CFHL Cherry Cup Finals

It was a tale of two weeks in the Cherry Cup Finals between the AshBusters and the Assassins.

Cherry Cup Finals:  AshBusters 6  Assassins 3

The Assassins couldn't hang on for the 2 week marathon of the Cup Final and their lack of offensive fire power finally caught up with them and couldn't win with just goalie and FOWs.

The Assassins were in good shape after the first week dominating the goalie categories including being up 4-0 in goalie wins vs. AshBusters.  Price had 3 wins for the Assassins but Bobrovsky was a disappointment in the finals getting only one win.  This was clearly the difference, as Dubnyk and Anderson (both former Goon Crew) combined for 6 wins after a slow start.  5 of the 6 wins came in the final 6 days of the Finals.

Anderson of AshBusters, also a muncher in The Strain

Assassins, as predicted, dominated in FOWs 260-123, lead by Dubinsky's 71.  But the AshBusters knew they wouldn't be able to compete in that category and just was trying to steal one goalie category which they did.

For 2 weeks of action there wasn't that many goals scored (11-8).  In fact each team only had one player scoring more that 2 times.  Doughty had 3 goals for Assassins and Schenn had 3 for AshBusters.  Assassins didn't have another player with more than 1 goal besides Doughty.

Doughty fell short of another Cup

AshBusters would win Goals, Assists, +/-, PPG and Hits to promptly become the Cherry Cup Champions, beating the Assassins who had been the best team in the league all season long.  Somewhat fitting that the AshBusters would beat the best team in the league, after being the best in the league in the past and commenting that he didn't care that he didn't win the cup.  He felt he was the best and that's all that mattered.  Maybe he would be willing to just give the cup to the Assassins, since technically they were the best team in the league for the season....Hmmm....

Brayden Schenn for the AshBusters was the Number One Star of the Finals as he had 3 goals, 3 assists, a +7, 2 PPG, and 8 hits!

Schenn was Cup MVP

Congrats to the AshBusters...The 2017 Cherry Cup Champions!!

AshBusters D-man Schultz raises the Cherry Cup!

More Stanley Cup Celebrations for the AshBusters...

CFHL Playoffs and Cherry Cup Preview

The CFHL Cherry Cup Playoffs were in full swing and has gone "chalk" all the way to the Cherry Cup Final.

Round 1:

Marchand had 5 goals for Puck

Who Gives a Puck vs Goon Crew 7-2:  This game was over from the start as Brad Marchand from the Puck started the week with a hat trick as the Puck were on their way to 17 goals.  A record in the playoffs.  (I think...we'll say it was a record).  Marchand ended up with 5 goals on the week and Crosby added 6 more!  The Crew surprisingly beat them in FOW 127-123, but what was once the power of the Crew, the goalies started the week terrible and could never recover.

Mayhem on Ice vs. White Mambas 5-3:  In the second game, the favorite won as well as this game wasn't very close either.  Mayhem tallied 13 goals, and it was a team effort 4 players scoring 2 goals and all but one other player scoring 1.  McDavid continued his amazing season for the Mayhem scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +5.

Round 2:

Alex Assassins vs. Mayhem on Ice 7-2:  If this was an opportunity to knock of the top team in the CFHL this would have been it.  They failed to reach the century mark in FOW.  They only had 2 goalie wins and had less than 10 goals.  But unfortunately for the Mayhem they managed NO goalie wins, only 30 FOW and 7 goals.  Jack Eichel for the Assassins scored 3 goals and Bobrovsky had a GAA of 0.48.

AshBuster fans celebrate Kucherov's hat trick.

AshBusters vs. Who Gives a Puck 6-2:  This game was closer than the score indicated but the Number 2 seed defeated the Puck and moved onto the Cherry Cup Final.  If it wasn't for Kucherov this might have been a different story.  He had 5 of the 8 goals the AshBusters scored.  They beat the hell out of the Puck as well as Borowiecki had 25 hits alone!!  My god, wow! The Puck still only lost goals by 2, assists by 1 PPG by one and tied goalie wins.

Cherry Cup Finals Preview:

AshBusters at Alex's Assassins

This is a match up between the 2 top teams in the CFHL.  And the Assassins will go for the Cherry Cup keeping the cup in the Cherry family for yet another year.  But it won't be easy versus the AshBusters that bring a high power offense.

Goals:  Advantage here is with the AshBusters who lead the league with 206 and are lead by Kucherov's 38 goals (5 last week).  Lets not forget about Rakell (32), Pavelski (28) and the bearded wonder Burns (27).

Assassins' leading helper Backstrom

Assists:  This is pretty even with both teams mid of the pack.  Assassins probably have a slight advantage who have 38 more assists than AshBusters on the season.  But over a course of a season isn't that many.  Backstrom leads this team with a whopping 57 assists on the season.

Rating:  The plus/minus is hard to rate.  But if you take just the season stats on this the Assassins have a huge advantage as they lead the league with a +69, while the AshBusters were second to last with -37.  But each week you never know how your team will fare.

Schenn has 15 PPG for AshBusters

PPG:  You could say this might be pretty even as they are 1 and 2 in PPG.  However the AshBusters have 79 PPGs compared to the Assassins 56.  They have two players with 15 or more PPGs.  Brayden Schenn had 15 and team MVP Kucherov has 17.  However this is another category hard to predict as it is at the mercy of power play opportunities.

Hits and FOW:  This one is easy.  AshBusters will easily win Hits, as they lead the league with 1,080 hits and with the beast Borowiecki shouldn't be a problem.  The Assassins have consistently been a top FOW team and are typically over 100 FOW each week.

Goalies:  My goodness, could you have a better match up of 4 goalies.  All candidates for the Vezina Trophy in the NHL.  Assassins have Carey Price and Sergi Bobrovsky and the AshBusters have Craig Anderson and Devan Dubnyk (both former Goon Crew, just so you know...doh!!!).

Could these be the stars of the Cherry Cup finals?

Don Cherry's take:  Well boys this should be one for the ages.  I mean you have the two best teams in the league squaring off and how good does it get with those boys in the net facing off eh??  The AshBusters hit like a ton of bricks and might wear the Assassins down.  It will come to who can win assists, ratings. And that Kucherov boy from Russia is a hell of a player for the AshBusters.  Duby and Price are just a little better than Anderson and Boby...  Assassins win a close one and the Cherry Cup stays in the Cherry family.  Which is what I like...those Cherry boys...hell of organ-eye-zations.

CFHL Week 20 and Playoff Preview

The regular season is over and the quest for the Cherry Cup has begun!!

Last week there was a battle for the last two spots in the playoffs between the USSR, Goon Crew and White Mambas.  It was earlier reported that the USSR would have been in regardless with a 3 way tie based on total rotisserie points, but not so fast my friends...

Turned out that the USSR needed the win to avoid the tie as each of the 3 teams played each other twice.  Mambas went 3-1, sweeping the Soviets, and the Crew went 2-2, while USSR was 1-3.  The AshBusters were going to make sure the USSR didn't make the playoffs as they dispensed them 6-3 on 14 goals, 5 PPGs and 4 goalie wins between Dubnyk and Anderson, two former Crew goalies that they sure wished they still had.  Pavelski was the Number One Star of the game scoring 5 goals and a +5.   This was a bitter and disappointing end to the season for the Soviet squad who is conducting a full on investigation to see if there was rule fixing to keep them out...

Pavelski had 5 goals for AshBusters

So the stage is set for the Cherry Cup Playoffs!  Number 1 and Number 2 seeds are the Alex Assassins and MacDaddy's AshBusters.  They await the winners of the first round games.

Goon Crew at Who Gives a Puck - The Crew started hot, then faded, but manged to make the playoffs.  They made a few questionable trades as of today, trading Craig Anderson earlier in the season and then Dubnyk towards the end.  Since, Lundqvist has been hurt now for the playoffs and what was once their strongest suit is now their weak link.  Who Gives a puck is based on strong center play and assists and are second in the league in FOW.

UPDATE:  Puck off to a fast start with a hat trick by Marchand and already have 6 goals.  Crew's goalies are a joke posting a 5.95 GAA and no wins after both goalies played the first day.

Marchand has 3 goals after just one game already

White Mambas at Mayhem on Ice - White Mambas were an unlikely playoff team who at first didn't have a strong draft.  Since then, they have been strong in net with Murray and Jones.  In addition to Murray, they lean on two other Penguins in Malkin (33g, 39a, 11 ppg) and Kessel (21g, 40a).  They have to win with offense and goalie play as FOW and Hits are their weak point.  Mayhem are just a well rounded team, not posting huge numbers in any category but just solid.   Lead by Connor McDavid.

Malkin and Kessel for the Mambas

UPDATE: Mayhem have early lead but all categories close with the Mambas goalies yet to play.

CFHL Week 19

One week to go and there is a race for the final playoff spots!  Here is last weeks action:

Assassins vs. Goon Crew 6-2
The game was closer than the score indicated as the Goon Crew threw everything at the Assassins that they could.  But when you play against a team that has two goalies like Price and Bobrovsky, and those two goalies play each other to a 1-0 OT game, there's a good chance you are not going to win Goalie categories.  It was back and forth toward the end in goals and assists and the Goon Crew threw up 138 FOW, but Assassins had 151.

3 stars of the week Kucherov, Bobrovsky, and Price

AshBusters vs. White Mambas 9-0
Apparently the block buster trade that brought Dubnyk to the AshBusters was the right move as they swept the Mambas.  In fact both goalies for the AshBusters were acquired through trades with the Goon Crew...maybe the Crew should have just kept those guys (Dubynk and Anderson).  They combined for 5 wins and a 1.75 GAA.  Kucherov for the AshBusters had 5 goals as well.  There really wasn't a close category.  Mambas are fighting for their playoff life too.

Mayhem on Ice vs. Krampus Carols 5-3
The Mayhem got back into the win column and have solidified their playoff spot.  This was a close one as the Mayhem edged them in goals by 1.  PPG were tied and could have made the difference for the Krampus had they netted just one more PPG.  Again Patrick Kane was the number one star in the loss scoring 5 goals for the Krampus.  Unfortunately he did not get much help elsewhere.

Kane had hat trick in loss.

USSR vs. Slow Icin 7-2
The Soviets, who were at risk of losing out of a playoff spot if tied with Mambas at end of season, took care of their business dispensing of Slow Icin' and increasing their chances for playoff spot.  There wasn't a whole lot of goal scoring in this game as not a single skater had more than 1 goal.  However the Soviets are preparing for a future battle with the Assassins if they meet in the playoffs as they tallied 191 FOW!

Another happy USSR fan...

Who Gives a Puck vs. Checkers 5-3
The Puck ended the Checkers last dying hope at a playoff bid and another run at the Cherry Cup.  As if 191 FOW were a lot, the Puck had 205!  This appears to be the trend as teams prepare for a run at the Cup.  Checkers did have 11 goals, 3 from Jamie Benn, but once again, the goalies for the Puck out played the Checker net minders.  The Puck had Crawford and Miller in net and had 3 wins 2.55 GAA and .924 SV%, enough to beat the Checkers netminders Budaj and Talbot.

Crawford for the Puck came up big

Playoff Picture:
Assassins have the top seed locked up.  AshBusters have a 2 point lead over Mayhem.  Even if the Mayhem win and AshBusters lose, AshBusters would win tie breaker thus they have clinched the Smythe.  Who Gives a Puck have playoff spot clinched.

Number 1 seed Assassins

Then it still comes down to the last 2 spots between USSR (19pts), Crew (17pts), Mambas (17pts).  Easy for the USSR, they basically have clinched since they should win tie breakers.  If all three teams are tied, it would go to total rotisserie points in which Mambas are way behind.

Crew need a win or a Mamba loss to make the playoffs. If they lose and Mambas win, Mambas in and Crew out.  If both Crew and Mambas lose, Crew are in.

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!!!