CFHL Week 18

It is truly crunch time as we enter the final two week of the season.  Here is how last week shaped up...

Checkers vs. Mayhem on Ice 7-1
Checker are making their typical late season surge in the games, but with the new format it will be more difficult for them to make the playoffs.  Last week they took it to the Mayhem as they were lead by Atkinson's 2 goals and assist (29g, 24a on season) and 13 big hits by Gudas "Cheese".  Budaj and Bishop traded teams in the NHL, but still both remain on the Checkers.  Connor McDavid's 3 assists (50 on season!) were wasted for the Mayhem in the loss.

Atkinson has been on fire for Checkers

Assassins vs. Krampus Carols 6-2
The Assassins just keep on rolling winning their 14th week of the season.  They were again strong in net as Gibson and Price posted 1.61 GAA and .941 SV%.  Not to mention their 155 FOW lead by 44 from Kesler and 31 from Tavares.  Every forward and center posted double digit FOWs.  Kane for the Krampus Carols did what he could with 4 goals, an assist and a +3 rating.  Just not enough as the Assassins are a very balanced team right now.  With a guaranteed win at FOW each week and the goalies they have almost guarantee 4 categories right there.  Just need to win one more and they win the week...

Kesler part of the Assassins

USSR vs. Goon Crew 6-3
After a slight stumble last week, the Soviets were back on track and have moved into a playoff spot currently defeating the continuing struggling Crew.  The Crew's 117 FOW still paled in comparison to the USSR's 151.  The goalies let the Crew down again getting only 1 win and 2.90 GAA and a .904 SV%.  Holtby for the Soviets had another great week getting 2 wins and an impressive 1.00 GAA and .969 SV%.  The Crew frustrated with their lack of production traded away Dubnyk to the AshBusters for 3 players (Kadri, Schneider, and Wheeler) in hopes to improve their offensive production in the final push for the playoffs.

USSR has the best fans...

White Mambas vs Slow Icin' 4-4
Kissing your sister.  Another tie for the Mambas (3rd of the year).  While Slow Icin' couldnt get anything going in net and the White Mambas were a brick wall in net, Slow Icin' managed to get 4 assists to the Mambas 2 on Sunday to tie up Assists and force the tie.  Jonathan Toews was the game's Number One Star as he netted 4 goals, 5 assists and a +6 for Slow Icin'.

Toews Girl or ex girl Lindsey...who cares.

Who Gives a Puck vs. AshBusters 7-1
Who Gives a Puck won a big game vs the Smythe leading AshBusters and moved into 3rd overall in the league.  This was a game that was NOT highlighted between the pipes as both teams had GAA north of 3 and SV% south of .900.  But the puck dominated the offensive categories with 12 goals and 17 assists.  Backlund had 4 goals and Brad Marchand finished with 2 goals 3 assists and +6.  Even Dougie Hamilton got in on the fun with 2 goals, 3 assists and a+4.

Hamilton of the Puck

Push for the Playoffs
With only two weeks to go in the regular season it is the final push for the playoffs.  For teams tied in points for a playoff spot first tie breaker is head to head vs. all teams tied with, then total rotisserie points for entire season.

As it stands today.  AshBusters and Assassins get the first round byes.  AshBusters hold a small 2 point lead in the Smythe.  Assassins have clinched #1 seed.

Wild cards are the next top 4 teams.  Right now #1 wild card is Who Gives a Puck followed by Mayhem on Ice.  #3 and #4 would be between Crew, USSR and Mambas.  If it started today Crew and USSR would be in and Mambas out.  However if just the USSR and Mambas are tied for the last spot, Mambas would get in as they went 2-0 vs the Soviets.

Apparently a Who gives a Puck fan

CFHL Week 16/17 Update

Getting down to the home stretch now with only 3 more weeks of the regular season.  Playoffs start in week 21 (March 13).  Top 6 teams make it into the playoffs.  Division winners get a first round bye.   How are the playoffs and standings shaping up?

SMYTHE DIVISION

Two teams in the driver seat are the Mayhem on Ice and AshBusters.  The AshBusters have just a 2 point lead over the Mayhem.  The AshBusters rely heavily on their Shark players of Couture, Pavelski and current team MVP Brent Burns who as a defenseman is having a Bobby Orr type season with 27 goals and 37 assists.

Evolution of Brent Burns...

Mayhem are lead by the young talent of McDavid with his 47 assists and rookie sensation Patrik Laine who has 28 goals....The rest of the division has the USSR and Krampus Carols tied at 15 points, 5 points behind the AshBusters, and Slow Icin' who are 7 points and could be out of it.

Kane entered the belching contest apparently...

The Soviets don't mess around when it comes to the face off circle as they have 4 players with over 600 FOW not to mention the hurt they put on people with 6 players with over 100 hits.

The Krampus Carols are full of big names, but don't have the record to show it.  Names like Tyler Seguin, Patrick Kane, Max Pacioretty, Jakub Voracek...Whats up with that??

NORRIS DIVISION

The Norris has become a one team division as the Assassins have completely pulled away and have a league leading 27 points, 10 more than second place Goon Crew and Who Gives a Puck.  The Assassin have only lost 3 games entire season.  Kesler has over 700 FOW while Backstrom has 44 assists.  They are strongest in goal with Price and Bobrovsky...

Assassins have incorporated the full Backstrom affect...

Then you have the Goon Crew and Who Gives a Puck.  The Goon Crew started out hot to begin the season but have cooled down significantly.  The Goon Crew can't seem to get much offensive power with goal scores and have been at the mercy of their two Goalies, Dubnyk and Lundqvist.  They typcially have been great, but occasionally Lundqvist takes a dump.

Yep...thats about right...

Who Gives a Puck is clearly lead by Sidney Crosby who has 32 goals, 33 assists, 10 PPG and 592 FOW.  They also have another rookie sensation in Auston Matthews and his 28 goals.

White Mambas are currently in the playoffs if they started today and have done it without much face off circle talent but have been able to put together enough wins to push for the playoffs.  Since Murray has been back him and Jones have been strong in net.

The Checkers seem to be fading and most likely not going to make the playoffs.  Its one of those not so good Kings season...

Team Stat Leaders:

Goals - Mayhem on Ice 158 (last Slow Icin' with 100)
Assists - Who Gives a Puck 283 (last USSR with 196)
Rating - Assassins +70 (last Krampus -39)
PPG - AshBusters 61 (last USSR 28)
Hits - AshBusters 843 (last White Mambas 374)
FOW - USSR 2,792 (last White Mambas 755)

Goalie Wins - Goon Crew 59 (last Slow Icin' 30)
GAA - Goon Crew 2.30 (last Slow Icin' 2.83)
SV% - Goon Crew .923 (last Slow Icin' .909)
Side note, Assassins are 2nd in all Goalie Categories...

Trade Deadline coming up on Tuesday February 28!

CFHL Week 15

This was a long one, spanning over the All Star Break.  Here is a quick breakdown...

Upset of the Year:  Slow Icin' vs. Assassins 6-3
The long week was good for the struggling Slow Icin, who only have won 3 games coming into a match up with the top team in the CFHL.  But they surprised the Assassins upsetting them 6-3 behind 4 goals from Hornqvist and 3 from Ladd, not to mention a strong goalie play from Luongo and Mrazek.  If you really want to call it strong, as both teams had the worse goalie play out of all the teams.  The loss didn't hurt the Assassins, as they still hold a big 8 point lead in the Norris division.

Hornqvist led the Slow Icin to an upset win

Around the league...

Checkers vs. Goon Crew 6-2...Crew lose their 6 in a row, and can't seem to find the winning track, despite three players with 3 goals each.  Chislers got great play between the pipes as Budaj and Talbot combined for 8 wins and a 1.42 GAA.

Budaj was a virtual wall for the Checkers

AshBusters vs. Krampus Carols 8-1...AshBusters rolled for the 2 week period winning all but one category.  Their Shark combination of Burns, Couture, and Pavelski combined for 7 goals, 13 assists, +9, and 18 hits.

Burns and Pavelski for the AshBusters

Who Gives a Puck vs. White Mambas 5-4...With the Crew fading the Mambas and Puck are gaining fast.  Puck forward Marchand had a huge week with 6 goals and 4 assists.  Mambas were good in net again with Jones and Murray combining for 5 wins, 2.31 GAA and .922 SV%.

Marchand had 6 goals for the Puck!

USSR vs Mayhem 7-1...The Soviets got back in the win column handing the Mayhem their 3rd loss in a row.  The USSR continue to dominate the face off circle as they racked up 270 FOW led by Stansty's 64 and Fisher's 68!  They also had the second highest Goalie Win total with 7 between Holtby and Ward.

Go USSR!!!