Stretch records 2009-10

Updating an analysis I first did around this time last year.....if the trade deadline marks the beginning of the "stretch" run to the playoffs, what kind of performance does each team need down the stretch in order to make the playoffs?

Of course we do not know the exact amount of points you'll need to make the playoffs, but based on the past few years as well as the current point totals of teams in the league, I'm projecting that in the West you'll need 64 points to make the playoffs and in the East you'll need 78. If you disagree with those totals, then feel free to tweak the records below accordingly.

So, here are the records that each team in the league needs to post over the course of the rest of the season in order to hit those targets and make the playoffs in their conference:

Eastern Conference:

Saskatoon Blades: 8-22-0

Medicine Hat Tigers: 9-16-0

Brandon Wheat Kings: 9-18-1

Calgary Hitmen: 10-20-0

Kootenay Ice: 12-16-1

Moose Jaw Warriors: 15-16-0

Swift Current Broncos: 15-14-0

Red Deer Rebels: 15-14-0

Prince Albert Raiders: 15-11-1

Regina Pats: 19-7-1

Lethbridge Hurricanes: 22-7-1

Edmonton Oil Kings: 23-4-1

Western Conference:

Tri-City Americans: 0-28-1

Vancouver Giants: 3-22-1

Portland Winterhawks: 5-23-0

Everett Silvertips: 5-22-1

Spokane Chiefs: 6-23-0

Chilliwack Bruins: 9-17-0

Kamloops Blazers: 10-17-1

Kelowna Rockets: 12-15-0

Seattle Thunderbirds: 15-14-0

Prince George Cougars: 22-7-0

So in other words, Tri-City only needs one more point this season in order to "clinch" a playoff spot. They won't actually mathematically clinch it yet of course, but they'll have 64 points and that should be good for a playoff spot.

In the East, this gives you an idea of what kind of task the Regina Pats are facing in order to make the playoffs, now that they have committed themselves to doing that. They need 39 points in their last 27 games in order to get to 78 points - which means they basically need to go 19-7-1 from here.

Lethbridge and Edmonton in the East are in the same boat as Prince George in the West - they can forget it. Those kind of required stretch records are just not going to happen. So those three teams are pretty much eliminated already when you look at what kind of mountains they have to climb to get to the required point totals.

And of course these totals only highlight one other fact: it is easier to make the playoffs in the West than it is in the East. There's going to be teams making the playoffs in the West who would not be good enough to make it in the East. Just the way it is....