(4) Puck The Folice vs (5) Feeding Frenzy
Puck The Folice bounced the Frenzy 8-3 as once again the 4-game goaltender minimum came in to play. Jonathan Quick started and won 2 for FF, but Henrik Lundqvist only managed 1 appearance. The stars of the week for PTF included Ray Whitney (1 Goal/5 Assists/+2/2 PIM/1 PPP/15 Shots) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ( 3 Goals/1 Assist/+5/1 PPP/13 Shots). Semyon Varlamov (3 Wins) and Carey Price combined for a 2.11 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
Puck The Folice now will meet first place Jolly Razzers in the semifinal. The Razzers are led by a couple of 70-point scorers, John Tavares and Ilya Kovalchuk, and the netminding trio of Ryan Miller, Cam Ward, and Cory Schneider.
(3) Toronto Make Beliefs vs (6) Zak Dream Team
The Make Beliefs swept the goaltending categories en route to a 6-5 win over the Dream Team. Marc-Andre Fleury (2 Wins), Jonas Hiller (1 Win, Shutout), and Martin Brodeur (1 Win, Shutout) were all stellar and posted a 2.16 goals against average. Steven Stamkos and Chris Kunitz each picked up 4 minor penalties to help Toronto win the 1 offensive category needed for the victory. Tim Thomas let down ZDT with a 4.18 goals against average and .841 save percentage.
TMB now face True North Puck Co. in the second semifinal. True North are led by the top-ranked Evgeni Malkin, along with James Neal and Jordan Eberle. They also have 2 top 10 goaltenders in Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne.
The CHeap Seats
(4) Jethro vs (5) The Price is Right
Jethro squeaked out a 6-5 win when The Price is Right was -3 in Sunday’s games. TPIR would have actually held on for the win by benching everyone on Sunday. Ouch. Scott Hartnell continued his incredible fantasy season (ranked #2) for Jethro with 3 goals and an assist, 10 penalty minutes, 15 shots, and a +3 rating. John Tavares also tallied 3 goals and 1 assist, while Patrick Marleau contributed 4 assists and Brent Seabrook was +5. Tyler Seguin, one of the top +/- players in the NHL this season, was -5 for The Price is Right.
Jethro plays league-leader Decepticon Dominance, who have slumped down the stretch, in the semifinal. DD are led by Anze Kopitar, Evander Kane, and Alex Burrows up front and Martin Brodeur, Jimmy Howard, and Roberto Luongo in net.
(3) KyHabs vs (6) BlueLineDefenders
In another tight matchup, KyHabs edged BlueLineDefenders by the same 6-5 score. The Habs won 5 offensive categories, and edged the Defenders 2.34 to 2.35 in goals against average to triumph. Carey Price (1.88) and Jose Theodore (1.95) starred for KyHabs. Joe Thornton (2 goals, 4 assists) and Gabriel Landeskog (3 goals, 1 assist), and Drew Doughty (1 goal, 4 assists, +5) paced their offense. The Defenders had a nice week from Ray Whitney (1 goal, 5 assists, 15 shots), but Radim Vrbata (0 points, -1) and Ilya Kovalchuk (1 point, -2) failed to produce.
KyHabs now meet Parenteau Guidance in the other semifinal. PG will hope Ben Bishop can continue to shine in support of Pekka Rinne and Brian Elliot in net. Up front, James Neal, Henrik Sedin, and Marian Gaborik lead the way.
RazzPuckBunnies
(4) Jagr Bombs vs (5) Portable Ninja
Portable Ninja was the only lower seed to win in the quarterfinals, knocking off Jagr Bombs, 7-4. The Ninja used 4 goalies to record 6 wins with a shutout, 272 saves, and a 1.91 goals against average and .932 save percentage. Ilya Bryzgalov continued to sparkle, posting 3 wins and 1.44/.952 ratios. Antti Niemi also won 3 while Devan Dubnyk stopped 40 of the 42 shots he faced (.952).
Next up for Portable Ninja is Team Vigilante, who lead all RCL teams this season with 298 points. The Vigilante were lead by James Neal, Corey Perry, Zach Parise, and Jonathan Toews, who has missed the last 13 games with a concussion. In goal, they have 3 good options with Jonathan Quick, Cam Ward, and Marc-Andre Fleury.
(3) Ice Road Puckers vs (6) Chubby Beavers
The Ice Road Puckers slipped by the Beavers 5-4 as Sidney Crosby returned from injury and contributed 5 assists and was +4. John Tavares scored 3 and added an assist for the Puckers. The Chubby Beavers were hurt by their goaltending duo of Mike Smith and Tim Thomas, who combined for a 3.66 goals against average and .879 save percentage.
The Puckers will now face the Greyston Schmohawks in the semis. The Schmohawks have 4 30-goal scorers in Jordan Eberle, Alex Ovechkin, Michael Ryder, and Logan Couture. They are looking forward to the return of Niklas Backstrom to join recently hot goalies Jose Theodore and Semyon Varlamov.
Bobby Hull Division
(4) Shiska vs (5) The Vincibles
In the biggest beatdown of the week, Shiska crushed The Vincibles 9-2. Mikka Kiprusoff (2 Wins, 1.46/.949) and Semyon Varlamov (3 wins, 2.27/.934) paced Shiska to the victory. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Phil Kessel, and Claude Giroux each contributed 4 points to the offense.
Shiska will play the hot GoPuckYour…… in the semifinal. GPY will hope Cam Ward and Ilya Bryzgalov (10 wins, 4 shutouts in last 14 days) can stay hot and James Neal keeps adding to his career season.
(3) Rochester Americans vs (6) Kneely
The Americans beat Kneely 6-2 to move on to the semifinals. Justin Williams notched 2 goals and 2 assists while Ryan Getzlaf and Dustin Brown combined for 7 assists and +6. Goaltenders Mike Smith and Dustin Tokarski managed 3 wins despite a goals against average of 3.16.
Rochester will now go up against TheMustaches in the other semifinal. TheMustaches led all teams with a +118 rating this season as Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, and Dan Hamhuis are all over +20. They also have Malkin, Kovalchuk, Parise, and Patrik Elias for a pretty good looking offense. Martin Brodeur is once again providing solid goaltending.
Good luck to the final 16 teams, and better luck next year to the rest of us.
