CFHL First Round Playoffs

Mayhem vs. SLVB (4-1-1)

Kessel was big with 5 goals!

Well this game wasn't really close at all all week.  The Mayhem were able to really dominate most categories 10-4 in goals, 12-8 in assists and +5 to -5 in +/-.  It was a clean game too as the Mayhem won PIM only 14-6.  Mayhem's Phil Kessel was the player of the week tallying 5 goals, 2 assists and a +4.  I really got nothing else to say about this game.  It was a bad ending for the Killer Smurfs who had been on a role over the past few weeks, but as was mentioned last week, this was just the type of game where Mayhem were suppose to lose but win.  Not only did they win they won big!  Rick Nash was the only bright spot on the SLVB scoring 2 goals. Mayhem now travel to the #1 seed Enforcers.

Checkers vs. Goon Crew (3-3)

Zetterberg was a Goon Crew Killer

Emma Andersson, Zetterbergs wife I'm sure was very happy

Where do I begin with this game.  The Goon Crew were in command of this game all week winning 5-1 and 4-2 most of the week.  The goalie categories the Checker's clearly had as the Crew were only playing with one goalie as Varlamov was out with an injury.  So with no Varlamov and no Crosby things got worse later in the week when Marchand went out with a mild concussion, the Crew's best player next to Crosby, but they still managed a 4-2 lead going into the weekend.  This would change to 3-2 as the Checkers got 5 assists on Saturday to the Crew's 3 tying the Assists at 9.  On to Sunday.  The Crew needed to hang on and was hoping to get some insurance from the 3 players in the Blackhawks / Blues game (Hossa, Perron, and Pietrangelo) but got no assists from any of them leaving assists tied at 9.  Then with the Sabers game on next the Crew and the Checkers had players on the same line...again nothing.  Then the final game.  Crew hanging on to the slim lead and no players left.  Checkers had Zetterberg.  It appeared to be over and the Crew were on the way to the second round when with a Nashville empty net, Zetterberg got the puck and passed it to Abdelkader for the empty net goal and the assist to Zetterberg giving the Checkers the win in assists 10-9 tying the game 3-3 and with the tie breaker higher seed the defending Cherry Cup champs advance to the semifinals. A very bitter defeat for the Goon Crew who lose on the ultimate cheapie score on the last game of the week.

Next weeks matchups:

Enforcers vs Mayhem
The Number One Seed Enforcers finally get back on the ice and take on the Mayhem.  Both teams are expansion teams and will be playing to get into the Cherry Cup finals.  The Enforcers are lead by Jonathan Toews with 20 goals, 22 assists and +25.  The real Enforcers on this team are Lucic and Dubinsky (61 and 66 PIM respectively).  Mayhem are lead by another John, Tavares with 24 goals.  Phil Kessel is hot right now and coming off a big week.  Enforcers have the advantage in goalies with Lundqvist and Backstrom combining for 39 wins.  Will the Mayhem continue on their roll or will Enforcer's live up to their #1 seed.  Gonna go with the Enforcers on this one. 





Checkers vs Bunnies

The Defending Cherry Cup Champ Checkers stole a the series away last week to continue its quest to repeat as champs.  The Bunnies lead the league in both Goals and PIM, so they can score and kick you in the teeth.  They have two 20+ goal scores in Kunitz (21) and Stamkos (26) not to mention the 30 assits from Getzlaf. The Checkers will have their hands full.  Jeff Carter leads the Checkers with 24 goals. The Ginger Sedin has 28 assist and Zetterberg has 29.  The Checkers also have that Checker's luck but I think it runs out this week as the Bunnies have too much fire power.