CFHL Cherry Cup Update

Do we have an upset in the making??  After upsetting the AshBusters 4-3 led by Draisaitl's 4 assists and Pettersson's 3 PPP to get into the Cherry Cup, the Who Gives a Puck has a 5-2 lead over the heavily favored La Femme Nikita!

Draisaitl has come up big again for the Puck as he currently has 4 goals (including a hat trick on Tuesday), 2 assists and a +2, while Connor McDavid has 2 goals and 4 assists.  Their Edmonton connection hasn't disappointed thus far.  Panarin "Bread" is having a hell of a week as well with 2 goals, 4 assist and a +6.

Draisaitl scored hat trick Tuesday

La Femme Nikita have not been able to get their power play going with only 4 points to the Puck's 7.  Stamkos has Kucherov have only 1 PPP between the two of them.  The only thing keeping this game from being real bad is their 3 goalie wins between Price and Vasilevskiy. 

Stamkos getting some encouragement from his coach

Who Gives a Puck has a chance today to extend their lead as they have 6 skaters and both goalies going today and La Femme Nikita has no one. 

But, as the Assassins are well aware of, this game is far from over as another week of games starts tomorrow leading to the finale on Saturday April 6!  On that day both teams have every player playing.  So if La Femme Nikita can get it close Saturday should be a good one!

CFHL Playoffs and Round 2 preview

The first round of the playoffs didn't disappoint with two very close games.  One game was decided on the final day and actually was tied.

AshBusters 4 Mayhem on Ice 3
As predicted the AshBusters dominated in all the skater categories (goals, assists, +/-, PPP) but the Mayhem  made it interesting winning goalie categories and hits.  The Mayhem on Sunday needed just one PPP to tie the game or 2 assists.  On Sunday, the Mayhem did get 3 assists but the AshBusters countered with 2 to keep the Mayhem from pulling off the upset.  The AshBusters big names didn't disappoint as Bergeron, Scheifele and Carlson all had 2 goals and 2 assists each.  AshBusters move on and the Mayhem on Ice defense of the cup comes to an end.

Assassins 3.5 (W) White Mambas 3.5
This game was tight to the very end.  Just when it looked like the White Mambas had the game wrapped up and was commencing St. Patrick Day celebration maneuvers, the Assassins were not done yet.  Both teams were tied in +/- at -4.  That is when the Assassins' Rantanen, Dahlin and Pulock all tallied a +1 winning that category and ultimately tying the game at 3.5 each.  With the Assassins as the home team they were victorious in OT and move on.  A heartbreaking loss for the White Mambas. 

Rantanen helped Assassins to victory

Playoffs Round 2 Preview:

Assassins at La Femme Nikita - I don't see the Assassins getting as lucky as they did on St. Patrick's Day versus the number one team in the league La Femme Nikita.  They have significant fire power along the front lines with Stamkos and Kucherov leading the team.  Kucherov has been the team player of the year with 35 goals and 82 assists with a +20 and 45 PPP.  Assassins could compete somewhat here with Wheeler, Rantanen and Tkachuk, but they will need to have one of their best weeks of the season.

Can this guy be stopped?

Goalies is where this will be an even bigger difference.  La Femme Nikita will have in net 2 of the best goalies in the league with Price and Vasilevskiy.  Assassins have Crawford and Hart.  Enough said..

Prediction:  Nikita 5-2

AshBusters at Who Gives a Puck
This game could be closer than the stats would indicate.  Even thought the AshBusters lead the league in most of the skater categories, Who Gives a Puck will be leaning heavily on two pairs from Edmonton and Calgary.  McDavid and Draisaitl can light it up.  Gaudreau and Monahan can put up some points as well.  They will both need to do just that to have a chance. 

McDavid and Draisaitl look to upset the AshBusters

Who Gives a Puck has slight advantage in net as well with Dubnyk and Griess vs. Hellebuyck and Murray.

Prediction Who Gives a Puck 4-3 in an upset preventing a household Cherry Cup

CFHL Playoffs

Well after a scare from a Russian hacker, presumably from the USSR camp, that tried to screw up the schedules ultimately allowing the USSR into the playoffs, things were reset and the hacker failed.  The regular season is over and the two division winners this year were La Femme Nikita and Who Gives a Puck.  Nikita are clearly the favorite this year and will get a bye along with Who Gives a Puck.

That leaves 4 teams playing in the first round of the CFHL.

Voracek's dirty hit on Boychuck

White Mambas at the Assassins - This game should be a close one.  Both teams have some decent skaters with the Mambas having Crosby, Marchand and Voracek.  However Voracek will likely miss the first two games this week due to a 2 game suspension.  The Mambas do have edge in Assists, +/- and PP goals.  They are actually first in PP goals and have 5 players that have 20 or more.  Assassins could steal some categories with Voracek missing some time.  With Wheeler, Backstrom and Rantanen, the Assassins might be able to steal assists.  If they do that they could come away as the victor.

Prediction:  White Mambas 3  Assassins 2  - While they split goals and SV% the Assassins can't get past they strong Power Play of the Mamba.

Mayhem on Ice at AshBusters - The defending champ Mayhem got the short straw of the draw, drawing the AshBusters in the first round.  Despite the Nikita's record, the AshBusters were the most prolific scoring team in the CFHL.  They led the league in Goals, Assists and +/-.  Yes +/- Rich!  The stat you hate you led the league in!  Oh and they were second in PP goals.  Players like Scheifele, Kane (40 goals and 28 PP) and Aho lead a very impressive team.  Even though the Mayhem were better than AshBusters in goalie stats, when you compare Mayhem goalies Binnington and Markstrom to the AshBusters' Murray and Rinne, you have to wonder how?

Kane has been on fire this season

Prediction:  AshBusters 6  Mayhem on Ice 1 -  Their defense of the cup comes to an end as the AshBusters roll to victory.

CFHL Ice girl taking out the trash, or the two loser in round 1