Grey slipped in through the playoff backdoor, and are now a viral sensation. The eight seed toppled previously undefeated Orange in a shootout thriller. Wins, particularly big wins like this one, breed infectious enthusiasm, and Captain Traughber & Company are eager to see how much damage they can do now…

Steve Jones…a great player having an obnoxiously great season. The runaway regular season scoring leader kicked off his second act with a four goal flourish, leading Black to a 4-2 win over White. Brett Cohen, Shelby Shattuck, and Bill Casey each collected two assists, and Cory Brin (19/21) outdueled the ever-steady Steve Testen (19/23) to secure the win. Black advance to face Royal on the Winners’ side of the bracket, while White look to keep their Cup hopes alive against Gold this Sunday.

Timing is everything, and Grey appear to be timing masters. Not only did they sneak into the playoffs with a last minute goal in their final regular season game, but they were ready with an encore coup the very next week. Two scoreless periods elapsed before Connor Miller put Orange on the board at 9:35 in the third. The timing masters allowed that lead to stand for a whopping three seconds, as Justin Stege provided the immediate answer. Overtime gave way to shootout, where Jordan Pynn represented the only successful attempt. Both goalies were stellar, with Don Tran (15/16) earning a hard-fought decision over Fred Fournier (21/23). The 2-1 shootout shocker for Grey gave Orange their first bitter taste of defeat. The top seed will look to start their way back against Pink, while Grey hope to continue their win streak on the other side of the bracket against Light Blue.

Every round one game was close and a little crazy, but the Gold v Royal rumble was a surreal scoring seesaw. Kris Tosczak channeled his inner Steve Jones, scoring all four goals for Gold. His first period pair had Gold up 2-0, before Royal’s Param Gill, Vance Morra, and Mostafa Azab rallied the underdogs into the lead in the second. Tosczak tied things early in the third, Gary Peters untied things :25 later, and Tosczak re-retied it on the power play four minutes later. The second shootout of the night followed form with the first, as only one shooter managed to make good. Param Gill was the first to shoot, and the only to score, as Royal recorded the last punch in an epic slugfest, besting Gold 5-4. Jerry Russell was perfect in the shootout, and stopped a staggering 33/37 through regulation and OT…awesome stuff! Royal move on to face Black, while Gold will look to live another day in an elimination showdown with White.

Parity was certainly paramount in playoff Week One, and Light Blue v Pink capped the evening with another extra time affair. Nick Vacchio put Pink in front late in the first, and Captain Jon Salt responded for his team early in the second. Both goalies held tight through the rest of regulation, even when tested with penalty shots…yes, each team was awarded one! A brief rain delay extended the night even further, but overtime finally arrived, and so did Joe Malki’s game-winner. The 2-1 OT win for Light Blue propels them to a match up with upstart Grey on the Winner’s side, while Pink face a tough challenge in an ornery, out-for-revenge Orange as the playoffs continue this weekend…

Much of the world today has become a popularity contest, with ‘likes’, ‘retweets’, and ‘follows’ the cultural currency du jour. The SDFHL is sticking with good old fashioned wins and losses, and Orange managed to amass seven of the former, and suffer zero of the latter. Captain Shawna Hamon guides her undefeated ‘Freddit’ into the playoffs as the top seed, hoping to cap a near perfect season by defending her team’s position as the popular pick to win it all.

Captain Chad Goins left for his honeymoon knowing that his team would need at least a point in their final game in order to secure a playoff spot. Vance Morra secured two points, for good measure, scoring the unassisted game-winner midway through the third to give Royal the 1-0 win over Dark Green. Tiffany Fox wrapped a statistically sound, but ultimately futile season in nets with a 22/23 hard luck loss, while Jerry Russell concluded his impressive debut regular season stretch with his second shutout (11/11).

Much like Royal, Pink came into their final game knowing that they needed a good result, and likely some help to punch their playoff ticket. Fortunately for them, their opponents punch was sorely lacking in the absence of Captain Jon Salt. Alex Theis filled in more than admirably for Captain Sean Kelly in nets (21/21), while Ryan Irving, Dale Stuzka, and Andrew Jacobsen did the damage at the other end. The 3-0 win for Pink over Light Blue moved them from cut line concern to 5th seed, setting up an immediate playoff rematch between these two teams in the process.

Captain Copp’s Teal was the next batter up in the playoff hopeful lineup. As fate would have it, they were facing a Cy Young ace in Orange. With Royal and Pink already having added to their win and points totals, it was going to take a win and some help for Teal to survive. Jim LaGrossa had Teal on the board first in the first, but Alan Razoky erased that deficit later in the period. Ian Crooks tallied his first of the season at 3:39 in the third, but Nick Adkins brought Teal back to even with a short handed strike just over a minute later. Teal could not find the game-winner, as Andrew Lockard did his best impression of Fred Fournier (21/23) to preserve the 2-2 tie for his surrogate team. Teal joined Dark Green in the regular season recycle bin, leaving just one post season position yet to be determined…

With all but the final playoff spot settled, the outlook was clear for both Grey and Green. Grey needed a win. Green needed a tie. Jerry Gonzales gave Green a 1-0 lead late in the second, but Tom Darlington tipped Captain Jack Traughber’s point shot home to make it 1-1 early in the third. The rest of the period progressed without too much in the way of a clear scoring threat either way, and as the clock wound down, it looked like Green would complete their miracle rise from dead last to middle of the playoff pack. Alas, Julie Ott had different ideas, as she banged a nifty ball off the post and in with :37 to play to lift Grey to an incredible 2-1 win. In spite of their season struggles, Grey had found a way, at the literal last minute, to photo bomb the playoff picture…amazing stuff!

The final game of the season was a mere matter of playoff positioning and momentum for both teams. White was looking for a bounce back after a 3-0 loss to Pink, while Gold looked to build off of their playoff-clinching squeaker over Dark Green. Mark Boulanger (1 and 1) and Mark Nagy (1 and 1) made up for the absence of Kris Tosczak, powering Gold to a 4-1 statement win over White. Gold move into the three seed, while White drop down to the seven spot as the playoffs kick off this Sunday…

The stakes were high for the two lowest teams in the standings. A loss for either side would mean one more nail in the playoff coffin, while a win would give either team new life. The coffin nail went to Dark Green, with Green’s Jerry Gonzales doing most of the pounding. Kevin Dinino opened the scoring for Green late in the first, and Gonzales added the game-winner in the second, and an empty net insurance marker in the third to seal Dark Green’s fate, 3-1. Emily Lincoln had cut the lead to 2-1 with plenty of time left in the third, but Andrew Lockard was strong again in nets (15/16), locking it down from there to earn his second straight win. Dark Green remain in playoff contention, but they will need wins and help to make it now. Green can survive without winning both of their remaining games, but a third win in a row this Sunday will go a long way to bringing their redemption hopes to fruition.

Another crucial cut line conflict saw Pink and Grey battle to a 3-3 draw. Andrew Jacobsen netted a pair for Pink, while Justin Stege and Jordan Pynn each accounted for 1 and 1 the other way. Pynn’s goal was a game-saver, and possibly a season-saver for Grey, coming on a wild scramble in front of the net with the goalie pulled and just :20 to play. That one point gives Grey a little extra oxygen as they enter their bye week at 2-4-3…currently good enough to secure the final playoff spot. The tie, while a deflating disappointment for Pink, keeps them very much in the playoff hunt as they brace for a showdown with a formidable White contingent this Sunday.

The current two and three seeds squared off in Week Eleven, and left the rink all square and still there. Josh Wirt (2 and 0) paced White out to a two goal lead, but Black battled back on the back of…who else…Steve Jones. Jones continued his torrid scoring clip with a pair of goals to match Wirt’s output, and a helper on Mark Daquipa’s second of the season. Captain Mark Ennsmann rounded out the scoring for White, who flirted with an upset win, but ultimately settled for yet another tie, 3-3.

Things heated up as the sun began to set on Week Eleven. Orange and Royal rumbled through three periods of chippy, chirpy hockey, and Royal was lined up nicely to hand Orange their first defeat of the season as time wound down in a 3-2 game. Tyler Dyment saved the day with a timely first career SDFHL goal — a short handed stunner with 1:21 to play. Jon Zygleman and Connor Miller tallied their seventh and sixth of the season, respectively, for Orange, with the latter also racking up fourteen PIMs in the process. Param Gill, Vance Morra, and London Peters each contributed a goal for Royal, who improved their playoff odds in spite of the come-from-ahead 3-3 tie.

Captain Jon Salt and Light Blue found some relief after a 1-3-0 stretch that put them through the gauntlet of the three top teams (Orange, Black, and White). They lost those three games by a combined 13-4 margin, and fell into the middle of the pile in the process. The captain himself secured the 3-1 win over Gold with two goals in the third, after Stephanie Chen equalized Mark Nagy’s first period tally. Both Light Blue and Gold control their own playoff destiny, but with ‘9’ tending to be the magic number, they will both need at least another point or two to punch a ticket to the second season.

Pink remain one of those teams who need to do some work to secure a playoff spot. Andrew Jacobsen had them off to a good start in the first against Royal, but London Peters managed to tie it with just one tick left in the frame. That would be the only damage that either goalie would allow, as Captain Sean Kelly (9/10) earned the same result for Pink with much less effort than his Royal counterpart, Jerry Russell (25/26). The 1-1 tie keeps Royal in the playoff fold, at least for now, while Pink still sit below the cut line at 1-3-3. This week’s Pink v Grey match-up is pretty much the whole ball of wax for both teams…don’t miss it!

Steve Jones is a beast, and he is definitely unleashed this season. He ripped and slashed through Gold’s defenses to the tune of 4 and 1, leading Black to an easy, breezy 6-0 win. Jones now boasts an obnoxious twenty points through eight games, with the next nearest threat to the scoring crown coming from his own teammate, Glenn Pinto (13). Kim Hernandez chased her 2 and 1 Week Nine outing with an 0 and 4 effort in Week Ten, and Cory Brin posted his third shutout of the season, stopping 21/21. The win keeps Black in the hunt for the top playoff spot with Orange, whom they will face in the regular season finale.

It has not been an easy road for Green this season, and just one more loss might bring them to a dead end. It’s a good thing the Gonzales brothers are in the car. Arnold came on board to join Jerry in Week Ten, giving Green a rare full bench. With lots of legs, and a little hope, Green got on the board first. Jerry Gonzales first of the year also gave Green their first (yes, first) lead of the season. Nick Adkins retaliated for Teal early in the first, but Kevin Dinino gave Green their second lead of the season, and, ultimately, their first win, 2-1 over Teal. The win keeps Green alive and kicking, and eager for another good result against Dark Green this Sunday. Teal are moving in the wrong direction, having lost three straight, but they should have enough in both the bank and in the tank to find their way through.

Captain Shawna Hamon’s Orange continued their ho-hum league dominance in Week Ten, throwing some shade on Grey, 2-0. Alan Razoky and Jon Zygelman assisted on each other’s first period goals, and Fred Fournier était magnifique in nets, as usual (23/23). The win keeps Orange loss-less, while the loss puts Grey in tough straits going into their final two games. If Captain Traughber’s side cannot manage a good result against Pink this Sunday, they will have just six points in the standings, and just one game left to prove their playoff worth.

Josh Wirt (2 and 1), and Captain Mark Ennsmann (1 and 1) led White to a 3-2 come from behind win over Light Blue. Steve Testen got the job done again in nets, stopping 17/19 to preserve his top spot in the goalie rankings. The win essentially ensures playoff status for the 3-1-3 White, while Captain Jon Salt’s Light Blue continue to flirt with the cut line at 3-4-0. This Sunday’s showdown with the 3-3-1 Gold has serious implications for both teams…who wants it more?

Black’s momentum continued to mount, as they maintained co-ownership of the top spot in the standings with a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Royal Blue. Brett Cohen sparked the scoring, Steve Jones added one and one, and Bill Casey collected two assists, including a helper on Glenn Pinto’s power play game-winner. Cory Brin stopped 21/22 in the winning effort, which keeps Black nestled at the top of the pile with Orange.

In the land of the desperate teams, the one-pointed result is king. Both Dark Green and Grey had certainly hoped to find a way to win (and, as importantly, hand their neighbor in the nether neck of the standings a loss), but a point is a point. Justin Stege and Danny Antonelli did the honors for Grey and Dark Green, respectively, and both goalies held the line from there (Don Tran 14/15…Tiffany Fox 15/16). Both teams are still very much in danger of missing the playoff mark this season. To add another fun twist, Dark Green will be without the services of Tony Thinh for the remainder of the season. Sources close to the team have reported that Arnold Gonzales will be the second Gonzales boy to come off the shelf to fill a roster hole this season…

Captain Shawna Hamon continued her campaign of terror, with a goal to start the scoring, and assists on the second and third tallies in a 3-2 win for Orange over Light Blue. Captain Jon Salt had equalized Hamon’s first marker, and had his team up 2-1 with his second of the evening, but Alan Razoky struck on the power play to make it 2-2, and Jon Zygelman’s fifth of the season would be the game-winner. Meanwhile, Hamon is now legitimately a threat to become the first ever female season scoring champ. Her eight points (4 and 4) have her just three points back of Black’s Steve Jones at eleven…and she has a game in hand! Definitely another layer to look for in the April 14 showdown between these two great teams.

Captain Jeremy Copp and his NetsCopp Navigators were looking to clear the cache after suffering their first loss of the season in Week Seven, while Captain Mark Ennsmann’s as-yet-unnamed side were out to prove that they could do more than just not lose games. The latter did just that, as Ennsmann put White on the board early in the first, and Evan Melcher’s strike later in that period stood as the game-winner. Chris Tullio gave Teal life with a late first period goal, but neither goalie would surrender anything further (Alyce Perry’s insurance market was deposited into an empty net). The 3-1 win is just White’s second in five tries, but they remain one of only two teams without a loss. Forgive the PSA, but in case you hadn’t noticed, Steve Testen is damn good goalie. His .976/0.40/3 SO line is tops in the league this season by a good margin. His success should come as little surprise to anyone paying attention to his past few seasons.

The sublime serendipity of the schedule never ceases to amuse me. The St. Patrick’s Day slate wrapped with…what else…a clash between Green and Gold. Unfortunately for Green, it was once again not their lucky day. It has not been their skilly season, frankly. Patrick Fusco gave Green life with his tying goal in the second, but that was just the fourth goal Green has scored in six games, and it was the only goal they would manage against Gold. Mark Nagy netted the game-winner just forty seconds later, and Chris Tran stacked two insurance tallies on top in the third. Philip Nguyen threw one last shovel of dirt on the grave in the final minute, to go with his an assist on Nagy’s GWG, and make the final 5-1. Chuck Bender stopped 15/16, helping Gold move above the cut line and into the middle of the pack at 2-2-1. For Green, a Week Nine bye means one sad truth…at least they will not lose this weekend.