Spiders’ magic number: 5

March 8, 2010

As in … the Spiders need to score five more goals than their opponents in each of their remaining five games if they want any hope of extending their season.

In Sunday’s D1 West action, the post-season field became clearer, as two playoff-contending teams faced off against two teams hoping to sneak in the playoff door.

As Spider fan are already aware, the fourth-place Diablos drubbed the sixth-place Spiders 9–4 last night in New Hope to jump up to third over the Fighting Ice Fish.

And, just down the freeway in St. Louis Park, the Chaos, coming off an uncharacteristic pair of shut-out losses, held off the fifth-place Wingmen 2–1 to reclaim sole ownership of first place. Plus, their 28 points gives them a seven-game lead over the crowded middle-of-the-pack, enough to lock a playoff invitation. Same for the Fighting Piranhas, with their 26 points.

The crowded middle — the Wingmen, Spiders and Maroons, all tied at 14 points apiece — each have five games remaining, and are two-and-a-half games out of that final playoff spot held by the Fighting Ice Fish. The Lakers, with 13 points, sit in eighth.

The clairvoyant AHA schedule machine always makes the last final weeks of the season interesting, with key matchups keeping hopes alive for those still fighting for a spot.

• The third-place Diablos will face: Nighthawks, Lakers, Fighting Piranhas, Wingmen.
• The fourth-place Fighting Ice Fish will face: Sled Dogs, Maroons, Knights, Chaos and Spiders.
• The fifth-place Wingmen: Spiders, Nighthawks, Lakers, Fighting Piranhas, Diablos.
• The sixth-place Spiders: Wingmen, Sled Dogs, Maroons, Knights, Fighting Ice Fish.
• The seventh-place Maroons: Fighting Ice Fish, Chaos, Spiders, Nighthawks, Lakers.
• The eighth-place Lakers: Fighting Piranhas, Diablos, Wingmen, Sled Dogs, Maroons.

Suffice it to say, the remaining three weeks of the season will be packed full of meaningful games, determining the outcome of April D1 hockey.

Over in the East, the top is even tighter:

And remember, in case of ties in the regular-season standings, the following tie-breakers will be in effect to determine playoff seeding between the tied teams:

1. Total points in the regular season.
2. Number of wins in the regular season.
3. Head-to-head record between teams in the regular season (if equal number of games have been played between tied teams).
4. Fewest total penalty minutes in the regular season.
5. Fewest goals allowed in the regular season.
6. Most goals scored in the regular season.
7. Coin toss.

The post-season schedule matchups for D1: