February 14, 2011
FINAL STANDINGS COME DOWN TO THE WIRE!
February 14, 2011
FINAL STANDINGS COME DOWN TO THE WIRE AS THE LEAGUE ENTERS THE LAST WEEK OF THE REGULAR SEASON!
The final week of the regular season is now upon us, and the battle for playoff positions is fast and furious as the remaining games are played.
As of today, there is only one team in the entire 13 team league that knows where they will finish, and unfortunately for the Algoma Avalanche, they have clinched last place overall this season. The fight is still on for first overall, first round byes, and first round mathcups, though based on games played and remaining, and while we can probably make a few assumptions as to where teams finish, there are several great races right down to the wire.
Here’s the latest situation, followed by the playoff divisional standings and matchups if the playoffs started today.
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Elliot Lake and South Muskoka have long ago separated themselves from the rest of the pack, and have been neck and neck for top spot overall all season long. The key matchup was a big four-pointer on February 4th in Elliot Lake, which the Bobcats won 4-3. The Shield are now 5 points back of the ‘Cats with 3 games left to play, but the ‘Cats finish with games against Sturgeon Falls and Powassan, and should clinch the Regular Season title.
Positions 3 through 5 are a race for the top two spots in the South Division Playoff race, with only 1 point separating each spot. Bradford currently sits 3rd, having won 10 straight until their loss Sunday night to Jamestown in Bradford. Jamestown sits 4th having won 4 straight including the win in Bradford, a solid rebound from a streak which saw them lose 5 of 6. Shelburne sits a point back in 5th and looked to have the edge for third after 8 wins in a row, but have let Bradford and Jamestown slip past with 4 straight losses.
After a solid start to sit as high as 3rd earlier in the year, Bobcaygeon is 3-7 in their last 10 games, and looks to finish 6th overall, though Deseronto can still catch them with their strong play in recent weeks. The Bucks travel to Deseronto this Friday night in what is sure to be the deciding factor for 6th and 7th place. The Storm have come on in the last several weeks, have gone 8-5 in their last 13, and have been a handful for most of the top clubs.
Toronto has also been a handful for all of the top clubs, but currently sit 8th, having won only 3 times in their last 16 games. Powassan sits two points back, but since losing their Polish players in early January, they’ve had their troubles, and are currently mired in a 12 game losing streak. Vaughan sits 10th, but just beat Shelburne and still have a chance to get past Powassan and even catch Toronto. This Wednesday afternoon’s game that has Vaughan playing at Toronto should decide the 8th spot at least.
Oro-Medonte have come on in recent weeks to get past Sturgeon Falls for 11th spot, going 6-3 in their last nine. They have a tough week ahead, having to play 5 games in quick succession, but despite the 10 points still available, they still must face Bradford, Shelburne, and 2 makeup games against the Shield.
Sturgeon Falls still has 3 games remaining on their quirky schedule – quirky in that the last two games against the Dragons, both wins, will not count in their point total. The additional games were necessary to provide the full 42 games required for Powassan, but were only exhibition games for the ‘Jacks. Their real point total is 23, not 27, and despite the 6 points available, they’ll be hard pressed to catch Oro in 10th, who sit 5 points up.
And finally, as mentioned earlier, the Algoma Avalanche have had a particularly difficult season, with only 7 wins all year, but they persevered and have shown up to play hard each and every night. They’ve managed to grab a few win later in the season, including a great 7-6 win over the first place Bobcats.
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Despite the fact this weeks remaining games will undoubtedly impact the teams’ final placings, if the playoffs started today, here’s what the first two round might look like (including current points and games remaining)
SOUTH PLAYOFF DIVISION
1. Bradford - 52 (@ Oro-Medonte; vs South Muskoka)
2. Jamestown - 51 (@ Toronto; @ Deseronto; @ Shelburne)
3. Shelburne - 50 ( vs. Toronto; @ Oro-Medonte; vs Jamestown)
4. Bobcaygeon - 43 (@ Deseronto; vs Vaughan)
5. Deseronto - 39 (vs Bobcaygeon; vs Jamestown; @ Vaughan)
6. Toronto - 34 (vs Vaughan; @ Shelburne; vs Jamestown)
7. Vaughan - 30 (@ Toronto; @ Bobcaygeon; vs Deseronto)
Single-Game Elimination
7 Vaughan @ 6 Toronto
Qualifying Round
1. Bradford (bye)
2. Jamestown (bye)
3. Shelburne VS 6. Winner - Toronto/Vaughan
4. Bobcaygeon VS 5. Deseronto
NORTH PLAYOFF DIVISION
1. Elliot Lake - 74 (vs Sturgeon Falls; @ Powassan)
2. South Muskoka - 69 (@ Bradford; vs Oro-Medonte (2))
3. Powassan - 32 (vs Elliot Lake)
4. Oro-Medonte - 28 (vs Bradford; @ Sturgeon Falls; vs Shelburne; @ S.M.S. (2))
5. Sturgeon Falls - 23 (@ Algoma; @ Elliot Lake; vs Oro-Medonte)
6. Algoma - 17 (vs Sturgeon Falls)
Qualifying Round
1. Elliot Lake (bye)
2. South Muskoka (bye)
3. Powassan VS 6. Algoma
4. Oro-Medonte VS 5. Sturgeon Falls
To take it a step further and get a better picture of how the Quarter Finals would shape up,
let’s assume the higher placed teams win their series. Teams are seeded according to regular season standings:
Quarter Finals (Best of Five)
1. Elliot Lake VS 8 Oro-Medonte
2. South Muskoka VS 7 Powassan
3. Bradford VS 6. Bobcaygeon
4. Jamestown VS 5. Shelburne