With the ECAC finally in the stretch run and all teams have played 16
games it's about the right time to start talking about Magic Numbers
and clinching various positions. So here's my take on the current
situation:
 
Through 2/8/97
 
                         Record          Finish        Magic Numbers
                  GP  W-L-T   Pts  Max   Hi Lo    1st  Top4 Top6 Top8 Top10
                 ==========================================================
 1  Clarkson      16 11-5-0   22   34  || 1  9 ||  15   12    7    2   ++
    Cornell       16 10-4-2   22   34  || 1 10 ||  15   12    7    2   ++
    Rensselaer    16 10-4-2   22   34  || 1  9 ||  15   12    7    2   ++
    Vermont       16 10-4-2   22   34  || 1  9 ||  15   12    7    2   ++
 5  Princeton     16  9-6-1   19   31  || 1 12 ||  18   16   10    5    3
 6  Colgate       16  7-7-2   16   28  || 1 12 ||  21   19   13    8    6
    Harvard       16  7-7-2   16   28  || 1 12 ||  21   19   13    8    6
    Union         16  7-7-2   16   28  || 1 12 ||  21   19   13    8    6
 9  Dartmouth     16  5-10-1  11   23  || 3 12 ||  --   24   18   18   11
10  St Lawrence   16  4-10-2  10   22  || 4 12 ||  --   25   19   19   12
11  Yale          16  4-11-1   9   21  || 5 12 ||  --   --   20   20   14
12  Brown         16  3-12-1   7   19  || 5 12 ||  --   --   22   22   16
 
 
A number indicates the number of points required for the team to
clinch the indicated position. This can either be points gained
by the team or points lost by rivals. For example, Cornell needs 1 win
or one loss by Dartmouth (the 9th place team) to clinch at least an
8th place finish.
 
'++' indicates that the team has already clinched this position.
 
'--' indicates that the team cannot finish this high
 
Categories
 
1st - Regular season champion, automatic bid to the NC$$ tournament
 
Top4 - Home ice for quarterfinal round
 
Top6 - Bye for the preliminary round
 
Top8 - Home ice for the preliminary round
 
Top10 - Playoff spot.
 
 
In regards to the possible finishes, I have a couple differences from
what Jayson Moy posted a few days ago. I've considered a few crazy
scenarios which change the possible finishes a little (if I'm right
:-)) For example, Dartmouth cannot finish first. This would require
Dartmouth to win all of its remaining games and for the top 4 to lose
all of theirs. But due to meetings between these teams, the top 4
cannot all lose all of their games. These scenarios have no effect on
the magic numbers, however.
 
 
Keith Kannenberg
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Cornell '93 '96 '9?
 
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