NAHL Weekend Preview: Division Semi-Finals
April 12, 2019
We have arrived at the most exciting time of the year, the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs. 16 teams have qualified and begin their quest on Friday as all eight Divisional Semi-Finals series get underway.
The Division Semi-Finals series is a best of five series. The first team to win three games in the series will advance to the Division Finals, which is scheduled to begin April 25th.
The NAHL has set-up various ways to follow the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs
Playoff Overtime Procedure: During the all Robertson Cup playoff games, if the score is tied after three periods of play the following overtime procedure shall take place. Teams shall return to their dressing room and the ice shall be resurfaced. A fifteen-minute intermission shall take place. A twenty-minute, sudden death, overtime period shall be played with five skaters a side. The game shall terminate upon a goal being scored and the Club scoring declared the winner. If no goal is scored, the same procedure as above shall be repeated until a winner has been determined.
In the Central Division, the Austin Bruins will be looking to make it three years in a row that the #4 seed ended up as the Divisional Playoff Champion. Last season, Minot won the Central Playoffs as a #4 seed and in 2017, Aberdeen did the same as a #4 seed. The last #1 seed to win both the regular season and divisional playoffs was Bismarck in the 2015-16 season. Aberdeen won 7 of the 8 meetings this year with the Bruins. In the other series, the battle of North Dakota continues the post-season between Minot and Bismarck. The Minotauros won 7 of the 12 games in the regular season.
In the East, the #1 seeded Johnstown Tomahawks look to cap off the best regular season in team history with a run to the Robertson Cup. They face the #4 Northeast Generals in the opening round, as Johnstown dominated the season series, winning 9 of the 12 match-ups. In the other series, Jamestown won 7 of the 12 games against the New Jersey Titans during the regular season.
In the Midwest Division, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs look to make a return trip to the Robertson Cup as they host the Janesville Jets. The location of Game 3 will depend on what happens in Games 1 and 2. Fairbanks won 6 of the 10 match-ups this season. In the other series, the Springfield Jr. Blues will look to upend the Minnesota Magicians in the 2 vs. 3 match-up. The Magicians won 6 of the 10 games played this season between the two clubs.
In the South Division, the Amarillo Bulls look to continue a dominant regular season and get back to the Robertson Cup for the first time since winning the title in 2013 as they face the #4 seed Corpus Christi IceRays. The Bulls were dominant in the regular season, winning 10 of the 12 games against the IceRays. The other series is sure to be a war between the #2 seed Lone Star Brahmas and the defending Champion Shreveport Mudbugs. The Mudbugs are looking to become the first team since the St. Louis Bandits in 2007 and 2008 to win back-to-back titles. Lone Star won 7 of the 12 games this season between the two clubs.
Central Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Aberdeen Wings vs. #4 Austin Bruins
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 3: Friday, April 19 @ Austin, 7:05pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 20 @ Austin, 7:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm*
#2 Minot Minotauros vs. #3 Bismarck Bobcats
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Minot, 7:35pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Minot, 7:35pm
Game 3: Friday, April 19 @ Bismarck, 7:15pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 20 @ Bismarck, 7:15pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Minot, 7:05pm*
East Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Johnstown Tomahawks vs. #4 Northeast Generals
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Johnstown, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Johnstown, 7:00pm
Game 3: Wednesday, April 17 @ Northeast, 7:00pm
Game 4: Thursday, April 18 @ Northeast, 7:00pm*
Game 5: Saturday, April 20 @ Johnstown, 7:00pm*
#2 Jamestown Rebels vs. #3 New Jersey Titans
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Jamestown, 7:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Jamestown, 7:00pm
Game 3: Friday, April 19 @ New Jersey, 7:05pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 20 @ New Jersey, 7:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Jamestown, 7:00pm*
Midwest Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. #4 Janesville Jets
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 3: If Fairbanks is up 2-0, Friday, April 19 @ Janesville, 7:00pm
Game 3: If series is tied 1-1 or Janesville is up 2-0, Sunday, April 14 @ Fairbanks, 5:00pm
Game 4: April 19 or 20 @ Janesville, 7:00pm*
Game 5: April 20 or 21 @ Janesville, 3:00pm*
#2 Minnesota Magicians vs. #3 Springfield Jr. Blues
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Minnesota, 7:05pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Minnesota, 7:05pm
Game 3: Friday, April 19 @ Springfield, 7:05pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 20 @ Springfield, 6:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Minnesota, 7:05pm*
South Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Amarillo Bulls vs. #4 Corpus Christi IceRays
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Amarillo, 7:05pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Amarillo, 6:05pm
Game 3: Thursday, April 18 @ Corpus Christi, 7:05pm
Game 4: Friday, April 19 @ Corpus Christi, 7:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Amarillo, 7:05pm*
#2 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Shreveport Mudbugs
Game 1: Friday, April 12 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, April 13 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 3: Friday, April 19 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 20 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm*
Game 5: Monday, April 22 @ Lone Star, 7:00pm*
*if necessary
