League titles and playoff places - the magic numbers to look out for
Photo: Darren Kidd
We're into the final three weeks of the 2021/22 Premier Sports Elite League regular season. A league title still needs to be decided, plus four more playoff places, so here's what you need to look out for over the next few weeks.
League title
Only Belfast and Sheffield are left in contention for the league title. Belfast are currently two points ahead but have played a game more.
- Both teams' maximum points is 88
- The first tie-break is 'Regulation Wins' which Belfast lead by 33 to Sheffield's 29. If the Giants win four more games in regulation, they cannot be caught on the tie-breaker. This will, of course, change if the Steelers win any further games in overtime, or lose.
- The two sides meet next on for a double-header on 9 & 10 April
Playoffs
Four teams have already qualified for the playoffs: Belfast, Sheffield, Cardiff and Nottingham.
- Fife Flyers can only reach 47 points. They will be mathematically eliminated when a team passes this number; or sooner if they drop points.
- Manchester Storm can only reach 50 points. They will be mathematically eliminated when a team passes this number; or sooner if they drop points.
- Coventry and Glasgow need only seven points to mathmatically secure a playoff place* - they have eight and seven games left to play respectively.
- Dundee require eight points in their final nine games to make the playoffs*
- Guildford need to pick up nine points in their final seven games to qualify for the playoffs*
- Manchester and Guildford, currently separated by four points, play each other home and away on the final weekend of the season. The flames edge the tie-breaker by one regulation win.
*This will reduce if Manchester drop further points
