The RIAL Winter 2022/23 Regular season is coming to an end. The playoffs are just over two weeks away now. There is now only one playoff spot left in each league. With only one team eliminated in the entire RIAL they fights for the last playoff spot are close. There are only two or three teams remaining in each regular season title race.
The playoffs will start on March 6th, 2023. The top four teams in each league get in.
Check out the power rankings here. Check out the standings here.
In the A-League, RT Janitorial, the Mustangs, and the Reno Gamblers have secured playoff spots. None of the A-League teams have been eliminated from playoff contention yet.
After securing their fifth win the Reno Gamblers have secured their playoff spot. That only leaves one playoff spot left in the A-League. The two teams competing for that spot are the GBB Tooth Fairies and the Whiskey Dekes. The GBB Tooth Fairies have moved into the final playoff spot this week. Both of the teams only have two games remaining. The GBB Tooth Fairies lead by one point. The race is super tight. If the GBB Tooth Fairies win their remaining two games, they will get five wins and secure the last playoff spot. If the GBB Tooth Fairies get one more win Whiskey Dekes would have to win both of their remaining games to have a shot at the last playoff spot.
If the playoffs started today RT Janitorial would play the GBB Tooth Fairies in the semifinals. The other semifinal matchup would be the Reno Gamblers and the Mustangs.
In the A-League, RT Janitorial is the front-runner in the regular season title race. They lead with twelve points (six wins). The Reno Gamblers and the Mustangs are only two points (one win) from tying RT Janitorial for the first-place spot. With one game left the Mustangs can tie it if they win and RT Janitorial lose their final game in regulation time. The Reno Gamblers can win the regular season title if they win their final two games and RT Janitorial lose their final game. If RT Janitorial win their final game, the Reno Gamblers can tie if they win both of their remaining games. RT Janitorial would eliminate the Mustangs from the title race with another win. Whiskey Dekes and the GBB Tooth Fairies are out of the regular season title race.
Secured playoff spot: RT Janitorial, Mustangs, Reno Gamblers
Eliminated from playoff contention: None
Standings as of Feb. 21, 2023:
*top 4 teams make the playoffs
In the B-League, Cruz Construction, the Tahoe Storm, and the Tahoe Dawgs have secured playoff births. Silver State Wire is the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention.
With one game left and only three wins, 4 Seasons will not be able to secure a playoff spot. They can hold on to the final playoff spot with one more win. Carson City Hyundai can get the final playoff spot if they win their remaining two games and 4 Seasons loses their last game. If Carson City Hyundai loses one of those games in a shootout and wins the other while 4 Seasons loses their final game, they would tie for the last playoff spot. If Carson City Hyundai loses either of their last two games in regulation they will be eliminated from playoff contention and 4 Seasons will hold on to the last playoff spot.
If the playoffs started today Cruz Construction would play 4 Seasons in the semifinals. The other semifinal game would see the Tahoe Storm face the Tahoe Dawgs.
In the B-League, Cruz Construction leads the regular season title race. They lead with 16 points (eight wins). The Tahoe Storm is two points (one win) away from tying for first place. The Tahoe Dawgs, 4 Seasons, Silver State Wire, and Carson City Hyundai are out of the regular season title race.
Secured playoff spot: Cruz Construction, Tahoe Storm, Tahoe Dawgs
Eliminated from playoff contention: Silver State Wire
Standings as of Feb. 21, 2023:
*top 4 teams make the playoffs
In the D-League, Reno Pond Hockey, The Guardians, and Mid-Ice Crisis have secured playoff births. None of the D-League teams have been eliminated from playoff contention yet.
The threshold to get into the D-League playoffs has moved from six to five wins. The teams in fifth and sixth place can not get more than four wins, so teams with five wins can not be eliminated from playoff contention. This now means that there is only one spot left in the playoffs. The Jurassic Pucks are currently in the last playoff spot. They could get five wins if they win all of their remaining games. One win could move the Nevada Police Foundation or the Grrrowlers into the last playoff spot. Right now the fourth, fifth, and sixth place teams all have two wins. The only thing setting the Jurassic Pucks apart is that they lost one game in a shootout giving them 5 points instead of 4. The fight for the last playoff spot will likely come down to the final game for most of these teams.
If the playoffs started today Reno Pond Hockey would play the Jurassic Pucks in the semifinals. The other semifinal game would be between The Guardians and Mid-Ice Crisis.
In the D-League, Reno Pond Hockey continues to lead the regular season title race. They lead with sixteen points (eight wins). The Guardians are behind by five points (two wins and a shootout loss). If The Guardians lose a game in regulation, Reno Pond Hockey will win the regular season title. If The Guardians lose one game in a shootout but win the other two or win all three of their remaining games, it will come down to Reno Pond Hockey’s final game. Mid-Ice Crisis, the Jurassic Pucks, the Nevada Police Foundation, and the Grrrowlers are no longer in contention for the D-League regular season title.
Secured playoff spot: Reno Pond Hockey, The Guardians, Mid-Ice Crisis
Eliminated from playoff contention: None
Standings as of Feb. 21, 2023:
*top 4 teams make the playoffs
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023
10:30PM | Carson City Hyundai vs Tahoe Storm | B-League
-If Carson City Hyundai lose they will be eliminated from playoff contention
-With a Carson City Hyundai loss 4 Seasons would hold onto the last playoff spot
-The Tahoe Storm would tie for first place with a win
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023
9:15PM | The Guardians vs Mid-Ice Crisis | D-League
-The Guardians need to win to stay in the regular season title race
-Possible playoff matchup
10:45PM | Grrrowlers vs Jurassic Pucks | D-League
-A Jurassic Pucks win would eliminate the Grrrowlers from playoff contention
-If the Grrrowlers win they will be in the last playoff spot
-Last chance for the Grrrowlers to get into the playoffs
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023
9:15PM | Whiskey Dekes vs Reno Gamblers | A-League
-If Whiskey Dekes win, they will be back in the last playoff spot
-If the Reno Gamblers win they will tie for first place
10:45PM | GBB Tooth Fairies vs Mustangs | A-League
-If the GBB Tooth Fairies win they will stay in the last playoff spot
-If the Mustangs win they will tie for first place
Friday, Feb. 24, 2023
10:00PM | Carson City Hyundai vs Tahoe Dawgs | B-League
-This game could be Carson City Hyundai’s last chance to get into the playoffs
Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023
9:00PM | Nevada Police Foundation vs The Guardians | D-League
-A win could put the Nevada Police Foundation in the last playoff spot
-A loss could eliminate the Nevada Police Foundation from playoff contention
-A win could keep The Guardians in the regular season title race
-A loss could eliminate The Guardians from the regular season title race
10:30PM | Cruz Construction vs Tahoe Storm | B-League
-The winner of this game could take the regular season title
Monday, Feb. 27, 2023
10:15PM | Jurassic Pucks vs The Guardians | D-League
-A win could get the Jurassic Pucks in the last playoff spot
-Could be the Jurassic Pucks last chance at a playoff birth
-A win could put The Guardians in first place
-Could be The Guardians last chance at the title race
Zac Electrifly 