It's always nice when your playoff hopes improve with the help of others. That's what happened last night in the AHL.
While the Eagles and the rest of Northern Colorado were shoveling the bomb cyclone off the driveways and sidewalks, San Diego and Tucson had games to play. They both played teams that have already clinched a playoff spot. San Diego lost to San Jose 4-3 and Tucson lost to Bakersfield 4-3. So, here's what the Pacific Division looks like heading into the final weekend of the regular season:
Now, here's what the weekend schedule looks like for teams fighting for a playoff spot:
San Diego at Tucson
San Jose at Colorado
The games between San Diego and Tucson are going to be wild. If I'm doing my math right, a Tucson loss and a Colorado win on Friday night puts an end to the Roadrunners season and puts the Eagles and Gulls into the playoffs. However, a Tucson win Friday night makes a tight race even tighter going into Saturday night.
The Eagles will be up against a team that has already clinched a playoff spot, so what motivation would San Jose have coming into this weekend? Two answers: 1. They're playing for the division. A Bakersfield loss and a San Jose win Friday night ties them up going into Saturday. 2. It would be wise of them to try and dispense of the Eagles now instead of facing them again in the postseason. They did, after all, show up and play against San Diego last night in their 4-3 win. The Eagles and Barracuda played each other six times this season and split the series 3-3.
Be listening to the Doc in the Afternoon Show this week for your chance to win tickets to Saturday night's game!