Comunicados

Unfortunately I didn't get this up earlier and by the time many of you read it, the first game may already be over. I apologize for that. Onto league news. There were really no changes this week to the secured playoff spots. They are still held by the top 4 teams. The top 4 teams are also the only ones still in contention for the league title. Here are the current standings with points (points needed to claim a playoff spot) For those of you unfamiliar with "magic numbers" if a team has a magic number of "1" it means they need to score 1 point to claim a playoff spot or the 9th place team has to lose a point, in other words, fail to get the full three points in any game. (x means playoff spot claimed, teams not listed are mathematically eliminated)

1. Iowa Wild 95 (x)
2. Backstreet Boys 93 (x)
3. Brentwood Diblos 84 (x)
4. Flying Bartlebys 84 (x)
5 New York Rangers St. 71 (1)
6. Elk River Wizards 71 (1)
7. Old City Peregrines 63 (9)
8. Tuscaloosa Elephants 60 (12)
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9. Canes and Caps 56
10. Kenowhere Manglers 48
11. Blue_DEVILS 48
12 Team Krunk 46

Interesting to note that both Old city and Tuscaloosa will get a chance to help their own cause as they both play Canes and Caps this week.

On to the Team Previews:

1. Iowa Wild
Another week passes and the Wild have managed to hold onto the top spot. There schedule this week is the lightest they have had in a while, but they start off the week with their biggest challenge of the week. On Monday the Wild take on the Kenowhere Manglers . The Manglers managed to upset the Bartlebys on Friday and will be coming into this game with the attitude they can do it again. The Wild will need to be in top form to make sure they don't also fall to the Manglers. The rest of the week will see the Wild take on Team noname 25620 on Wednesday and Team noname 36684 on Friday. If the Wild can survive Monday they should be able to relax before a more challenging final week.

2. Backstreet Boys
Sitting only two points out of first place, the Boys are just waiting for the Wild to falter to reclaim the top spot. This week, however will present some interesting challenges. On Monday the Boys host the Old City Peregrines. Long before the Wild defeated the Boys, it was the Peregrines who first made them look human in a 2-0 win. Old City goalie Rufus Ballard was the star of that game stopping 29 shots for the shutout. If the standings hold, Old City will also face Backstreet in the 1st round of the playoffs, so this game could have an impact on which team goes into that series with the momentum. On Wednesday the Boys face Team noname 36688. Then they get back to business on Friday taking on the 3rd place Brentwood Diablos. In their previous matchup, Backstreet edged Brentwood in an 8-7 shootout. Defensemam Hung Bright was the star of that game scoring 3 goals.

3. Brentwood Diablos
The Diablos get rewarded for their move into 3rd place with one of the hardest schedules of the week. On Monday they take on 5th place NY Rangers St. In their previous meeting Brentwood posted an impressive 9-2 victory. Winger Melvin Loomis was the star of the game with 3 goals and 2 assists. Then on Wednesday they face the 6th place Elk River Wizards in a first meeting between the teams. Then on Friday they face Backstreet in an already previewed game.

4. Flying Bartlebys
The Bartlebys will be looking to rebound from their loss on Friday and reclaim the 3rd spot in the standings. The schedule is on their side too as they have already faced many of the tougher teams Brentwood will be facing the next two weeks. The Bartlebys will start off the week easy facing Team noname 25620 on Monday and Team noname 36684 on Wednesday. They face their biggest challenge on Friday when they take on the PHILLY FLYERS. In their previous meeting the Bartlebys edged out a 7-6 win. It was the Flyers Milan Stránský, however that was first star with 2 goals and an assist.

5. NY Rangers St.
The Rangers need only a point to claim a playoff spot, but more importantly want to put distance between themselves and Elk river whom they are currently tied with. The Rangers start out the week against Brentwood on Monday in an already previewed game. On Wednesday they face the League's newest team the Blue_DEVILS. They then finish up on Friday with there first game against the Elk River Wizards, themselves, in a game that will likely have a big impact on the final standings.

6. Elk River Wizards
Elk River gets a slightly easier schedule than the Rangers this week as they will take on Team noname 36688 on Monday. They then face the Brentwood Diablos on Wednesday, before their big game on Friday with New York. If tehir are no upsets Elk river and New York will go into Fridays game still tied and that will draw a huge crowd for the hometown Rangers. Something Elk River will have to overcome to move up in the standings.

7. Old City Peregrines
Old City has their marquee matchup right off the bat in the already previewed Backstreet game. You can believe the players will be pumped up for this rematch. On Wednesday the Grines are scheduled to face Canes and Caps, but there could be a change in management before that game happens. On Friday they will take on Team Krunk in a first time matchup. Old City would look good coming out of this week with 2 wins, but something makes me think the players will settle for nothing less than a perfect week.

8. Tuscaloosa Elephants
I've left Tuscaloosa off this preview in the past, but it now looks for certain that the team will be around a while. With only 4 points separating them and 9th place, they can not let up one bit heading into the final weeks if they want to remain in playoff contention. On Monday they face Canes and Caps in what will be the first meeting of the teams and the final game for C&C. On Wednesday they face Team Krunk in another first time game. The Elephants then finish off the week easy against Team noname 36694.

13. PHILLY FLYERS
The FLYERS saw themselves mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week, but can still do a lot to position themselves for the 9-16 playoffs with a good showing this week. They begin Monday with a game against Team Krunk in a first meeting of the two teams. They then face Team noname 36694 on Wednesday before their biggest matchup of the week against the Flying Bartlebys on Friday in an already previewed game.

14. MN Wild
The Wild start off the week against fellow newcomer the Wookies. With only 4 points separating the teams this should be a good game. On Wednesday they are scheduled to face the Kenowhere Manglers. However, there could a change of management before the game. If not, the Manglers are a tough team with several wins over top 8 opponents. They finish off Friday against Team noname 25620.

15. Wookies
In the Wookies first two weeks they managed to have games against 3 of the top 4 teams in the League. This week will seem like a breather after that, although they shouldn't get too comfortable. On Monday they face the MN Wild in an already previewed game. Team noname 36698 will be their opponent on Wednesday. On Friday they will be looking to welcome the newcomers, Blue_DEVILS, to the league.

Welcome, to all the newcomers and good luck to everyone this week.

As always I don't preview new teams with only one login and teams i believe are inactive. Please don;t take offense, if you are indeed active you will be included next week.

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