Playoff tiebreaking rules which determine who would have home ice in the tiebreaker game(s).
ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-playoff-format-and-tie-breaking-procedures_32003If two teams tie, the one with the most wins gets to be the home team in the tiebreaker. Unfortunately, Windsor can chalk up more of their wins because they won in more shootouts (in fact, one against Plymouth and one against Saginaw, more on that in a bit because it does affect things). I hate when shootout wins help teams in this way. Anyhoo,
If the teams are tied on wins, then we go to tiebreaker #2. If the tie is settled between two teams, then we use head to head record, and if it is between all three teams, then it is based on the percentage of available points earned in games amongst the three teams.
Lets look at the first part.
Windsor and Plymouth went 4-4, but one of Windsor's wins over Plymouth was a shootout, so Plymouth has this tiebreaker, 9 points to 8.
Saginaw and Windsor went 3-3, but one of Windsor's wins over Saginaw was a shootout, so Saginaw has this tiebreaker, 7 points to 6.
Saginaw and Plymouth are currently 5 games into their 8 game series, with Plymouth having a 3-2 (6 points to 4) edge over Saginaw, with 3 games left.
So if it came down to a tie between only Windsor and Plymouth, Plymouth would have home ice. If it comes down to only Saginaw and Windsor, Saginaw would have home ice. And we do not know yet between Saginaw and Plymouth, although if they tie 8 points to 8, it would come down to total goal differential for the season, and Plymouth pretty much has that tiebreaker wrapped up. Unless Saginaw goes 3-0 in the final 3 games against Plymouth, it is likely that Plymouth would host the tiebreaking game.
And now, the second part.
Right now, the point totals in the games amongst the three teams is:
Saginaw - 11 points in 11 games (1.000)
Plymouth - 15 points in 13 games (1.154)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
These will obviously change depending on the results of the 3 Sag-Ply games.
If Saginaw goes 3-0 against Plymouth with no shootouts or OT, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Plymouth - 15 points in 16 games (0.938)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Saginaw would await the winner of the Plymouth-Windsor game being played in Windsor, with the winner coming up to Saginaw for a second tiebreaking game.
If Saginaw goes 3-0 against Plymouth with 1 shootout or OT loss for Ply, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Plymouth - 16 points in 16 games (1.000)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Saginaw would await the winner of the Plymouth-Windsor game, with the winner coming up to Saginaw for a second tiebreaking game. Home ice in the Plymouth-Windsor game would come down to goal differential, right now Plymouth is -37 and Windsor is -44, so it is still anyone's ballgame.
If Saginaw goes 3-0 against Plymouth with 2 shootout or OT losses for Ply, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Plymouth - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Plymouth would await the winner of the Saginaw-Windsor game being played in Saginaw, with the winner going to Plymouth for a second tiebreaking game.
If Saginaw goes 3-0 against Plymouth with 3 shootout or OT losses for Ply, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Plymouth - 18 points in 16 games (1.125)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Plymouth would await the winner of the Saginaw-Windsor game being played in Saginaw, with the winner going to Plymouth for a second tiebreaking game.
If Saginaw goes 2-1 against Plymouth with no shootout or OT losses for Ply, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 15 points in 16 games (0.938)
Plymouth - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Plymouth would await the winner of the Saginaw-Windsor game being played in Windsor, with the winner going to Plymouth for a second tiebreaking game.
You can also assume that any shootout losses or OT losses in the 2 Saginaw wins would have the same result. Also, if Saginaw goes 1-2 or 0-3 against Plymouth.
And, the final one, if Saginaw goes 2-1 against Plymouth with one shootout or OT loss FOR SAGINAW, it would look like this:
Saginaw - 16 points in 16 games (1.000)
Plymouth - 17 points in 16 games (1.063)
Windsor - 14 points in 14 games (1.000)
And Plymouth would await the winner of the Saginaw-Windsor game, with the winner going to Plymouth for a second tiebreaking game.
The host of the Sag-Win game would come down to total goal differential, which right now looks like this:
Saginaw -61
Windsor -44
It is possible Saginaw could catch up, but unlikely. So even an OT or shootout point in addition to going 2-1 against Ply would result in 2 road games just to break the tie and make the playoffs ...... assuming all 3 teams are even on points and wins at the end of the season.
I love how complicated this is.
