CFHL Playoffs Round 1

 In the first round of the playoffs, one team who snuck in on the final night took full advantage of their opportunity dismantling their opponent.  In the other game it went down to the wire in a close match up.  Here is what happened:

Greek Empire 5  Goon Crew 1 - The Goon Crew had second most points in the league.  Were the odds on favorite to make it to the finals.  Well that's why they play the games!  The Empire, who as of the last day of the regular season, had not made the playoffs but eventually snuck in when the regular season closed took full advantage and hammered the Crew.  They beat them 22-11 in goals and 13-8 in PPP.  Much of the week they led 6-0.  Leon Draisaitl was the Number One star of this game netting 5 goals, including a hat trick, 3 assists, 3 PPP and 5 hits.  Goalie Juuse Saros finished the week with 2 wins and an incredible SV% of .961.  What a week for the Empire.

California Raisins 3  Space Monkey Mafia 3 - With ties going to the home team, the Raisins advanced in the playoffs.  Goaltending was the difference in this game.  The California Raisins finished with 4 wins and SV% of .930.  Both goalies (Hellebuyck and Sorokin) had 2 wins.  Raisins were also punishing on the boards racking up 50 hits.  J.T. Miller had 13 and Orlov had 10 hits.  The teams combined for a total of 13 goals...The Greek Empire had 22 alone.  Let that sink in.

Round 2 (Semifinal) Round:

Greek Empire at Cherry's Checkers - The Checkers have been the top team pretty much all year.  However the Greek Empire could be peaking at the right time.  The Checkers will certainly have their hands full.  They have typically relied on goaltending and hits.  They will have to again if the Empire lights the lamp like they did last week.  

Prediction:  Greek Empire in a stunning upset 3-2-1

California Raisins at Who Gives a Puck - The Puck won their division, but certainly wasn't one of the best teams in the league.  This game will come down to who will win the goalie categories.  They both come into this game with stellar goalies.  The Raisins with Hellebuyck and Sorokin versus the Puck's Korpisalo and Oettinger.  This should be another close one for the Raisins.

Prediction:  Raisins win 3-2-1 and owner Brandon Cherry tries to make it a sweep in the Cherry Fantasy Leagues.

CFHL Final Week updates and playoffs

 Quick update on the ongoing games and the playoffs matchups.  

The Goon Crew are up on the Puck 4-1-1 in a close one.  Goals are 7-9, assists are 14-13 and tied with PPP.  Crew only have 3 going today as Bergeron and Marchand got the day off.  Puck have 3 players.  This will likely have little impact on playoff matchups.

Georgiev had 2 wins and .948 SV% for the Crew

Checkers are up 4-1-1 vs the Slapshots.  Game is tied with PPP but only category that is close.  Both have 2 skaters left.  The Slapshots are playing for their playoff lives.  If they can get the extra PPP category, they will likely be the final playoff spot.  If this game ends as is, and the Empire game stays at 4-1-1 the Empire steal the playoff spot away from the Slapshot. (I think...)

Ullmark for the Checkers posts 2 wins and a SV% of .971!

Speaking of the Empire, they are beating the Krampus 4-1-1 and this could put them in the playoffs.  Hits are tied at 32 and the Krampus lead by one in goals.  Krampus have 4 skaters vs. Empires 3 skaters so this could be interesting for the Empire. 

Draisaitl gets 7 assists for the Empire!

Mambas are up 3-2-1 against the Raisins with goals tied at 7, but rest seem set.  Raisins have 3 players left and Mambas 2.  Really doesn't matter as the Raisins and the Space Monkeys will be the 4/5 game. 

 

J.T. Miller for the Raisins had 3 goals, 3 assists and 11 hits!

Assassins dominating the Space Monkeys 6-0 and looks to be over.  Even with the 12 points that would come with the sweep they will fall just short of the final playoff spot (I think...)

Potential Playoff Matchups:

#1 seed:  Cherry's Checkers - They sit in prime position to win yet another Cherry Cup.  I lost count how many this would be...

#2 seed:  Who Gives a Puck - with the Space Monkey Mafia getting swept they won't catch the Puck in the Smythe division.

#4 vs #5 seeds:  Looks to be Space Monkey Mafia vs the California Raisins.  Just depends on who is home team.  My money would be on the California kid.

#3 vs #6 seeds:  Goon Crew locked in at the #3 seed and will take on either the Slapshots or the Greek Empire. 

CFHL Updates 2022-2023

 I have been a little busy so haven't been able to get out any updates lately.  Sorry.  We are getting close to the end of the regular season!  Only 2 more weeks remain to make that final push to the playoffs.  

The two division winners get the first two seeds and a bye in the first week of the playoffs.  This looks to be the Checkers and the Space Monkey Mafia.  Currently the Checkers have an 8 point lead over the Goon Crew.  These two teams face each other this week!  The Crew would have to pull off a sweep and then hope the Checkers have a bad final week against the Slapshots.  Highly unlikely.

The Space Monkey Mafia have a slim 3 point lead over Who Gives a Puck.  If things go a little sideways for the Space Monkey, the Puck definitely have a chance to capture the second bye.  

Next four in...Goon Crew and Puck as mentioned.  Then its the California Raisins that are pretty solid in the playoffs as the 5th seed.  The race for the final spot will be tight.  Currently the Slapshots hold that spot by one point over the Greek Empire.  The Assassins are back 4 points and with two weeks to go anything could happen.

Part of Space Monkey Mafia's success is in large part due to league MVP Connor McDavid.  He leads the league in goals (55), assists (72) and PPP (59)!  Ridiculous.  

It's no surprise the player leading in hits is a Checker.  Luke Schenn leads the league with 265 hits.  Second is Radko Gudas with 233, also a Checker.  When you play the Checkers  you just hope to win other categories because it will be tough to out check this team.

In net with the most wins is another Checker, Linus Ullmark with 33 wins!  Oh and he leads all goalies in the CFHL in SV% with .938.  It's no wonder the Checkers at the top team in the league.  If there is any weakness in this team it might be their second goalie to go along with Ullmark.

Key matchups this week:  

Checkers at Goon Crew - as noted earlier, the Checkers hold an 8 point lead over the Crew.  This is a big rivalry game, but likely have little impact on playoff seeding.

Greek Empire at California Raisins - Another big rivalry game, the Raisins will do what they can to spoil the Greek  Empire's playoff hopes as they try to claw back in it and get ahead of the Slapshots.

CFHL Week 11 2022-2023

 

Week 11 Action...

Goon Crew            5

White Mambas      1

An easy week for the Goon Crew taking on the White Mambas.  Mambas surprisingly got 12 assists from the blue line alone.  Dylan Larkin had a huge week with 4 goals, 4 assists and 4 PPP for the Crew and their goalies again combined for 4 wins, including a .938 SV% from Vanecek.

Vanecek makes a save for the Crew

Assassins              4

Krampus Carols  1

Tie                         1

Assassins came away with the win against the struggling Krampus.  They were led by Nathan MacKinnon who had 3 goals and 6 assists.  Panarin "Bread" had a good week too for the Assassins netting 2 goals and 4 assists.  Don't sleep on the Krampus Carols though, looking at his lineup and if they can stay healthy they could play spoiler roles toward end of season.

MacKinnon for the Assassins

Slapshots                3

Greek Empire         3

Both teams skated to a 3-3 tie with the Greek Empire bringing the offense and the Slapshots winning the goaltending battle and then beating the empire by just one hit!  Empire got 3 goals from Draisaitl and 5 assists from Pettersson.  Unfortunately they got ZERO wins from their goalies.  UPL and Vasilevskiy at least combined for 2 wins.  

UPL! 

Raisins                4

Checkers             2

Raisins dominated this game on the offensive categories beating the best team in the league in all and hits!  They doubled up the Checkers in goals, beat them 7-1 in PPP and beat them by 10 hits.  Tim Stutzle led the Raisins with a huge week!  He had 4 goals, 6 assists and 7 hits!  Didn't help the Checkers were without their Captain Ovechkin who took week off with the passing of his father.  

Stutzle big week for the Raisins

Space Monkey Mafia    1

Who Gives a Puck         4

Tie                                  1

This game was closer than the score indicated.  Puck beat the Mafia by only 2 assists and one PPP, while the Mafia beat Puck by only 2 hits and they tied in Goalie Wins at 2.  Kaprizov had 4 goals for the Puck and Brady Tkachuk had big week getting 4 goals, 4 assists and 16 hits!

Kaprizov playing big again for the Puck

CFHL Stars of the Week

Number 1 Star of the Week: Tim Stutzle, F, Raisins 4 goals, 6 assists, 2 PPP, 7 hits

Number 2 Star of the Week: Frederik Andersen, G, Assassins, 2 wins .951 SV%

Number 3 Star of the Week: Dylan Larkin, F, Goon Crew, 4 goals, 4 assists, 4 PPP, 1 hit

Goon of the Week:  Brady Tkachuck, F, Puck - 16 hits

CFHL Week 10 2022-2023

 Checkers stumble but continue to have big lead in division.  Raisins continue to climb and are gaining on the Crew.  Huge week for Who Gives a Puck as they leap frog the Space Monkey Mafia!

Greek Empire             3

Goon Crew                 2

Tie                              1

Without the help of the Goon Crew Bruin players, it was tough sledding.  The Bruins only had one game, thus the best players for the Crew were not on the ice.  The Empire took advantage of this getting the win, while it was still tight.  Elias Pettersson led the Empire with 4 goals, 2 assists and 5 hits.

Pettersson shooting it for the Greek Empire

Slapshots                 1

Raisins                    4

Tie                           1

The California Raisins continue to gain on the Crew and are only 3 points back in the Cherry Division.  This week they defeated the usually tough Slapshots.  Maybe some  of the favorite team magic is wearing off for them.  They only had 13 hits to the Raisins 55 led by defenseman K'Andre Miller's 14 checks!

They heard it through the grape vine...

Checkers                 2

Space Monkey        4

The Checkers got tripped up this week by the Space Monkey Mafia 4-2.  The SMM were able to defeat them in hits 40-37!  This might have been the first time the Checkers lost in this category.  Connor McDavid led with 12 hits!  Now come on.  Is he going to start hitting everyone, AND score goals and assists and PPP??  

McDavid playing tough for the Space Monkey

Krampus Carols         0

Who Gives a Puck      6

I think it was the Krampus Carols who didn't give a puck as the Puck swept all the categories!  Zibanejad led them in goals with 5 while Bo Horvat (now playing with the NYI) had 3 goals, 2 PPP and 4 hits.  Puck was tough in the net too as both goalies, Husso and Oettinger had 2 wins and combined for a SV% of .941.  A great week all around for the Puck.

Horvat enjoying his new sweater

White Mambas            1

Assassins                     5

The Assassins got a bye week playing the White Mambas this week as he has several players out and a goalie playing in the minors... Panarin was the highlight of the Assassins netting 4 goals and 5 assists.  

Three Stars of the Week:

Number 1 Star:  Artemi Panarin, F, Assassins, 4goals, 5 assists, 2 PPP and 1 hit

Number 2 Star:  Jake Oettinger, G, Puck, 2 wins and .959 SV%

Number 3 Star:  Mika Zibanejad, C, Puck, 5 goals, 1 assist, 3 PPP and 4 hits

Goon of the Week:  K'Andre Miller, D, Raisins 14 hits. 

CFHL Week 8/9 2022-2023

Trying to get caught back up here after missing that past couple weeks.  Here is what we have after the past two weeks in the standings....

In the Cherry Division the Checkers now have a commanding 16 point lead over the Goon Crew.  The Crew were at one time right up there with the Checkers.  It didn't hurt the Checkers going 4-1-1 for two consecutive weeks, including the short All-Star week.  The Crew were the opposite in the short week going 1-4-1. The Raisins were able to beat the crew last week 4-1-1 after getting thumped by the Assassins 5-1 the week prior. It will be a battle for second place in the Cherry Division between Crew and Raisins.

The Smythe Division is real tight with only 5 points separating the top 3 teams.  Space Monkey Mafia has pulled into the lead over Who Gives a Puck after 2 consecutive winning weeks and the Puck going 1-4-1 and 1-5 the past two weeks.  Right behind them is the Slapshots with their merry band of Sabers and Lightnings.  They actually only have 5 of them starting, but always seems like more.

Its no surprise that at this point in the season, Connor McDavid, center for the Space Monkeys is the Number 1 skater in the league.  He leads in goals (41), second in assists (51) and leads in PPP (46).

First in assists however is Nikita Kucherov from the Slapshots with 53.

Luck Schenn leads all players in hits for the Checkers with 237!!  The closest person on an active roster is Arber Xhekaj (who?) with 154 hits, a Checker as well of course.

Leading he way in Wins and SV% is another Checker, Linus "Van Pelt" Ullmark with 26 wins and a SV% of .937.  No wonder the Checkers are the top team in the league thus far.  

We are passed the halfway mark of our 16 game regular season.  Still plenty of time to make a push for the playoffs.  Two Divisional Winners are the two tops seeds and get first round bye with the next 4 teams regardless of division get in the first round of the playoffs.