AMHL Playoffs

Playoffs - 4 Team Format

Unlike our 5 team format the 4 team format will not include a round robin playoff loop. Instead, the league will play 29 regular season games and at the end of the season the semi finals will be set by the first place team playing that last place team and the second place team will play the third place team.

Tie Breaker

Final standing will be determined by who has the most points (2 points per win), (1 point per tie), (0 points per loss). If there is a tie between two or more teams at the end of the regular season the tie break will work as follows:

1. Wins

2. Head-to-Head

3. Pls/Mns

4. Losses (who has less)

5. GF

6. GA (who has less)

Playoffs - 5 Team Format

The Playoffs begin with a Round Robin format.  Teams will be awarded bonus points before the round robin begins, depending on their finishing rank from the regular season.  Each team will play the other teams once.  The top 4 teams will advance to a 1 game elimination semi-finals round.  Top seeds will play lower seeds.  Winners of the semi-final matches will play in a best 2 of 3 series Championship Final.

Points Awarded to Teams for their Regular Season Play:

1st Place will start the Round Robin with 5 points.

2nd Place will start the Round Robin with 4 points.

3rd Place will start the Round Robin with 3 points.

4th Place will start the Round Robin with 2 points.

5th Place will start the Round Robin with 1 point.

Round Robin

During Round Robin play, teams will be awarded 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss.  There is no Overtime or Shootout during Round Robin play.

Semi Final 

During Semi-Final matches, if a game is tied after regulation time (Two 23 minute periods), an NHL-style shootout will occur.  If the game hasn't been decided after 3 shooters, teams may choose any player to shoot.  Players can shoot multiple times (after the 3 shooters).

Championship

1. Two Game Championship (First to 3 points). 

2. Game 1 is played as any other in the regular season or the playoff loop. In the event of a tie in game 1, there will be no overtime or shootout, each team will take 1 point.

3. Game 2 will also be played as any other. At the end of regulation, if there is a team with 3 points, they will be awarded the keg cup. The following scenarios will lead to overtime being played after game 2. 

A) If both Game 1 and Game 2 of the championship ends in a tie, an overtime period will be needed.

B) If one team wins Game 1 and the other team wins Game 2, an overtime period will be needed.

Overtime Rules

In the event of Overtime being needed the following rules will apply to determine the winner:

1. Golden Goal: The overtime will play until the first team has scored.

2. Period Length: 40 minutes run time minutes will be played. 

3. If there is no score after the 40 minute overtime period, there will a shootout. If the game hasn't been decided after 3 shooters, teams may choose any player to shoot.  Players can shoot multiple times (after the 3 shooters).

Tie-Breaker

1. Playoff Wins

2. Playoff Head-to-head

3. Playoff Pls/Mns

4. Playoff Losses (who has less)

5. Playoff Goals For

6. Regular Season Head-to-head

7. Regular Season Standings