The EIHL Playoffs 2014 - Preview And Prediction

It'd be lovely after the confusion and the many different scenarios of the last weekend if we could have some simplicity for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, this is the Elite League, so no such luck. However I can guess.

From the Elite League website:

Seedings for the semi-final and final will be determined by the original quarter-final ranking, so the highest-placed team left in the playoffs will be ranked as the highest seed.

The highest seed will play the lowest seed in the first semi-final, with the remaining seeds playing in the second semi-final.

Which means instead of following a typical bracket, we have another convoluted system where you cannot easily track a team's path to the finals.

However, with the power of prediction (I quite often get all 4 winners in a lucky 15, even if it takes overtime) I shall now predict all the ties in the Elite League playoffs .

Belfast Giants (1) vs Hull Stingrays (8)
Scraping through with a 4-2 win over the Steelers on the last day, Hull have to be massive underdogs against the champions. The place was bouncing, and with their style of play you have to think that if the Stingrays can get into the Giants faces and fight every battle like they did last night, they stand a chance. But the odds are hugely in Belfast's favour, and I can't look past them.
Belfast Giants (1) to advance

Dundee Stars (2) vs Fife Flyers (7)
Dundee's second half of the season has not been as impressive as the first, but winning the conference is massive for them and cannot be sniffed at. However, look at the Flyers' run of late. Maybe its me being a fan of the underdog but I can't see them losing.
Fife Flyers (7) to advance

Sheffield Steelers (3) vs Coventry Blaze (6)
The last of the final day confirmations, the Blaze's 1-0 OT win that eliminated the Devils came at the cost of the potential loss of Shea Guthrie - he returned home on Sunday night after being stretchered off the ice after a check to the head. With him, they are more dangerous. But we have only been beaten by Hull since G took charge, and we have a decent record over the Blaze this season.
Sheffield Steelers (3) to advance

Nottingham Panthers (4) vs Braehead Clan (5)
This...this is hard to choose. I think both teams will win their home games. Its simply the margins we need to figure out. The two met over two legs in the Challenge Cup, with both earning fairly huge wins in their respective barns. Hmm...flip a coin job.
Braehead Clan (5) to advance

With all that said, the POFW would look like this:

Belfast
                     ????????
Fife
                                            Winners
Sheffield
                     ????????
Braehead

In a one game shootout, I'd take Belfast over Fife, us over the Clan, and then probably, unfortunately, Belfast over us in the final.

All guesswork at the minute, but we shall see.

What do you all reckon? Get in touch.

@FrozenSteelBlog
@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge