8.7 point evening lifting GM Miller's team to within striking distance of the Central Red Army. With just Saturday and Sunday remaining, the Pipes deficit is doable at 8.5 points.

Bluliners: 28.1
SC Cobras: 22.2­
A non-divisional match with huge playoff implications, the on-the-bubble Bluliners continue to lead the SC Cobras, GM Hamilton's squad now 5.9 points better than the motionless snakes.

Misconducts: 23.1
Polar Bears: 29.0
The Polar Bears padded their cushion on Friday, a 3.0 point effort resulting in 2.0 more points of stuffing, GM Elya's Bears now 5.9 points better than the sagging Misconducts.

Boulder Flyers: 28.6
Silicon Valley Slashers: 20.4
The Silicon Valley Slashers were one of the best Friday teams, a 6.1 point effort drawing GM Murphy's Slashers to within 8.2 points of the Boulder Flyers.

LINK: Standings
LINK: Playoff Standings

Was multi-tasking after the action Friday night. Happily multi-tasking I might add.

Talking with reporter Bud Lyght, as Morganwigge wrote. Also, enjoying a celebratory shot of Jack Daniels as there was some luck involved in the 7.0 from Wheeler. One goal and one assist of the empty-net variety at the end of the Jets' 3-0 win over St. Louis.

I did offer Bud Lyght a shot of Jack Daniels, but he declined since he was working.

B2 alive to skate another day. LET'S GO SC COBRAS!!!