WEEK 17 (thru Monday)

With points in every game since returning from a two month stay on the shelf - including a goal on Monday - Vincent Trocheck has added instant fuel to the Bluliners fire, his four-time championship team moving to within 29.6 points of the again-in-first-place Vegas Vipers.

Bluliners: 4.0
Badger Bob: 2.0­
An extremely important match for both teams as neither Badger Bob nor the Bluliners are currently playoff-worthy. The Bluliners trail the 7th and final playoff spot by 0.5 games; the Bobs sit a distant 2 games back. While the Bluliners could possibly absorb another loss, the same can’t be said of Badger Bob who currently face a “win or go home” scenario.

Wild Ducks: 5.0
Vegas Vipers: 2.0­
Overall, the 1st place Vegas Vipers are better than the 3rd place Wild Ducks. This fact isn’t reflected in their H2H records as the Ducks are playoff bound at 10-6; the Vipers golf course bound at 6-9-1. With only six weeks remaining in the H2H regular season, time is running out on the Vipers - a win in Week 17 more important than ever.
Note: The Vegas Vipers overall score reflects a previously missed assist by Alex Chiasson in a game played on Sunday.

Boulder Flyers: 0.0
Polar Bears: 7.0­
Sitting comfortably inside the playoff picture with a record of 10-6, the Boulder Flyers have their sights on the best H2H record and a first round playoff bye. The Polar Bears meanwhile are fighting for their playoff lives, the team currently on the outside looking in - the Bears and their 7-9 mark currently 1.0 game shy of the postseason. Bottom line: The Flyers would like to win; the Bears need to win.

Central Red Army: 6.0
Ice Hogs: 6.0
A pitched battle of division co-leaders as the best of the Probert Ice Hogs (10-6) lock horns with the best of the Domi Central Red Army (9-7). Based on their slot in the overall standings, the 6th place Army have a slight edge over the 8th place Hogs. GM Buker is also in possession of bragging rights, his troops defeating the Hogs by 8.4 points in Week 6.

Concussion Junction: 5.0
Misconducts: 2.0
The Battle of the Smalleys is a biggie as both teams have something to play for in Week 17. The Misconducts, 9-7, are leading their division but have struggled of late, a berth in the postseason by no means guaranteed. Concussion Junction, 8-8, are perched on the edge of the playoff bubble - a win would consolidate their position while a loss would shove them out of the postseason.

Ice Cats: 4.0
SC Cobras: 6.5­
The truly crucial matches of Week 17 feature teams in which both sit outside of the postseason - and this match is one of them - the outta-the-playoffs SC Cobras (7-9) matching hockey wits with the outta-the-playoffs Ice Cats (6-10). With a record just one game under .500, the Cobras have a little more wiggle room than their opponent. With the worst record in the league, the Cats wiggling days are almost over.

LINK: Standings