Challenge Cup - Scenarios for the Blaze

[Stuart Coles]

Great win for the Blaze last night means we're still in the hunt for qualification to the quarter finals. Club desperately need it - but it's not straight forward.

Remaining Fixtures:

Fri - Panthers vs Blaze
Sun - Devils vs Storm

Standings:

Team	P	W (RW)	L	O/S L	Pts	Goals For	Away Record
Cardiff Devils	7	3 (2)	4	0	6	21	2 (1) - 2 - 0
Manchester Storm	7	2 (2)	3	2	6	22	0 - 3 - 0
Coventry Blaze	7	2 (2)	4	1	5	20	0 - 3 - 0

You can find all the details on the criteria for deciding tiebreakers here

What happens if...

...Blaze lose in regulation to Nottingham?

• Blaze are out with only 5 points.
  

...Blaze lose in overtime to Nottingham?

• They will equal points with both Cardiff and Manchester.
  
• In order for Blaze to progress, they would need Cardiff to win in regulation against Manchester - they would then hold the tiebreaker of having the better away record (equal reg wins, wins, head to head record and losses) over the Storm.
  
• If Manchester beat Cardiff in regulation, then Blaze would be out as Cardiff hold the tiebreaker on total wins.
  
• Any OT/SO result would also leave the Blaze eliminated.

...Blaze win in regulation in Nottingham?

• Blaze are through.
  
• Blaze would have 7 pts. A regulation win for Devils or Storm would leave one of them on 6 points.
  
• In the event of an OT/SO win for either side, giving one of the teams 7 pts, Blaze would have more regulation wins (3) than either Devils (2) or Storm (2)

...Blaze win in OT in Nottingham?

• Blaze would have 7 points. A regulation win for either Devils or Storm would leave one of them on 6 points and Blaze would be through.
  
• An OT win for Cardiff would leave Manchester on 7 pts, but Blaze would have more total wins, and would be through.
  
• An OT win for Manchester would leave Cardiff on 7 pts, and Cardiff would be through with a better head-to-head record.

[IX2T311]

Ah thank you for this! Every year I always get a little confused around about now about the "what would happen if"-s.

So we're aiming for a win and/or praying that Manchester Cardiff is a stomping one way or the other? I'd prefer to see Manchester win it, I'm not a Cardiff fan by any means.

[Stuart Coles]

That's a good summary - yes. If Blaze can get up there and get the regulation win, makes life simple. I like a simple life...

[IX2T311]

Well Nottingham aren't too hot right now, they had a 0 point weekend this week to an underperforming Belfast squad (unless there was a big overnight change) and a Manchester team that would've been lucky to get 1 against us, I'm quite hopeful that the Blaze will be taking 2 from The Capital.