CFHL 2018 Playoffs Round 1

In what I would call an unexpected development, the two teams that leading up to the playoffs seemed to back into the playoffs, not playing their best hockey, turned up their game play and both upset their opponents.

La Femme Nikita 4  AshBusters 2
In the dreaded Husband/Wife match up La Femme Nikita defeated their husband and defending Cherry Cup Champs AshBusters.  It had seemed the AshBusters were in command all week but Saturday games came and Nikita took the lead going into Sunday with very few players left.  It was close as La Femme Nikita edged the Ashbusters in goals by one, plus minus by one, hits by only 4 and they tied in their goalie wins.  Zibanejad had 3 goals for Nikita and Jaden Schwartz scored 2 goals, 2 assists and a +3.  Both teams had some heavy hitters as Colin Miller for Nikita had 12 hits as did the AshBusters' Jamie Benn.  Must have been an interesting week and weekend in the Johnston household.

Zibanejad celebrates the upset victory

Thus ends the AshBusters quest for a repeat to keep the Cherry Cup.  In a season which they looked like the team to beat all year just goes to show you all you have to do is get into the playoffs and anything can happen.

Who Gives a Puck 4  Krampus Carols 2
In another upset the Puck defeated the Krampus Carols behind outstanding performances from Crosby (3g, 3a, +2, and 6 hits), Taylor Hall (2g, 3a, +2 and 3 hits), and Arvidsson (2g, 3a, +3).  Cam Atkinson of the Krampus Carols was overshadowed in the loss scoring 3 goals, 2 helpers and a +5 with a PPP and 3 hits.  Krampus Carols have continued to be disappointed with their two Blackhawk stars of Toews and Kane.  They only combined for 1 goal and 3 assist and a terrible -4.  But Dougie Hamilton had a -6 on his own for Krampus.

Sid the kid helped the Puck defeat the Krampus

Playoffs 2nd Round Match Ups:

La Femme Nikita at Mayhem on Ice

Laine, a handsome fellow...

The Mayhem have been the hottest team in the league lead by Malkin and Laine.  They have a physical presence in Kane as he pounds the boards.  Nikita, coming off their huge first round upset of the AshBusters need big games from their Flames Giordano and Gaurdeau and strong goalie play behind Tuukka Rask. 
Prediction:  Its going to be hard to hold down the Mayhem with their firepower.  Mayhem win 4-3
(currently La Femme Nikita are up 4-2 at press time.  Another upset in the making?)

Who Gives a Puck at Cherry's Checkers

Checkers looking to these two to bring them back to the finals

The Checkers are looking to make it to the Cherry Cup Finals for a chance at a fifth Cherry Cup while the Puck, are looking to try to win it's second.  Overall skaters seems to favor Who Gives a Puck with the likes of Crosby, Hall, Tarasenko and Oshie.  Checkers look to their Oilers combination of McDavid and Draisaitl.  Checkers hold an advantage with Goalies behind Rinne and Quick. 
Prediction: This one will be close and the Checkers will come away with the victory behind their goalies 3-2.  (At press time the Checkers are up 6-1)

CFHL Final Regular Season Week!

The final week is here and the playoffs are upon us.  4 teams have pretty much locked down playoff spots.  Mayhem on Ice, Ashbusters, Checkers, Krampus Carols will be in the playoffs.  This leaves 2 spots left for 3 teams.  La Femme Nikita and Who Gives a Puck are in the driver seats at 21 points while the Goon Crew at 19 points will try to tie and hope for tie breakers to help them get in. 

AshBusters 4  Goon Crew 3
The Crew drop yet another game after leading the game all the way till Sunday night.  After scoring 12 goals, 17 assists and an impressive 15 PPP the Crew had a slight lead in the +/- and hits.  When Sunday was over the AshBusters were able to beat the Crew in both of those categories enough to win +/- by 2 and hits just by 1.  The Crew have been decimated with injuries that started with Crawford 35 games ago, then Scheifele has been in and out and now out again.  Matthews is out.  McAvoy went out and probably won't return.  Then Sunday Marchand was ruled out of the game after scoring 4 goals, 4 assists and 3 PPP. 

La Femme Nikita will need more big production
out of these two

Assassins 4  La Femme Nikita 3
La Femme Nikita didn't solidify their playoff hopes after losing to the Assassins.  While their Flames connection of Gaudreau and Giodano combined for 4 goals and 6 assists the loss of Bergeron definitely hurt.  In fact the Assassins only had 3 goals all week and haven't been the same team since earlier in the season.  But they did enough this week to beat Nikita.  22 assists will do that, led by Panarin, Butcher, and Reilly who all had 4 assists each.

Checkers 4  Who Gives a Puck 2
And another team that is fighting for a playoff spot loses as the Checkers, winner of 5 straight now, defeated the Puck.  Pekka Rinne was solid in net for the Checkers getting 2 wins and a SV% of .966.  Connor McDavid continues to have a great year, scoring 3 goals to go along with his 2 assists and a rating of +3. 

Rinne is getting in Cherry Cup Playoffs form

Playoff Picture: 

So there is the three teams fighting for a playoff spot, not looking like any of them want it.  Goon Crew will have to take on the red hot Mayhem on Ice and hope for a miracle to beat them.  Mayhem on Ice have won 6 in a row and lead the league in goals with 196.  They had little trouble taking care of the White Mambas last week 4-2 with the help of Number One star Patrik Laine's 5 goals. 

La Femme Nikita has to take on another hot team in the Checkers who have won 5 straight now.  La Femme Nikita will have to win this game to make the playoffs if the Crew manage to beat the Mayhem as the Puck and Crew hold the tie breaker advantage over La Femme Nikita based on head to head match ups. 

Who Gives a Puck take on the AshBusters, also winners of 5 straight.  So its no easy task for the final three teams as they play the best 3 teams in the league.  However, the Puck are in based on tie breakers even if they do lose and the Crew win.  So if all three teams win, Crew are out and La Femme Nikita and Who Gives a Puck are in.  If Crew win and La Femme Nikita lose, then Crew are in. 

Three Stars of the Week (it was a week of Mayhem):

Number One Star:  Patrik Lanie, Mayhem on Ice, 5 goals, +4, 1 PPP and 4 hits

Number Two Star:  Brad Marchand, Goon Crew, 4 goals, 4 assists, +3, 3 PPP

Number Three Star:  Evgeni Malkin, Mayhem on Ice, 3 goals, 5 assists, +3, 2 PPP and 7 hits

Goon of the Week:  Evander Kane, Mayhem on Ice, 12 hits