WINSTIN-SALEM, NC — Teams in the Southern Professional Hockey League have either ten or eleven games remaining in the 2008-09 regular season. Knoxville has an 11 point lead and barring a collapse should maintain their grip on first place into the post season. While a lot of finish combinations are still mathematically possible, based on the current standings it appears two distinct races are underway for the other playoff spots.
Richmond and Huntsville are battling for second place with the loser most likely finishing third while Fayetteville, Columbus and Twin City are locked in a fierce struggle for the fourth and final playoff spot. Fayetteville and Columbus enjoy a one game in hand advantage over Twin City in this race. Current standings on 2-22-09 are as follows:
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Saturday night’s action served to maintain the status quo between Richmond and Huntsville as both teams won. The Richmond Renegades knocked off the first place Knoxville Ice Bears by a score of 5-4 in a shootout while Huntsville’s Havoc led all the way against Fayetteville winning 5-0 against the FireAntz. The Saturday night game at Twin City had little resemblance to the penalty filled contest the teams engaged in Friday night when eight players were assessed 139 minutes in penalties, and each team lost three players to game misconducts out of one major melee. On Saturday night, the teams, perhaps because the main Friday night combatants commenced suspensions, engaged in a goal scoring duel with only minor penalties being assessed. Friday night’s fracas may impact both teams as key players from both teams have been suspended indefinitely. S PHL Commissioner Jim Combs took swift disciplinary action by meting out a one game suspension to forward Dan Leslie and indefinite suspensions to forwards Craig Stahl and Ryan McCarthy as well as goaltender Chad Rycroft for Columbus. Steve Obelnicki, Phil Sbrocchi and Jared Siganuk drew the same indefinite suspensions for Twin City. Meanwhile, in looking at the final month of the regular season if immediate past performance is an indicator, Richmond may be the favorite for the second place race. Richmond has a record of 7-2-1 in their last 10 games while Huntsville has gone 4-5-1. However, Richmond must play seven of their ten remaining teams on the road where to date they have a less than .500 winning percentage. Huntsville plays five on the road and five at home. In focusing on fourth place, despite currently being in last place, Columbus may have a schedule and momentum advantage. The Cottonmouths have gone 6-2-2 over the past ten games and will play seven of their remaining 11 games at home. Fayetteville, with 11 games remaining, has six at home and have won four games out of the last ten games they have played. The Twin City Cyclones with a 3-4-3 record over their past ten games split the remaining games on the schedule with five at home and five on the road. The real story of the schedule is that the races are wide open. A team that gets or stays hot can control its playoff destiny. None of the teams at this point has to rely on someone else defeating an opponent. Since each contender has at least one game against their competitors, they can simply match each in other wins and make sure they take the head -o- head competition in regulation time. SPHL fans have an exciting month left in the season as no team has been eliminated and each game is crucial. Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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