The Playoff Push: Jan. 28, 2024

By USPHL Staff
In The Playoff Push, we will take a look at the busiest game days’ most integral games in regards to teams clinching playoffs or clinching specific playoff berths, as we head down the stretch toward the end of the regular season in early March.
USPHL Premier
Tampa Bay and Motor City both clinched in their respective divisions yesterday. With Tampa clinching, all four Florida Division berths have been claimed.
The Dells Ducks, Isanti Outlaws and Minnesota Mullets are still grappling for the last two berths in the Midwest West. All are idle today.
The Rogue Valley Royals are on the verge of eliminating Bellingham next weekend with a magic number of 2 (any combination of two points for Rogue Valley or two points lost by Bellingham). They are idle until Feb. 9, but could still clinch with a Seattle win over Bellingham in regulation next weekend.
USPHL Elite
The Rockets Hockey Club and WBS Knights have both clinched a berth in the Atlantic Division. It’s a three-team scramble among the Connecticut Jr. Rangers, Jersey Hitmen and Elmira Impact for the fourth and final slot. The Hitmen are in the fourth place position currently. All 3 are idle today.
Similarly in Florida, the Florida Jr. Blades, Palm Beach Typhoon and Bold City Battalion are vying for the fourth and final spot. The Blades are leading at the third quarter pole but the race is still tight. They host Atlanta today while Palm Beach visits the Eels. Neither game will decide anything today.
In the other divisions, all teams have either clinched or been eliminated. Now it’s a question of who gets home ice in March and against which opponent – and none of that will be answered today.