WEEK 22 (thru Monday)

In need of a win to claim the best record in the league and a first round playoff bye, the not-to-be-denied-again Wild Ducks bolted out of the Monday blocks, Jack Eichel (2g) pacing his team’s 12.5 point attack, the determined Ducks already 11.5 points better than their still-lacing-their skates opponent.

Boulder Flyers: 1.0
Wild Ducks: 12.5­
If the Wild Ducks win they’ll finish with a record of 14-7 and there would be no denying the team a first round playoff bye. If the Boulder Flyers win, they’d have the same record as the Ducks but they’d get the nod based on the first tiebreaker (H2H record vs. each other) as they would have defeated the Ducks twice during the regular season. If the Flyers defeat the Ducks, a first round bye is not a lock however. If the Ice Hogs win - and finish the week in a better overall position that the Flyers - the Ducks would grab the bye as they own the “breaking a three-way tie” tiebreaker (position in overall standings). Yes, it’s complicated (and my head hurts).

Polar Bears: 0.0
Ice Cats: 1.0­
The Polar Bears are currently a playoff team. If they win they will skate in the postseason. If they lose they would need the SC Cobras to also lose in order to qualify. It doesn’t matter what the Bluliners do as a Week 22 defeat would shove the Bears behind the Ice Cats, a team they would have lost to twice during the season. For the Ice Cats to qualify for the playoffs, they have to win this match and get a little help from their friends - needing the Vegas Vipers to take down the Bluliners.

Ice Hogs: 1.0
SC Cobras: 0.0­
With a win the Ice Hogs could be one of three teams with a record of 14-8, the Hogs however don’t have a shot at a first round bye as they don’t own the three-way breaker (position in overall standings). The playoff-bound Hogs do have a shot at winning the Probert division title, an accomplishment that would award the team a paper trophy (if I can learn Origami before the season is over). Already a playoff team, the SC Cobras will skate in the playoffs if they win. If the Cobras lose, they would need both the Bears and Bluliners to also lose in order to qualify.

Vegas Vipers: 5.5
Bluliners: 2.0­
In addition to bragging rights at the next family gathering, this match is hugely important for the Bluliners. Sitiing on the outside looking in, the Bluliners must win to have any shot at the playoffs. A win is not a guarantee however as if the Bears and Cobras both win, the Bluliners would be denied. Out of the playoffs and with nothing to play for, the Vegas Vipers Week 22 goal is pissing off GM Hamilton - something the team will accomplish if they take down the Bluliners in the final match of the H2H regular season.

Concussion Junction: 6.0
Central Red Army: 3.0
Okay, let’s see if it’s possible for Concussion Junction to qualify for the playoffs <removes shoes to help with the complicated math>. The team is 9-12. If they win they’ll be 10-12 (bear with me). For their 10-12 record to be playoff-worthy, the Bluliners would have to lose. The Cobras and Bears would also have to lose, however, the Bears and Cobras own the breakers, so no, the Junk cannot qualify for the playoffs. The Central Red Army meanwhile will be taking their game to the postseason, the defending H2H champion playing for an improved bracket seeding and outright ownership of the Domi division crown.

Badger Bob: 1.0
Misconducts: 2.0
The Misconducts can still snag a share of the Domi division title (and possibly a cool paper product) if they win this match and the Central Red Army stumble. Beyond that, the playoff-worthy Misconducts are just jockeying for position in the playoff brackets; a 7-team field competing for a $200.00 purse. Still riding an emotional wave after last week’s win, Badger Bob is hoping to harness the energy to extract themselves from the FHL basement; an unenviable task as they currently trail the 11th place Junk by 63.8 points.

LINK: Standings