CFHL Week 21

With the regular season wrapped up its time for some playoff hockey.  And who is back in the playoffs?  The 3 time Cherry Cup champion Checkers after missing the playoffs last year are back.

Quest for the Cherry Cup Starts now.

Checkers vs. Goon Crew 4-2
This game was close through out the week and the Goon Crew actually at one point held a 5-1 lead, but low and behold Saturday Night saw the Checkers post some pretty impressive numbers.  They ended up posting 6 goals, 15 assist and a +17 on Saturday alone.  That one day would beat most teams entire week!  Phil Kessel ended up with 2 goals, 5 assists and +5 for the Checkers.  While they rely heavily on their Kings they got good production out of Kessel (Pens), Neal and Josie (Press) who combined for 4 goals,6 assist and +7.  Dangerous if this team gets that type of production on top of their Kings.  Crew have been struggling as of late and managed to score only 4 goals, truly missing their best player Seguin. 

Checkers mascot says "What's up??  We're back!!

Who Gives a Puck vs. USSR 3-1-2
In the basement game to wrap the season up the defending champ Puck ended an otherwise disappointing season with a win.  This game would have been a lot worse had it not been for Sunday's late action.  The Soviets ended up getting an assist from Kane to tie up assists and JT Miller for the Puck ended with a -1 allowing the USSR to tie +/-.  Giroux led the Puck with 3 goals while Eriksson and Johansen led them with 3 assist each.  For a team with players like Stamkos, Kane, Tarasenko, Hedman, Bergeron, it hard to believe this the USSR ended up dead last.

Mayhem on Ice vs. AshBusters 3-3
With the playoffs in the balance and being only 1 point behind the Checkers, the AshBusters would need a big week.  They hung in there and had the Crew hung onto their lead, the AshBusters would be in and the Checkers would be out.  But it would not be the case.  Ultimately they couldn't overcome the numerous injuries they had.  With Ekman-Larsson getting 16 PIM for the AshBusters you would have thought they would have won PIM, but Mayhem had 2 players with 10 PIM (Toews and Simmonds).

Middle one is Toews wife, but any will do...

Krampus Carols vs. Assassins 3-2-1
The Krampus managed to stuff the Assassins in their sack to close the regular season. Leading the way was Corey Perry who had 1 goal, 2 assists, +2 and 7 PIM.  Not to be outdone was the 9 PIM by Krampus blue liner Shattenkirk.  With the Crew, who were the top team for several weeks, loss to the Checkers and the Krampus win, the Krampus now own the number one seed. And for their efforts they get to play in the first round the red hot Checkers.  And they are limping into the playoffs a bit with Duchene and Kucherov banged up some. 

Perry led the way for the Krampus

Playoff Matchups Semifinals:

Mayhem On Ice vs. R.C. Goon Crew
Goon Crew decided to throw last weeks game in order to not have to play the Checkers again and thus dropped down to the 2nd seed and get the Mayhem.  They will need to get more goal production than just 4 from last week.  Key players as always will be their Stars and their Goalies Varlamov and Mason as Crawford still on the injury list.

Got to love the zombie makes of Mason

Mayhem keys will be the production out of their centers Toews and rookie sensation McDavid along with their goons Hartnell, Simmonds and Backes. Goalies are not as impressive.  Lundqvist is of course solid and will have to carry them.  Lehtonen is the other net minder and will get less playing time as Niemi starts to shine for the Stars.

Cherry Checkers vs. Krampus Carols
It will be up to the Krampus to stop the suddenly red hot Checkers.  They will need to put up some big numbers to do so.  Its not going to be easy with 2 players day to day.   Kucherov and Duchene are day to day and will miss a couple games still this week. That puts the pressure on Crosby, Hall, Perry and defenseman Karlsson.  In net is a roll of the dice.  Bishop and Rask both can put up good numbers but also can come away with no wins. 

A gaggle of Checkers... pretty much.

The Checkers ran the table at the end of the year after being left for dead and made the playoffs.  They are going for their 4th title.  We all know what they are about.  Kings, Kings, Kings!!  Kopitar, Carter, Toffoli, Doughty, Muzzin and Quick.  Interestingly they benched  Lucic.  But if they get the production they got out of their Preds (Josi and Neal) like they did last week this team will be hard to stop.