The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze face-off against the Guildford Flames at Skydome Arena on Saturday (7pm) in a crucial game for Challenge Cup progression.
With two games left in the group stage, Blaze and Flames are tied on four points.
Cardiff Devils have already claimed top spot and will progress to the quarter-finals as a seed, leaving Blaze and Flames in a fight to record a better win percentage than at least two other teams in the competition.
The two points on Saturday are all-important for both as the group stages reach a dramatic climax.
Blaze’s final game in the competition will be against the Devils with the date to be confirmed after the original date was postponed due to the sad passing of Adam Johnson.
Knockout Stages Explained
The top-seeded team from groups A, B and C automatically move on to the Knockout stage seeded 1 – 3 according to their win percentages in the group stage. The remaining 5 teams are ranked 4 – 8 according to the same principle.
If any teams have equal win percentages, they shall be split according to the following criteria:
i. Total number of points.
ii. Total number of games won in regulation time.
iii. Total number of all games won (regulation, overtime and penalties).
iv. The results of games played between the relevant teams by applying points won, games won in regulation time, all games won (regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.
v. Fewest regulation losses.
vi. Using away games: – points won, games won in regulation time, all games won
(regulation time/overtime/penalties), in that order of priority.
vii. Goals scored.
viii. Goal Difference
ix. Fewest Penalty Minutes (Fair Play)
x. In the unlikely event of teams still being equal, teams will be ranked by the drawing of lots. Any prize monies determined by the position in a league or group by this means will be shared equally by the tying teams.
xi. Where a group of two or more teams is tied, then whenever a team can be eliminated due to the above order of priority, it shall be, by applying each of the above stages in order of such priority.
All games in the Quarter- and Semi-Finals are aggregate-scoring, home and away series. Overtime will only be played if the score is tied on aggregate after 60 minutes have been played in the return leg. In both stages, the option of home-ice advantage for the return leg will be given to the higher-seeded team.
In the Semi-Finals, the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed for the first pairing; and the two remaining teams play in the second pairing.
Final
The Final will be held in March 2023. The highest seed has the option of home-ice advantage.
