By USPHL Staff
In The Playoff Push, we will take a look at the busiest game days’ most integral games in regards to teams clinching playoffs or clinching specific playoff berths, as we head down the stretch toward the end of the regular season in March.
NCDC
8 games today, 60 more remaining.
Everyone is in action today except for Utica and the Junior Bruins.
New England Division
Islanders Hockey Club (No. 1) hosts the Northern Cyclones (No. 5)
Twin City (No. 6) visits South Shore (No. 2)
The Cyclones and Twin City need points to keep elimination at bay.
The Bruins’ (No. 4) magic number vs. Twin City is 2. The Bruins hold the tiebreaker. A Twin City loss would clinch a berth for the Bruins and ensure that Twin City will finish no higher than fifth.
An IHC regulation loss and a South Shore win will show both teams tied for first. They play each other twice this month, so tiebreakers are premature.
Atlantic Division
WBS Knights (5) at Jersey Hitmen (No. 6)
Connecticut (No. 3) at P.A.L. (No. 1)
Rockets Hockey Club (No. 4) at Mercer Chiefs (No. 2)
Mercer’s magic number vs. the Jersey Hitmen is 3. A Mercer win and a Hitmen loss clinches a berth for the former.
Otherwise, second through sixth are in a tight cluster with nothing to be resolved today.
Mountain Division
Utah (No. 2) at Rock Springs (No. 6)
Provo (No. 3) at Idaho Falls (No. 4)
Ogden (No. 1) at Pueblo (No. 5)
All great match-ups with points on the line, but no one will move in the standings today.
Idaho Falls is obviously cheering for Ogden today. An Idaho Falls win would put them one point behind Provo.
Founders Cup
P.A.L.’s challengers for the Founders Cup are Ogden, Islanders Hockey Club and South Shore. A PAL win knocks SSK from the list. We’re not that far from a declaration.
