STOCKTON, Calif. – As the 2016/17 season winds down to only five games remaining, the heated battles continue for those final two playoff positions in the Pacific Conference of the Western Division.
Heat center Turner Elson (13) tries to get position in front of Barracuda goalie Troy Grosenick as Julius Bergman (63) and Gus Young (70) defend (Game in late December) – Photo by Jack Lima
The San Jose Barracuda clinched their position, when they defeated Stockton Heat on March 18, 2017, becoming the first team in the league to secure their appearance in the post season. Ironically, last year they were the sixteenth and final team to clinch, but lost in the first round to Ontario.
The San Diego Gulls clinched the second position, on March 25, 2017. Despite a loss and end to their seven-game home win streak against the Condors at the time, the Heat helped them to earn the spot when they lost in a shootout to the Texas Stars the same night. It wasn’t how the Gulls would have wanted to secure the spot, but it’s theirs and now the rest of the season is just preparing for the playoffs.
Gulls goalie Matt Hackett lunges to make a save as the puck hits the side of the net (Game from November) – Photo by Jack LIma
As Gulls defenseman said after the announcement in a press release, “Making the playoffs was one of our goals before the season started. I think we expected to make it and now we need to get ready for that and hope to peak at the right time.”
The Gulls are 6-4 in their last ten games, and have a .675 win percentage. Last season, the Gulls were eliminated in the second round by Ontario.
The Ontario Reign are looking to secure the third spot. This can be accomplished as early as Friday (4/7), when they meet the San Diego Gulls on the road. If the Reign earn the two points and the Condors lose to the San Antonio Rampage. If the Reign only get a single point in their game and then the Condors fall in regulation, then the Reign can also clinch.
Ontario is not the only team looking for the Condors to lose. It seems that the Stockton Heat is working on securing the fourth place themselves. As of today, Stockton is sitting in that coveted fourth seat, with their big win over the Gulls last night (5-3), and the Condors loss to Texas (4-3). Stockton is at .556, while the Condors are at .540.
Heat goalie David Rittich makes a pad save during second period action (March 2017) – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat will have a tough road ahead though, as they face the number one team in the Western Conference, the Barracuda on Saturday and Sunday, then three more games before the end of the regular season against Ontario, Bakersfield and Tucson respectively.
The Condors will be on the road for their next four games, San Antonio for a pair, then San Diego, and Stockton before returning home to face the Barracuda for their final game of the season at home.
For those that haven’t been following the season as closely, six of the eight Pacific Division teams only play in 68 games, while San Antonio and Texas will play in 76 games. This means that playoff position is calculated by winning percentage, although there are tiebreakers. For the most part though, if Stockton wants to keep that number four place, they need to keep winning. But it all depends upon how the Condors handle their last five games too.
Unfortunately for the Rampage, Stars, and Roadrunners, their season will come to an end sooner than later. But there’s always next year.
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