With just 18 games to go, the race for the 8 spots in the 2016 Gump Cup playoffs is heating up.
In the Plante, Baltimore staked its claim to the 2nd spot with a 19-5-0 quarter — more wins than any other team in the league. El Dorado is still puttering along at .500 and sits 5 points back of Great Lakes for the last playoffs berth. It’ll take some major fourth quarter heroics from the Price/Rask tandem to get the Lynx in, but if any duo is up to the task, it’s them.
In the Sawchuk, Farmington (17-5-2) woke up in a big way while New England faded, putting the Fighting Saints one spot ahead of 5th place Ice Harbor. The Storm are after their first shot at a Gump Cup in some seasons. Meanwhile, Nashville became the first team to surpass 100 points this season, and by a comfortable margin.
Boston’s Max Pacioretty still holds the league lead in goals (45), with Great Lakes’ Scott Hartnell (44) nipping at his heels. Meanwhile, Pacioretty’s teammate Nick Foligno leads all point-getters with 86. Notably, a stellar quarter has put West Virginia’s Sidney Crosby right back in the thick of the scoring race (3rd with 80 points).
Pekka Rinne of the Vancouver Night Train fell off a little on the quarter, but he still leads the league in GAA (1.99), save percentage (.934), and shutouts (6).
Gump Worsley Memorial Hockey League 