CFHL Final Week...Playoffs here we come!

It was a wild finish to the end of the season with several games and playoff spots in the balance.  While the Enforcers and Bunnies played on in a meaningless game (both locked down the #1 and #2 seeds plus first round byes) to a 2-2-2 yawner, there were other games that decided who would fill the final 4 playoff spots.

SLVB vs. Assassins (4-2)

Williams had 3 goals

The Killer Smurfs were dead in the water about half way through the season, but have woke up since their 5-1 trouncing of the Krampus Carols in Week 9.  And since then moved right into the playoffs.  Against the Assassins they dominated in Goals going 14-4 thanks to 3 players tallying "hat tricks" for the week; Nash, Ryder and Justin Williams, who was the games Number One star of the game with a 3 goal, 2 assists, a +4 and 2 PIM.  And now the goal tending is hitting its stride for SLVB as they had 6 wins, 3 each from Miller and Holtby.  The Assassins end their season in dissapointing fashion as this team had promise early on.  But scoring 4 goals in its final game just not going to cut it.

Checkers vs USSR (4-1-1)

Carter and Voynov part of many Checker Kings.  KING ME!

The Checkers used this game to lock in their first Division Title winning the Norris by 3 points.  It wasn't a sure thing going into this game and it was 3-3 most of the week, until the Checkers, like they always do, scored 2 goals on the last day to tie goals and then USSR let the goalie SV% slip away with poor performances from Emery and Rinne.  Jeff Carter for the Checkers continues to be a goal BEAST netting 3 goals for the week.  The USSR were really hurt by the injuries to Vanek and Sharp who were scoring machines early in the season.

With the 3 Division winners decided it was a wild finish for the final 2 spots up for grabs for the Mayhem, Goon Crew and Goal King...

Kane glad season over..can focus on other things

Goon Crew vs. Kraken (4-2)

The Goon Crew needed a big win this week to even have a chance to make the playoffs.  Well they did their job against the Kraken despite without the efforts of Crosby, out with a broken jaw and Hossa, who did play some but was on bench.  This resulted in only 6 goals and for some reason was enough to beat the Kraken's 5 goals.  The Crew did get 14 assists but really no one player was outstanding.  So with the Crew game in hand and them doing their part to get in the playoffs, they needed some help to still get in.  The Kraken however left them pretty beat up racking up 41 PIM including 23 from Evander "Hollyfield" Kane.

AshBusters vs. Mayhem (4-1-1)

The Mayhem were sitting nicely and a playoff spot well in hand almost played away that playoff spot as the AshBusters who have been in a state of disarray the entire season finally woke up and put a smack down on the Mayhem.  While goals were at a premium AshBusters put up an impressive 24 assists, including 9 from Nickals Backstrom.  Number One Star Taylor Hall had 2 goals, 5 assists, +3 and 2 PIM.  So the Mayhem limp into the playoffs, almost playing themselves out of it. 

Krampus Carols vs. Goal King (2-1-3)



Eating his Wheaties must have helped

After the Crew finished their game they turned their attention the the Krampus vs. Goal King game on the TVs in the locker room with the fate of their playoffs in the hands of the Krampus.  Late in the game, going into Sunday, the Goal King seemed to have things in hand up 3-2-1 and the playoff spot locked up.  "Not so fast my friend" The Krampus tallied 3 assists to the Goal Kings 1 to tie the Assists and then gets 4 PIM to the Goal Kings only 2 to tie that category and take the game 2-1-3 knocking the Goal Kings out of the playoffs and putting the Crew in their first playoffs.  The Krampus scored 17 goals in this game, 7 game from Ovechkin who was the Player of the Week also getting 2 goals, a +5 and 2 PIM. 

PLAYOFF MATCH UPS

While the Enforcers and Bunnies get to sit back and relax this week seeing who they will be playing next week here are the match ups this week.

#4 SLVB vs. #5 Mayhem

Hot team are the Smurfs who haven't lost in 4 weeks.  Mayhem are the cold team who limp into the playoffs after a pitiful performance vs the AshBusters.  SLVB are lead by Nash and Ryder who have 16 and 15 goals respectively.  Datsyuk adds 25 assists on the season and the D-bag of the team is Corey Perry with 64 PIM.  Mayhem rely on their star John Tavares with 23 goals.  Goalies are hot with SLVB's Holtby and Miller.  All signs point to SLVB to continue to roll, but this is just the type of match up where the team that is suppose to win, doesn't.  However SLVB too hot, Smurfs chop up the Mayhem.

#3 Checkers vs #6 Goon Crew
What a rivalry.  Brother vs. Brother.  This rivalry between these two owners dates back to 1985 in the Cherry Fantasy Football League where they have been division rivals in fantasy football and meeting twice in Fantasy Bowls (where they split), now the rivalry continues into the CFHL as the Crew try to knock off the defending champion Checkers.  This won't be easy with out Sidney Crosby out who had 41 assists and a whopping +26 on the season.  Riberio, Marchand and a healthy Hossa will have to pick up the slack to pull this playoff game out.  Goal Tending for Crew has been up and down with Varlamov and Niemi, who can look great one game and look terrible the next.  For the Checkers goals come and go with Jeff Carter who has 23 on the season.  This team live and dies by the Kings (Kopitar, Carter, Voynov, Quick).  Its the way owner Rick Cherry always runs his fantasy teams (in football its Chargers or Ravens).  All eggs in one basket sometime bad.  But with a Crosbyless Crew team the Checkers squeak out the win and pursue a second Cherry Cup title.