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Plenty at stake in season's final week

Plenty at stake in season's final week

Monday, April 3rd

Three playoff spots, two division titles and the Brabham Cup are all on the line as the 2016-17 ECHL regular season enters the final week of play.

All four playoff spots have been claimed in the North Division, but the division title is still unsettled as the four clubs are separated by just five points with each team having three games remaining.

Adirondack enjoys a three-point lead over Brampton, while sitting four points ahead of Manchester and five in front of Reading. The Thunder host Manchester on Tuesday before ending the season with a pair of games at Elmira. The Beast host Wheeling on Wednesday and Manchester on Friday and Saturday. The Royals close the season with three games against Norfolk on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Two playoff spots remain up for grabs in the South Division. Orlando enters the week in third place with 80 points, two ahead of fourth-place South Carolina, while Cincinnati is in fifth place with 77 points. The Solar Bears end the season with three games against Florida, hosting the Everblades on Wednesday and Friday before hitting the road on Saturday. The Stingrays travel to Atlanta on Wednesday and end the season with a pair of home games against the Gladiators on Friday and Cincinnati on Saturday. The Cyclones visit Greenville on Friday before the potentially playoff-deciding matchup in North Charleston on Saturday.

Three teams are alive for the final playoff spot in the Mountain Division. Utah has the upper hand entering the week with 75 points, one ahead of Alaska and three in front of Missouri. The Grizzlies host the Mavericks for three games this week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the Aces host Idaho for three games.

The top spot in the Mountain Division is also undecided entering the final week of play. Allen sits on top of the division with 98 points, one point ahead of Colorado. The Americans have three games remaining – at home against Wichita on Wednesday and road games at Tulsa on Friday and Wichita on Sunday – while the Eagles visit Rapid City for games on Friday and Saturday.

The race for the Brabham Cup as ECHL regular-season champion and home-ice advantage throughout the Kelly Cup Playoffs is a three-team race between Toledo, Allen and Colorado. The Walleye have 100 points, giving Toledo a two-point lead on the Americans and a three-point edge on the Eagles. Toledo is at Fort Wayne on Wednesday and Indy on Friday before hosting the Fuel on Saturday, and has a magic number of five points to win its second Brabham Cup in three seasons.