rainsilent

So I may have had a rather busy Friday and forgot to put up a match up preview for the finals. Oops. Well your getting one late anyways.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 2 wins Dragons
 
I think this is likely to be a close series even though one game has already been played. The Dragons have the better offensive team talent wise while the Hawks play a more complete team game that emphasizes strong defensive play. If the Dragons had a goalie I felt like I could trust I would say that this is the match up of the two best teams in the league. Outside of the net it certainly is in my mind. I am really looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
 
Honest confession: I'm pulling for the Hawks in this one for the simple fact that he has his entire team playing in a way I wish I could get my team to play. Either way, best of luck to both teams.

So I may have had a rather busy Friday and forgot to put up a match up preview for the finals. Oops. Well your getting one late anyways.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 2 wins Dragons
 
I think this is likely to be a close series even though one game has already been played. The Dragons have the better offensive team talent wise while the Hawks play a more complete team game that emphasizes strong defensive play. If the Dragons had a goalie I felt like I could trust I would say that this is the match up of the two best teams in the league. Outside of the net it certainly is in my mind. I am really looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
 
Honest confession: I'm pulling for the Hawks in this one for the simple fact that he has his entire team playing in a way I wish I could get my team to play. Either way, best of luck to both teams.

So I may have had a rather busy Friday and forgot to put up a match up preview for the finals. Oops. Well your getting one late anyways.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 2 wins Dragons
 
I think this is likely to be a close series even though one game has already been played. The Dragons have the better offensive team talent wise while the Hawks play a more complete team game that emphasizes strong defensive play. If the Dragons had a goalie I felt like I could trust I would say that this is the match up of the two best teams in the league. Outside of the net it certainly is in my mind. I am really looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
 
Honest confession: I'm pulling for the Hawks in this one for the simple fact that he has his entire team playing in a way I wish I could get my team to play. Either way, best of luck to both teams.

So I may have had a rather busy Friday and forgot to put up a match up preview for the finals. Oops. Well your getting one late anyways.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 2 wins Dragons
 
I think this is likely to be a close series even though one game has already been played. The Dragons have the better offensive team talent wise while the Hawks play a more complete team game that emphasizes strong defensive play. If the Dragons had a goalie I felt like I could trust I would say that this is the match up of the two best teams in the league. Outside of the net it certainly is in my mind. I am really looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
 
Honest confession: I'm pulling for the Hawks in this one for the simple fact that he has his entire team playing in a way I wish I could get my team to play. Either way, best of luck to both teams.

Conference Finals
 
East: #3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears
Regular season series: 1 win Dragons, 2 Wins and 1SO win Battlin Bears
 
On paper this seems like a rather lopsided match up. The Dragons have incredible offensive and defensive depth. Their one concern is goaltending. This team is currently looking a lot like the 09-10 Philadelphia Flyers as a result. On the other side is the Battlin Bears. A team where no player really jumps out at you yet it is a solid overall team. Its playoff run is being pushed along by excellent play by its defensive core. I think this series is going to be decided by the goalies. Neither team has an all star starter but both of them still have a capable #1 option. Whichever #1 outplays the other is going to very likely decide the series.
 
West: #1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 3 wins Prairie Stars, 1 win Hawks
 
Both teams swept through the opposition in the prior rounds to get to this match up. The Prairie Stars have gotten here off of the play of their best players who have been dominant. The Hawks have gotten to this point through their entire team dominating the other team. The Prairie Stars are more top heavy talent wise but have more top end offensive talent to show for it. I think this series is going to come down to if the team effort by the Hawks can be enough to beat the effort of the best players of the Prairie Stars.

Conference Finals
 
East: #3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears
Regular season series: 1 win Dragons, 2 Wins and 1SO win Battlin Bears
 
On paper this seems like a rather lopsided match up. The Dragons have incredible offensive and defensive depth. Their one concern is goaltending. This team is currently looking a lot like the 09-10 Philadelphia Flyers as a result. On the other side is the Battlin Bears. A team where no player really jumps out at you yet it is a solid overall team. Its playoff run is being pushed along by excellent play by its defensive core. I think this series is going to be decided by the goalies. Neither team has an all star starter but both of them still have a capable #1 option. Whichever #1 outplays the other is going to very likely decide the series.
 
West: #1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #2 West Chicago Hawks
Regular season series: 3 wins Prairie Stars, 1 win Hawks
 
Both teams swept through the opposition in the prior rounds to get to this match up. The Prairie Stars have gotten here off of the play of their best players who have been dominant. The Hawks have gotten to this point through their entire team dominating the other team. The Prairie Stars are more top heavy talent wise but have more top end offensive talent to show for it. I think this series is going to come down to if the team effort by the Hawks can be enough to beat the effort of the best players of the Prairie Stars.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

Round two: No regular season stats anymore because it is the second round of the playoffs.
 
#2 Red Tide vs #3 Dragons
Regular season series: 1W and 1OTW Red Tide, 2W Dragons.
 
The two best teams in the East face off. It was a close series in the regular season and it will likely be close in the playoffs so long as the goaltending for the Dragons holds up. If it doesn't this is very likely to be a short series.
 
#4 Battlin Bears vs #8 Nightmares
Regular season series: 2SOW Battlin Bears, 2W Nightmares.
 
The two wins by the Nightmare were the last two meetings between these two teams and the games weren't close. I still think this is going to be a close series though however the Battlin Bears are the underdogs in my mind as I think the Nightmares have the better team.
 
#1 Prairie Stars vs #5 Wolverines
Regular season series: 2W Prairie Stars, 2W Wolverines
 
The regular season series between the two was a split and the entire series was actually close. The Wolverines has the offense to keep pace if it becomes a scoring race. The real question is if the Prairie Stars can take control of the games with their more complete team.
 
#2 Hawks vs #6 Tomahawks
Regular season series: 2W Hawks, 2W Tomahawks
 
Another series that was split however the series was rather lopsided with a win for each team that wasn't close at all. The Tomahawks were a great 5 on 5 scoring team while the Hawks struggled to score 5 on 5. I think this is going to be another close series determined by whatever team happens to play better 5 on 5.

East:
#1 Cedar Rapids Minutemen vs #8 Netherhill Nightmares.
45-7-2-26 151pts / 32-10-10-28 126pts
Regular season stats: Minutemen / Nightmare
Goals for: 255 (4th) / 237 (13th)
Goals against: 191 (3rd) / 220 (12th)
PP: 21.8% (8th) / 21% (11th)
PK: 86.1% (3rd) / 78.5% (18th)
Shooting %: 9.8% (1st) / 7.8% (18th)
Save %: 92.7% (4th) / 92.3% (12th)
PDO: 1.025 (1st) / 1.002 (12th)
CF: 1245 (24th) / 1342 (14th)
CA: 1151 (3rd) / 1321 (13th)
Corsi %: 52% (8th) / 50.4% (14th)
Season match up: 3 wins Minutemen, 1 OT win Nightmare.
 
Statistically this was a close match up during the regular season with only one game being decided by more than one goal. As a result, I expect this match up to be a lot closer than the statistics may otherwise say. The Nightmare are a solid overall team that aren't to be discounted due to their 8th seed. Combine that with the fact that the Minutemen played well above expectations for the season (especially with a shooting% and PDO so abnormally high when CF is taken into account) and I would give this match up a serious consideration for upset alert.
 
#2 Slaughterville Red Tide vs #7 Lake Valley Bulldogs
46-4-3-27 149pts / 35-10-4-31 129pts
Regular season stats: Red Tide / Bulldogs
Goals for: 266 (2nd) / 255 (5th)
Goals against: 200 (6th) / 245 (21st)
PP: 19.8% (16th) / 22.8% (5th)
PK: 79.1% (16th) / 81.1% (12th)
Shooting %: 9.2% (4th) / 9.7% (2nd)
Save %: 93.2% (1st) / 91.2% (24th)
PDO: 1.024 (2nd) / 1.008 (10th)
CF: 1535 (1st) / 1302 (19th)
CA: 1202 (7th) / 1420 (21st)
Corsi %: 56.1% (2nd) / 47.8% (21st)
Season match up: 3 wins Red Tide, 1 win Bulldogs.
 
The season series was notably in favor of the Red Tide as one game was on the verge of a blowout while another was an out right blowout. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to improve their 5 on 5 play defensively or this could be a short series. The middle of the pack special teams for the Red Tide could potentially keep the Bulldogs in the series and appears to be the most likely reason for the series to drag on.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #6 Big Delta Stealheads
44-3-11-22 149pts / 36-7-7-30 129pts
Regular season stats: Dragons / Stealheads
Goals for: 263 (3rd) / 239 (12th)
Goals against: 205 (8th) / 199 (5th)
PP: 24.9% (2nd) / 16.6% (22nd)
PK: 86.3% (2nd) / 83.9% (6th)
Shooting %: 8.9% (7th) / 8.8% (8th)
Save %: 92.4% (9th) / 92.3% (10th)
PDO: 1.013 (4th) / 1.012 (5th)
CF: 1466 (3rd) / 1313 (18th)
CA: 1261 (9th) / 1098 (2nd)
Corsi %: 53.8% (4th) / 54.5% (3rd)
Season match up: 1 win Dragons, 3 wins Stealheads.
 
This matchup is my official upset alert for the East. Outside of the poor powerplay of the Stealheads these two teams are statistically near mirror images. The question is if the current goaltending for the Dragons can hold up to the quite potent offense of the Stealheads? The Dragons shipped out the goalie they had as their starter for most of the season. This is going to be either a lopsided series due to poor goaltending or one heck of a close series.
 
#4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears vs #5 Mango Duhawks
43-4-3-30 140pts / 37-7-6-30 131pts
Regular season stats: Battlin Bears / Duhawks
Goals for: 232 (14th) / 226 (16th)
Goals against: 209 (9th) / 216 (11th)
PP: 19.1% (18th) / 19.8% (17th)
PK: 85.9% (4th) / 77.1% (23rd)
Shooting %: 7.9% (16th) / 8.1% (13th)
Save %: 91.8% (16th) / 92.1% (15th)
PDO: .997 (17th) / 1.002 (13th)
CF: 1388 (9th) / 1382 (10th)
CA: 1293 (10th) / 1323 (14th)
Corsi %: 51.8% (9th) / 51.1% (10th)
Season match up: 2 wins Battlin Bears, 2 wins Duhawks.
 
This is very likely to be a close series. The regular season games were. Based upon the regular season stats I think it is most likely to be decided by the PK of each team. The Battlin Bears had one of the best. The Duhawks had one of the worst. In every other way these teams are very close statistically. It could be a short series due to the PK difference but the Battlin Bears PP is too iffy for me to fully buy into the poor PK of the Duhawks as being as significant a drawback as it likely should be.
 
West
#1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #8 Eastern Outlaws.
47-11-2-20 165pts / 34-7-7-32 123pts
Regular season stats: Prairie Stars / Outlaws
Goals for: 246 (10th) / 214 (18th)
Goals against: 164 (1st) / 204 (7th)
PP: 22.3% (7th) / 18.5% (19th)
PK: 82.6% (8th) / 77.8% (20th)
Shooting %: 8% (15th) / 7.7% (19th)
Save %: 93% (3rd) / 93.1% (2nd)
PDO: 1.010 (7th) / 1.009 (9th)
CF: 1403 (6th) / 1344 (13th)
CA: 1223 (8th) / 1181 (5th)
Corsi %: 53.4% (5th) / 53.2% (6th)
Season match up: 2 wins and 1 SO win Prairie Stars, 1 wins Outlaws.
 
The Outlaws are a solid team with very good goaltending and team play. Everything else about them is below average. On the other side is the Prairie Stars with the best record in the league but rather underwhelming stats for a team that more or less ran away with the best record by 14 points. Almost everything about them is good but only the 5 on 5 goals against is truly great. I would have expected more statistically with such a record. In terms of the match up the big question is can the Outlaws score and can their special teams be better than it was in the regular season? Against the Prairie Stars it is going to be tough as their two wins were big ones over the Outlaws.
 
#2 West Chicago Hawks vs #7 Scandinavia Steelers
42-7-8-23 148pts / 35-9-5-31 128pts
Regular season stats: Hawks / Steelers
Goals for: 249 (8th) / 200 (25th)
Goals against: 183 (2nd) / 194 (4th)
PP: 24.1% (3rd) / 20.2% (15th)
PK: 82.5% (9th) / 87.2% (1st)
Shooting %: 7.6% (20th) / 7.4% (22nd)
Save %: 92.5% (6th) / 92.5% (7th)
PDO: 1.001 (14th) / .999 (16th)
CF: 1448 (5th) / 1184 (25th)
CA: 1389 (16th) / 1160 (4th)
Corsi %: 51% (11th) / 50.5% (13th)
Season match up: 4 wins Hawks.
 
The Steelers are a bit of a mystery to me. They have a very good group of forwards but the team struggles mightily offensively. They didn't do well against the Hawks in the regular season because of it losing all four games. On the same token the Hawks offense under performed as well 5 on 5 with a very poor shooting percentage themselves. This could be a series dragged on by the stingy defense of the Steelers facing off against the lackluster 5 on 5 offense of the Hawks but the Steelers have to find a way to score to do it. This series is going to come down to if the Steelers can find some offense or not.
 
#3 Enigma Rage vs #6 Vauban Tomahawks
42-5-5-28 141pts / 36-9-6-29 132pts
Regular season stats: Rage / Tomahawks
Goals for: 248 (9th) / 253 (6th)
Goals against: 230 (15th) / 222 (13th)
PP: 22.9% (4th) / 17.7% (21st)
PK: 83.3% (7th) / 81.8% (11th)
Shooting %: 8.8% (9th) / 9.5% (3rd)
Save %: 92.1% (14th) / 92.3% (11th)
PDO: 1.009 (8th) / 1.018 (3rd)
CF: 1354 (12th) / 1319 (16th)
CA: 1198 (5th) / 1313 (11th)
Corsi %: 53.1% (7th) / 50.1% (15th)
Season match up: 1 win Rage, 2 wins and 1 SO win Tomahawks
 
This series is my upset alert for the West. The Rage are a very good statistical team overall. Its one statistical blemish is its 5 on 5 goals against. The Tomahawks are a good team themsleves with one very good strength. 5 on 5 goals for. It is the biggest weakness of one team against the biggest strength of the other team. This has the potential to be a very close series that could also go heavily one way or the other. If the Tomahawks can continue their 5 on 5 excellence it will be trouble for Rage. The Rage have the special teams to otherwise win the series if not keep the games close.
 
#4 Ithaca Ricochet vs #5 Yonker Wolverines
40-7-4-29 138pts / 41-4-3-32 134pts
Regular season stats: Ricochet / Wolverines
Goals for: 253 (7th) / 269 (1st)
Goals against: 213 (10th) / 241 (20th)
PP: 21% (12th) / 22.8% (6th)
PK: 80% (14th) / 75.2% (27th)
Shooting %: 8.4% (11th) / 9.1% (5th)
Save %: 91.6% (18th) / 90.6% (27th)
PDO: 1.000 (15th) / .997 (19th)
CF: 1452 (4th) / 1474 (2nd)
CA: 1503 (25th) / 1541 (27th)
Corsi %: 49.1% (17th) / 48.9% (18th)
Season match up: 3 wins Ricochet, 1 win Wolverines
 
This is the series that I am most looking forward to. It has the greatest potential for some wild games. Each of the four games in the regular season was. For one team you can forget about defense. It doesn't exist. Its not a thing. The other team is a team that plays a high tempo style of play given the lot of shots for and against 5 on 5. I'm excited for this series simply because it is very likely going to be a lot of speed, shots and general back and forth, high tempo action. Who is going to win? Who cares? It is going to very likely be one heck of a show.

Congratulations to everyone on another great regular season! Good luck to the teams still in the playoffs, and productive off-season to everyone else.
You know the drill.

 

ART ROSS TROPHY (Most League Points)
 
DAG ARNESEN (Dragons) - 82 points    
 
Theodore De-Nobile (Stealheads)
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)


 
OVECHKIN TROPHY (Top Goalscorer)
 
DAG ARNESEN (Dragons) - 47 goals              
 
Zakary Stilly (Patriots)
Ismael Sneed (Rage)


 
GRETZKY TROPHY (Best Playmaker) 
 
RENE LUCIAK (Battlin Bears) - 48 assists           
 
Aleksandar Schaller (Prairie Stars)
Theodore De-Nobile (Stealheads)


 
VEZINA TROPHY (Best Goaltender)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - RETAINED TITLE              
 
Osvald Lang (Minutemen)
Renaud Pettigrew (Hawks)

 
ORR TROPHY (Best Offensive Defenceman)
 
NOAH-CHARLES MERIZZI (Masons)                        

 
NORRIS TROPHY (Best Defensive Defenceman)
 
MARTIN HARANT (Prairie Stars)                       

 
ORR - Points leader among defencemen
NORRIS - Calculated with the following formula among 😧 [+/- + BKS - GVA + TKA], PER also taken into consideration 

 
SELKE TROPHY (Best Defensive Forward)
 
WARREN LAMOUREUX (Dragons)                   
 
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Jeremie Cline (Stray Cats/Stealheads)
 
Calculated with the following formula among F: [PTS + BKS - GVA + TKA]

 
LADY BYNG TROPHY (Most Gentlemanly Player)
 
CHAD MCGRAW (Dragons)               
 
Tintin Petterson (Minutemen)
Elouan Scott (Red Tide)
Calculated with the following formula [PTS - PIM]

 
HART TROPHY (League MVP)
 
KWESI CUTTER (Prairie Stars) - RETAINED TITLE      
 
Dag Arnesen (Dragons)
Noah-Charles Merizzi (Masons)


 
CALDER TROPHY (Best Rookie)
 
HERMANNI PENTTI (Prairie Stars)


 
GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD (Most Giveaways)
 
ANTHONY-JAMES SUNSHINE (Red Dragons/Masons)   


 
ROID RAGE TROPHY (Most Hits + PIM + MP)
 
RADOVAN GIERTL (Steelers)  

 
*Notes: Calculations may not be entirely accurate due to limited visibility and inability to sort by position and outside Top 20 in GPHM stats format - if anyone sees mistakes, let me know and I will fix.

East:
#1 Cedar Rapids Minutemen vs #8 Netherhill Nightmares.
45-7-2-26 151pts / 32-10-10-28 126pts
Regular season stats: Minutemen / Nightmare
Goals for: 255 (4th) / 237 (13th)
Goals against: 191 (3rd) / 220 (12th)
PP: 21.8% (8th) / 21% (11th)
PK: 86.1% (3rd) / 78.5% (18th)
Shooting %: 9.8% (1st) / 7.8% (18th)
Save %: 92.7% (4th) / 92.3% (12th)
PDO: 1.025 (1st) / 1.002 (12th)
CF: 1245 (24th) / 1342 (14th)
CA: 1151 (3rd) / 1321 (13th)
Corsi %: 52% (8th) / 50.4% (14th)
Season match up: 3 wins Minutemen, 1 OT win Nightmare.
 
Statistically this was a close match up during the regular season with only one game being decided by more than one goal. As a result, I expect this match up to be a lot closer than the statistics may otherwise say. The Nightmare are a solid overall team that aren't to be discounted due to their 8th seed. Combine that with the fact that the Minutemen played well above expectations for the season (especially with a shooting% and PDO so abnormally high when CF is taken into account) and I would give this match up a serious consideration for upset alert.
 
#2 Slaughterville Red Tide vs #7 Lake Valley Bulldogs
46-4-3-27 149pts / 35-10-4-31 129pts
Regular season stats: Red Tide / Bulldogs
Goals for: 266 (2nd) / 255 (5th)
Goals against: 200 (6th) / 245 (21st)
PP: 19.8% (16th) / 22.8% (5th)
PK: 79.1% (16th) / 81.1% (12th)
Shooting %: 9.2% (4th) / 9.7% (2nd)
Save %: 93.2% (1st) / 91.2% (24th)
PDO: 1.024 (2nd) / 1.008 (10th)
CF: 1535 (1st) / 1302 (19th)
CA: 1202 (7th) / 1420 (21st)
Corsi %: 56.1% (2nd) / 47.8% (21st)
Season match up: 3 wins Red Tide, 1 win Bulldogs.
 
The season series was notably in favor of the Red Tide as one game was on the verge of a blowout while another was an out right blowout. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to improve their 5 on 5 play defensively or this could be a short series. The middle of the pack special teams for the Red Tide could potentially keep the Bulldogs in the series and appears to be the most likely reason for the series to drag on.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #6 Big Delta Stealheads
44-3-11-22 149pts / 36-7-7-30 129pts
Regular season stats: Dragons / Stealheads
Goals for: 263 (3rd) / 239 (12th)
Goals against: 205 (8th) / 199 (5th)
PP: 24.9% (2nd) / 16.6% (22nd)
PK: 86.3% (2nd) / 83.9% (6th)
Shooting %: 8.9% (7th) / 8.8% (8th)
Save %: 92.4% (9th) / 92.3% (10th)
PDO: 1.013 (4th) / 1.012 (5th)
CF: 1466 (3rd) / 1313 (18th)
CA: 1261 (9th) / 1098 (2nd)
Corsi %: 53.8% (4th) / 54.5% (3rd)
Season match up: 1 win Dragons, 3 wins Stealheads.
 
This matchup is my official upset alert for the East. Outside of the poor powerplay of the Stealheads these two teams are statistically near mirror images. The question is if the current goaltending for the Dragons can hold up to the quite potent offense of the Stealheads? The Dragons shipped out the goalie they had as their starter for most of the season. This is going to be either a lopsided series due to poor goaltending or one heck of a close series.
 
#4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears vs #5 Mango Duhawks
43-4-3-30 140pts / 37-7-6-30 131pts
Regular season stats: Battlin Bears / Duhawks
Goals for: 232 (14th) / 226 (16th)
Goals against: 209 (9th) / 216 (11th)
PP: 19.1% (18th) / 19.8% (17th)
PK: 85.9% (4th) / 77.1% (23rd)
Shooting %: 7.9% (16th) / 8.1% (13th)
Save %: 91.8% (16th) / 92.1% (15th)
PDO: .997 (17th) / 1.002 (13th)
CF: 1388 (9th) / 1382 (10th)
CA: 1293 (10th) / 1323 (14th)
Corsi %: 51.8% (9th) / 51.1% (10th)
Season match up: 2 wins Battlin Bears, 2 wins Duhawks.
 
This is very likely to be a close series. The regular season games were. Based upon the regular season stats I think it is most likely to be decided by the PK of each team. The Battlin Bears had one of the best. The Duhawks had one of the worst. In every other way these teams are very close statistically. It could be a short series due to the PK difference but the Battlin Bears PP is too iffy for me to fully buy into the poor PK of the Duhawks as being as significant a drawback as it likely should be.
 
West
#1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #8 Eastern Outlaws.
47-11-2-20 165pts / 34-7-7-32 123pts
Regular season stats: Prairie Stars / Outlaws
Goals for: 246 (10th) / 214 (18th)
Goals against: 164 (1st) / 204 (7th)
PP: 22.3% (7th) / 18.5% (19th)
PK: 82.6% (8th) / 77.8% (20th)
Shooting %: 8% (15th) / 7.7% (19th)
Save %: 93% (3rd) / 93.1% (2nd)
PDO: 1.010 (7th) / 1.009 (9th)
CF: 1403 (6th) / 1344 (13th)
CA: 1223 (8th) / 1181 (5th)
Corsi %: 53.4% (5th) / 53.2% (6th)
Season match up: 2 wins and 1 SO win Prairie Stars, 1 wins Outlaws.
 
The Outlaws are a solid team with very good goaltending and team play. Everything else about them is below average. On the other side is the Prairie Stars with the best record in the league but rather underwhelming stats for a team that more or less ran away with the best record by 14 points. Almost everything about them is good but only the 5 on 5 goals against is truly great. I would have expected more statistically with such a record. In terms of the match up the big question is can the Outlaws score and can their special teams be better than it was in the regular season? Against the Prairie Stars it is going to be tough as their two wins were big ones over the Outlaws.
 
#2 West Chicago Hawks vs #7 Scandinavia Steelers
42-7-8-23 148pts / 35-9-5-31 128pts
Regular season stats: Hawks / Steelers
Goals for: 249 (8th) / 200 (25th)
Goals against: 183 (2nd) / 194 (4th)
PP: 24.1% (3rd) / 20.2% (15th)
PK: 82.5% (9th) / 87.2% (1st)
Shooting %: 7.6% (20th) / 7.4% (22nd)
Save %: 92.5% (6th) / 92.5% (7th)
PDO: 1.001 (14th) / .999 (16th)
CF: 1448 (5th) / 1184 (25th)
CA: 1389 (16th) / 1160 (4th)
Corsi %: 51% (11th) / 50.5% (13th)
Season match up: 4 wins Hawks.
 
The Steelers are a bit of a mystery to me. They have a very good group of forwards but the team struggles mightily offensively. They didn't do well against the Hawks in the regular season because of it losing all four games. On the same token the Hawks offense under performed as well 5 on 5 with a very poor shooting percentage themselves. This could be a series dragged on by the stingy defense of the Steelers facing off against the lackluster 5 on 5 offense of the Hawks but the Steelers have to find a way to score to do it. This series is going to come down to if the Steelers can find some offense or not.
 
#3 Enigma Rage vs #6 Vauban Tomahawks
42-5-5-28 141pts / 36-9-6-29 132pts
Regular season stats: Rage / Tomahawks
Goals for: 248 (9th) / 253 (6th)
Goals against: 230 (15th) / 222 (13th)
PP: 22.9% (4th) / 17.7% (21st)
PK: 83.3% (7th) / 81.8% (11th)
Shooting %: 8.8% (9th) / 9.5% (3rd)
Save %: 92.1% (14th) / 92.3% (11th)
PDO: 1.009 (8th) / 1.018 (3rd)
CF: 1354 (12th) / 1319 (16th)
CA: 1198 (5th) / 1313 (11th)
Corsi %: 53.1% (7th) / 50.1% (15th)
Season match up: 1 win Rage, 2 wins and 1 SO win Tomahawks
 
This series is my upset alert for the West. The Rage are a very good statistical team overall. Its one statistical blemish is its 5 on 5 goals against. The Tomahawks are a good team themsleves with one very good strength. 5 on 5 goals for. It is the biggest weakness of one team against the biggest strength of the other team. This has the potential to be a very close series that could also go heavily one way or the other. If the Tomahawks can continue their 5 on 5 excellence it will be trouble for Rage. The Rage have the special teams to otherwise win the series if not keep the games close.
 
#4 Ithaca Ricochet vs #5 Yonker Wolverines
40-7-4-29 138pts / 41-4-3-32 134pts
Regular season stats: Ricochet / Wolverines
Goals for: 253 (7th) / 269 (1st)
Goals against: 213 (10th) / 241 (20th)
PP: 21% (12th) / 22.8% (6th)
PK: 80% (14th) / 75.2% (27th)
Shooting %: 8.4% (11th) / 9.1% (5th)
Save %: 91.6% (18th) / 90.6% (27th)
PDO: 1.000 (15th) / .997 (19th)
CF: 1452 (4th) / 1474 (2nd)
CA: 1503 (25th) / 1541 (27th)
Corsi %: 49.1% (17th) / 48.9% (18th)
Season match up: 3 wins Ricochet, 1 win Wolverines
 
This is the series that I am most looking forward to. It has the greatest potential for some wild games. Each of the four games in the regular season was. For one team you can forget about defense. It doesn't exist. Its not a thing. The other team is a team that plays a high tempo style of play given the lot of shots for and against 5 on 5. I'm excited for this series simply because it is very likely going to be a lot of speed, shots and general back and forth, high tempo action. Who is going to win? Who cares? It is going to very likely be one heck of a show.

On the final day of the regular season 3 teams were all within 1 point of each other fighting for 1st place in the league. It was all going to come down to the last game for each team to decide who would finish 1st. At the start of the day the Laporte Red Raiders were holding 1st with 177 points by virtue of goals scored at 382. They had 52 regulation wins on the season at this point. Tied with them was my team, the White Mountain Winterhawks, with 177 points. My team had 312 goals and 55 regulation wins up to this point. We were both in the same conference. The third team, in the other conference, was the Red River Rockettes with 176 points. They had 343 goals scored and 55 wins so far on the season.
 
If the Red Raiders won their last game of the season in regulation they would win 1st no matter what. In fact they just needed to tie in points to win because the first tiebreaker is goals scored. They were facing the 8th placed team in the East.
To get 1st I had to get at least a point and nobody else tie my team in points. I was facing the 14th team in the West.
For the Rockettes to get 1st they either needed to tie my team in points or get more points than the Red Raiders. They were facing the 8th team in the East.
 
The Red Raiders lost in OT 5-4. This meant that my team needed to win in OT to pull ahead of them and a win in regulation would mean that I would win altogether. My team would win in OT 3-2 after losing my 1st line C a minute and a half into the game. This meant that if the Rockettes could win their game outright that they would finish 1st. Win they did as they ended the game with a 5-1 victory tying my team for points while scoring more goals on the season thereby holding the 1st tiebreaker of more goals scored. Congratulations to Jonathan D on finishing 1st on a very exciting finish to a season that came down to the very last game.
 
A few extra notes; With that win on the last day the Rockettes held pretty much every imaginable tie breaker over me having more regulation wins and a better GF/GA differential as well. With 4 days left I was 9 points behind the Red Raiders and considered myself out as I had to win at least 3 of the last 4 just to tie whereas if the Red Raiders won even one game they would finish better than me by virtue of the first tiebreaker. The Red Raiders managed to go 0-0-1-3 in their final 4 games and 4-0-1-6 in their final 11 games of the season after beating my team 5-1 in game 68 of the season. My team went 7-1-1-2 over its final 11 after that loss. The Rockettes went 7-0-1-3 in their final 11.

I haven't followed the West that much this season, but agree that Ricochet vs. Wolverines is probably the most exciting first round match-up.  Also, Rage is always my sleeper pick to turn it on in the playoffs.  Their coach is a lunatic and the players are downright scared to fail.
In the East, the Nightmares and Bulldogs are solid teams, but the Minutemen and Red Tide are firing on all cylinders.  Bears vs. Duhawks should be the most even series.  For some reason I have always confused these two teams, as far back as season 1, so it's funny they are matched up against each other. 
And my series with Peek's Dragons seems like a very even match-up on paper.  I like my team, but have come to realize we have some major holes to fix.  For starters, my goalie is already tired.  Jesus.  People talk about goalies blowing games for their respective teams this season, but I'd be willing to bet Amick has blow more games than every other goalie this season... games that the performance ratings and game stats suggest we otherwise would have won.  So my options are a tired/exhausted goalie... an anxious goalie... or a 79-rated affiliate goalie.  Again, I really like my team, but the past two seasons we've had the #2 seed and have won a combined 2 games, getting bounced by lower seeds.  This is also the 3rd straight season where we have been on a cold streak heading into the playoffs.  Would I be surprised if I win... maybe not.  But until the Stealheads prove they can win a playoff series, I don't have much confidence in them.  My only shot is if the Dragons goalies under-perform.
Either way, thanks for pulling this together, Rain.  Good luck to everyone!

when you have nothing else to do  , great job 

Great job, rainsilent!

East:
#1 Cedar Rapids Minutemen vs #8 Netherhill Nightmares.
45-7-2-26 151pts / 32-10-10-28 126pts
Regular season stats: Minutemen / Nightmare
Goals for: 255 (4th) / 237 (13th)
Goals against: 191 (3rd) / 220 (12th)
PP: 21.8% (8th) / 21% (11th)
PK: 86.1% (3rd) / 78.5% (18th)
Shooting %: 9.8% (1st) / 7.8% (18th)
Save %: 92.7% (4th) / 92.3% (12th)
PDO: 1.025 (1st) / 1.002 (12th)
CF: 1245 (24th) / 1342 (14th)
CA: 1151 (3rd) / 1321 (13th)
Corsi %: 52% (8th) / 50.4% (14th)
Season match up: 3 wins Minutemen, 1 OT win Nightmare.
 
Statistically this was a close match up during the regular season with only one game being decided by more than one goal. As a result, I expect this match up to be a lot closer than the statistics may otherwise say. The Nightmare are a solid overall team that aren't to be discounted due to their 8th seed. Combine that with the fact that the Minutemen played well above expectations for the season (especially with a shooting% and PDO so abnormally high when CF is taken into account) and I would give this match up a serious consideration for upset alert.
 
#2 Slaughterville Red Tide vs #7 Lake Valley Bulldogs
46-4-3-27 149pts / 35-10-4-31 129pts
Regular season stats: Red Tide / Bulldogs
Goals for: 266 (2nd) / 255 (5th)
Goals against: 200 (6th) / 245 (21st)
PP: 19.8% (16th) / 22.8% (5th)
PK: 79.1% (16th) / 81.1% (12th)
Shooting %: 9.2% (4th) / 9.7% (2nd)
Save %: 93.2% (1st) / 91.2% (24th)
PDO: 1.024 (2nd) / 1.008 (10th)
CF: 1535 (1st) / 1302 (19th)
CA: 1202 (7th) / 1420 (21st)
Corsi %: 56.1% (2nd) / 47.8% (21st)
Season match up: 3 wins Red Tide, 1 win Bulldogs.
 
The season series was notably in favor of the Red Tide as one game was on the verge of a blowout while another was an out right blowout. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to improve their 5 on 5 play defensively or this could be a short series. The middle of the pack special teams for the Red Tide could potentially keep the Bulldogs in the series and appears to be the most likely reason for the series to drag on.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #6 Big Delta Stealheads
44-3-11-22 149pts / 36-7-7-30 129pts
Regular season stats: Dragons / Stealheads
Goals for: 263 (3rd) / 239 (12th)
Goals against: 205 (8th) / 199 (5th)
PP: 24.9% (2nd) / 16.6% (22nd)
PK: 86.3% (2nd) / 83.9% (6th)
Shooting %: 8.9% (7th) / 8.8% (8th)
Save %: 92.4% (9th) / 92.3% (10th)
PDO: 1.013 (4th) / 1.012 (5th)
CF: 1466 (3rd) / 1313 (18th)
CA: 1261 (9th) / 1098 (2nd)
Corsi %: 53.8% (4th) / 54.5% (3rd)
Season match up: 1 win Dragons, 3 wins Stealheads.
 
This matchup is my official upset alert for the East. Outside of the poor powerplay of the Stealheads these two teams are statistically near mirror images. The question is if the current goaltending for the Dragons can hold up to the quite potent offense of the Stealheads? The Dragons shipped out the goalie they had as their starter for most of the season. This is going to be either a lopsided series due to poor goaltending or one heck of a close series.
 
#4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears vs #5 Mango Duhawks
43-4-3-30 140pts / 37-7-6-30 131pts
Regular season stats: Battlin Bears / Duhawks
Goals for: 232 (14th) / 226 (16th)
Goals against: 209 (9th) / 216 (11th)
PP: 19.1% (18th) / 19.8% (17th)
PK: 85.9% (4th) / 77.1% (23rd)
Shooting %: 7.9% (16th) / 8.1% (13th)
Save %: 91.8% (16th) / 92.1% (15th)
PDO: .997 (17th) / 1.002 (13th)
CF: 1388 (9th) / 1382 (10th)
CA: 1293 (10th) / 1323 (14th)
Corsi %: 51.8% (9th) / 51.1% (10th)
Season match up: 2 wins Battlin Bears, 2 wins Duhawks.
 
This is very likely to be a close series. The regular season games were. Based upon the regular season stats I think it is most likely to be decided by the PK of each team. The Battlin Bears had one of the best. The Duhawks had one of the worst. In every other way these teams are very close statistically. It could be a short series due to the PK difference but the Battlin Bears PP is too iffy for me to fully buy into the poor PK of the Duhawks as being as significant a drawback as it likely should be.
 
West
#1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #8 Eastern Outlaws.
47-11-2-20 165pts / 34-7-7-32 123pts
Regular season stats: Prairie Stars / Outlaws
Goals for: 246 (10th) / 214 (18th)
Goals against: 164 (1st) / 204 (7th)
PP: 22.3% (7th) / 18.5% (19th)
PK: 82.6% (8th) / 77.8% (20th)
Shooting %: 8% (15th) / 7.7% (19th)
Save %: 93% (3rd) / 93.1% (2nd)
PDO: 1.010 (7th) / 1.009 (9th)
CF: 1403 (6th) / 1344 (13th)
CA: 1223 (8th) / 1181 (5th)
Corsi %: 53.4% (5th) / 53.2% (6th)
Season match up: 2 wins and 1 SO win Prairie Stars, 1 wins Outlaws.
 
The Outlaws are a solid team with very good goaltending and team play. Everything else about them is below average. On the other side is the Prairie Stars with the best record in the league but rather underwhelming stats for a team that more or less ran away with the best record by 14 points. Almost everything about them is good but only the 5 on 5 goals against is truly great. I would have expected more statistically with such a record. In terms of the match up the big question is can the Outlaws score and can their special teams be better than it was in the regular season? Against the Prairie Stars it is going to be tough as their two wins were big ones over the Outlaws.
 
#2 West Chicago Hawks vs #7 Scandinavia Steelers
42-7-8-23 148pts / 35-9-5-31 128pts
Regular season stats: Hawks / Steelers
Goals for: 249 (8th) / 200 (25th)
Goals against: 183 (2nd) / 194 (4th)
PP: 24.1% (3rd) / 20.2% (15th)
PK: 82.5% (9th) / 87.2% (1st)
Shooting %: 7.6% (20th) / 7.4% (22nd)
Save %: 92.5% (6th) / 92.5% (7th)
PDO: 1.001 (14th) / .999 (16th)
CF: 1448 (5th) / 1184 (25th)
CA: 1389 (16th) / 1160 (4th)
Corsi %: 51% (11th) / 50.5% (13th)
Season match up: 4 wins Hawks.
 
The Steelers are a bit of a mystery to me. They have a very good group of forwards but the team struggles mightily offensively. They didn't do well against the Hawks in the regular season because of it losing all four games. On the same token the Hawks offense under performed as well 5 on 5 with a very poor shooting percentage themselves. This could be a series dragged on by the stingy defense of the Steelers facing off against the lackluster 5 on 5 offense of the Hawks but the Steelers have to find a way to score to do it. This series is going to come down to if the Steelers can find some offense or not.
 
#3 Enigma Rage vs #6 Vauban Tomahawks
42-5-5-28 141pts / 36-9-6-29 132pts
Regular season stats: Rage / Tomahawks
Goals for: 248 (9th) / 253 (6th)
Goals against: 230 (15th) / 222 (13th)
PP: 22.9% (4th) / 17.7% (21st)
PK: 83.3% (7th) / 81.8% (11th)
Shooting %: 8.8% (9th) / 9.5% (3rd)
Save %: 92.1% (14th) / 92.3% (11th)
PDO: 1.009 (8th) / 1.018 (3rd)
CF: 1354 (12th) / 1319 (16th)
CA: 1198 (5th) / 1313 (11th)
Corsi %: 53.1% (7th) / 50.1% (15th)
Season match up: 1 win Rage, 2 wins and 1 SO win Tomahawks
 
This series is my upset alert for the West. The Rage are a very good statistical team overall. Its one statistical blemish is its 5 on 5 goals against. The Tomahawks are a good team themsleves with one very good strength. 5 on 5 goals for. It is the biggest weakness of one team against the biggest strength of the other team. This has the potential to be a very close series that could also go heavily one way or the other. If the Tomahawks can continue their 5 on 5 excellence it will be trouble for Rage. The Rage have the special teams to otherwise win the series if not keep the games close.
 
#4 Ithaca Ricochet vs #5 Yonker Wolverines
40-7-4-29 138pts / 41-4-3-32 134pts
Regular season stats: Ricochet / Wolverines
Goals for: 253 (7th) / 269 (1st)
Goals against: 213 (10th) / 241 (20th)
PP: 21% (12th) / 22.8% (6th)
PK: 80% (14th) / 75.2% (27th)
Shooting %: 8.4% (11th) / 9.1% (5th)
Save %: 91.6% (18th) / 90.6% (27th)
PDO: 1.000 (15th) / .997 (19th)
CF: 1452 (4th) / 1474 (2nd)
CA: 1503 (25th) / 1541 (27th)
Corsi %: 49.1% (17th) / 48.9% (18th)
Season match up: 3 wins Ricochet, 1 win Wolverines
 
This is the series that I am most looking forward to. It has the greatest potential for some wild games. Each of the four games in the regular season was. For one team you can forget about defense. It doesn't exist. Its not a thing. The other team is a team that plays a high tempo style of play given the lot of shots for and against 5 on 5. I'm excited for this series simply because it is very likely going to be a lot of speed, shots and general back and forth, high tempo action. Who is going to win? Who cares? It is going to very likely be one heck of a show.

If the assistant in the game reports isn't mentioning fatigue as a problem it isn't the problem. Personally I think the scoring at the GHL level is down a bit much. The best scorers struggle to reach a point a game pace here whereas at the NHL level you have Crosby, Malkin, McDavid, et cetera with regularity above that. Personally I wouldn't be too worried about his perceived down scoring stats. Granted this game doesn't have to strictly follow the NHL patterns of scoring. I just think it should be within the realm of possibility to see the best offensive players beat a point a game nearly every season. Currently it is a significant achievement to get a point a game by the end of the season.

Great job rain! Will definetly follow playoff in GHL!

Great stuff Rain
Here is my prediction
Minuteman - Nightmares 3-1
Red Tide - Bulldogs 3-1
Dragons - Stealheads 3-2 (a bit biased, cant go against my team haha)
Duhawks - Battlin Bears 0-3
 
Praire Stars - Outlaws 3-2
Hawks - Steelers 3-0
Rage - Tomahawks 1-3
Ricochet - Wolverines 1-3
 
And good luck to everyone!

Great analysis! 

Good luck to all the playoff teams.

East:
#1 Cedar Rapids Minutemen vs #8 Netherhill Nightmares.
45-7-2-26 151pts / 32-10-10-28 126pts
Regular season stats: Minutemen / Nightmare
Goals for: 255 (4th) / 237 (13th)
Goals against: 191 (3rd) / 220 (12th)
PP: 21.8% (8th) / 21% (11th)
PK: 86.1% (3rd) / 78.5% (18th)
Shooting %: 9.8% (1st) / 7.8% (18th)
Save %: 92.7% (4th) / 92.3% (12th)
PDO: 1.025 (1st) / 1.002 (12th)
CF: 1245 (24th) / 1342 (14th)
CA: 1151 (3rd) / 1321 (13th)
Corsi %: 52% (8th) / 50.4% (14th)
Season match up: 3 wins Minutemen, 1 OT win Nightmare.
 
Statistically this was a close match up during the regular season with only one game being decided by more than one goal. As a result, I expect this match up to be a lot closer than the statistics may otherwise say. The Nightmare are a solid overall team that aren't to be discounted due to their 8th seed. Combine that with the fact that the Minutemen played well above expectations for the season (especially with a shooting% and PDO so abnormally high when CF is taken into account) and I would give this match up a serious consideration for upset alert.
 
#2 Slaughterville Red Tide vs #7 Lake Valley Bulldogs
46-4-3-27 149pts / 35-10-4-31 129pts
Regular season stats: Red Tide / Bulldogs
Goals for: 266 (2nd) / 255 (5th)
Goals against: 200 (6th) / 245 (21st)
PP: 19.8% (16th) / 22.8% (5th)
PK: 79.1% (16th) / 81.1% (12th)
Shooting %: 9.2% (4th) / 9.7% (2nd)
Save %: 93.2% (1st) / 91.2% (24th)
PDO: 1.024 (2nd) / 1.008 (10th)
CF: 1535 (1st) / 1302 (19th)
CA: 1202 (7th) / 1420 (21st)
Corsi %: 56.1% (2nd) / 47.8% (21st)
Season match up: 3 wins Red Tide, 1 win Bulldogs.
 
The season series was notably in favor of the Red Tide as one game was on the verge of a blowout while another was an out right blowout. The Bulldogs are going to have to find a way to improve their 5 on 5 play defensively or this could be a short series. The middle of the pack special teams for the Red Tide could potentially keep the Bulldogs in the series and appears to be the most likely reason for the series to drag on.
 
#3 Sheshegwaning Dragons vs #6 Big Delta Stealheads
44-3-11-22 149pts / 36-7-7-30 129pts
Regular season stats: Dragons / Stealheads
Goals for: 263 (3rd) / 239 (12th)
Goals against: 205 (8th) / 199 (5th)
PP: 24.9% (2nd) / 16.6% (22nd)
PK: 86.3% (2nd) / 83.9% (6th)
Shooting %: 8.9% (7th) / 8.8% (8th)
Save %: 92.4% (9th) / 92.3% (10th)
PDO: 1.013 (4th) / 1.012 (5th)
CF: 1466 (3rd) / 1313 (18th)
CA: 1261 (9th) / 1098 (2nd)
Corsi %: 53.8% (4th) / 54.5% (3rd)
Season match up: 1 win Dragons, 3 wins Stealheads.
 
This matchup is my official upset alert for the East. Outside of the poor powerplay of the Stealheads these two teams are statistically near mirror images. The question is if the current goaltending for the Dragons can hold up to the quite potent offense of the Stealheads? The Dragons shipped out the goalie they had as their starter for most of the season. This is going to be either a lopsided series due to poor goaltending or one heck of a close series.
 
#4 Sault Ste Marie Battlin Bears vs #5 Mango Duhawks
43-4-3-30 140pts / 37-7-6-30 131pts
Regular season stats: Battlin Bears / Duhawks
Goals for: 232 (14th) / 226 (16th)
Goals against: 209 (9th) / 216 (11th)
PP: 19.1% (18th) / 19.8% (17th)
PK: 85.9% (4th) / 77.1% (23rd)
Shooting %: 7.9% (16th) / 8.1% (13th)
Save %: 91.8% (16th) / 92.1% (15th)
PDO: .997 (17th) / 1.002 (13th)
CF: 1388 (9th) / 1382 (10th)
CA: 1293 (10th) / 1323 (14th)
Corsi %: 51.8% (9th) / 51.1% (10th)
Season match up: 2 wins Battlin Bears, 2 wins Duhawks.
 
This is very likely to be a close series. The regular season games were. Based upon the regular season stats I think it is most likely to be decided by the PK of each team. The Battlin Bears had one of the best. The Duhawks had one of the worst. In every other way these teams are very close statistically. It could be a short series due to the PK difference but the Battlin Bears PP is too iffy for me to fully buy into the poor PK of the Duhawks as being as significant a drawback as it likely should be.
 
West
#1 Kegashka Prairie Stars vs #8 Eastern Outlaws.
47-11-2-20 165pts / 34-7-7-32 123pts
Regular season stats: Prairie Stars / Outlaws
Goals for: 246 (10th) / 214 (18th)
Goals against: 164 (1st) / 204 (7th)
PP: 22.3% (7th) / 18.5% (19th)
PK: 82.6% (8th) / 77.8% (20th)
Shooting %: 8% (15th) / 7.7% (19th)
Save %: 93% (3rd) / 93.1% (2nd)
PDO: 1.010 (7th) / 1.009 (9th)
CF: 1403 (6th) / 1344 (13th)
CA: 1223 (8th) / 1181 (5th)
Corsi %: 53.4% (5th) / 53.2% (6th)
Season match up: 2 wins and 1 SO win Prairie Stars, 1 wins Outlaws.
 
The Outlaws are a solid team with very good goaltending and team play. Everything else about them is below average. On the other side is the Prairie Stars with the best record in the league but rather underwhelming stats for a team that more or less ran away with the best record by 14 points. Almost everything about them is good but only the 5 on 5 goals against is truly great. I would have expected more statistically with such a record. In terms of the match up the big question is can the Outlaws score and can their special teams be better than it was in the regular season? Against the Prairie Stars it is going to be tough as their two wins were big ones over the Outlaws.
 
#2 West Chicago Hawks vs #7 Scandinavia Steelers
42-7-8-23 148pts / 35-9-5-31 128pts
Regular season stats: Hawks / Steelers
Goals for: 249 (8th) / 200 (25th)
Goals against: 183 (2nd) / 194 (4th)
PP: 24.1% (3rd) / 20.2% (15th)
PK: 82.5% (9th) / 87.2% (1st)
Shooting %: 7.6% (20th) / 7.4% (22nd)
Save %: 92.5% (6th) / 92.5% (7th)
PDO: 1.001 (14th) / .999 (16th)
CF: 1448 (5th) / 1184 (25th)
CA: 1389 (16th) / 1160 (4th)
Corsi %: 51% (11th) / 50.5% (13th)
Season match up: 4 wins Hawks.
 
The Steelers are a bit of a mystery to me. They have a very good group of forwards but the team struggles mightily offensively. They didn't do well against the Hawks in the regular season because of it losing all four games. On the same token the Hawks offense under performed as well 5 on 5 with a very poor shooting percentage themselves. This could be a series dragged on by the stingy defense of the Steelers facing off against the lackluster 5 on 5 offense of the Hawks but the Steelers have to find a way to score to do it. This series is going to come down to if the Steelers can find some offense or not.
 
#3 Enigma Rage vs #6 Vauban Tomahawks
42-5-5-28 141pts / 36-9-6-29 132pts
Regular season stats: Rage / Tomahawks
Goals for: 248 (9th) / 253 (6th)
Goals against: 230 (15th) / 222 (13th)
PP: 22.9% (4th) / 17.7% (21st)
PK: 83.3% (7th) / 81.8% (11th)
Shooting %: 8.8% (9th) / 9.5% (3rd)
Save %: 92.1% (14th) / 92.3% (11th)
PDO: 1.009 (8th) / 1.018 (3rd)
CF: 1354 (12th) / 1319 (16th)
CA: 1198 (5th) / 1313 (11th)
Corsi %: 53.1% (7th) / 50.1% (15th)
Season match up: 1 win Rage, 2 wins and 1 SO win Tomahawks
 
This series is my upset alert for the West. The Rage are a very good statistical team overall. Its one statistical blemish is its 5 on 5 goals against. The Tomahawks are a good team themsleves with one very good strength. 5 on 5 goals for. It is the biggest weakness of one team against the biggest strength of the other team. This has the potential to be a very close series that could also go heavily one way or the other. If the Tomahawks can continue their 5 on 5 excellence it will be trouble for Rage. The Rage have the special teams to otherwise win the series if not keep the games close.
 
#4 Ithaca Ricochet vs #5 Yonker Wolverines
40-7-4-29 138pts / 41-4-3-32 134pts
Regular season stats: Ricochet / Wolverines
Goals for: 253 (7th) / 269 (1st)
Goals against: 213 (10th) / 241 (20th)
PP: 21% (12th) / 22.8% (6th)
PK: 80% (14th) / 75.2% (27th)
Shooting %: 8.4% (11th) / 9.1% (5th)
Save %: 91.6% (18th) / 90.6% (27th)
PDO: 1.000 (15th) / .997 (19th)
CF: 1452 (4th) / 1474 (2nd)
CA: 1503 (25th) / 1541 (27th)
Corsi %: 49.1% (17th) / 48.9% (18th)
Season match up: 3 wins Ricochet, 1 win Wolverines
 
This is the series that I am most looking forward to. It has the greatest potential for some wild games. Each of the four games in the regular season was. For one team you can forget about defense. It doesn't exist. Its not a thing. The other team is a team that plays a high tempo style of play given the lot of shots for and against 5 on 5. I'm excited for this series simply because it is very likely going to be a lot of speed, shots and general back and forth, high tempo action. Who is going to win? Who cares? It is going to very likely be one heck of a show.