In this Deep Dive I will look into the playoff bracket for S74, mainly looking at the quarterfinals and then speculating what the semi-finals and final may look like.

Quarterfinal 1 - Anchorage Armada vs Quebec City Citadelles:

QCC goes into this playoff series as a clear favorite. Dominating the league this season, breaking a 100 points and an incredible +/- of +119. Anchorage ends the season with the least points among the teams that have a positive +/-. While the Citadelles got the possibility to rest thanks to their bye, the Armada struggled through their series against the Whalers who ended their season just below Anchorage, three points fewer. This series speaks in complete favour for Quebec City and I cannot see how the Armada could possibly break the clear #1 of this season. Maybe the fact that they have won 3/4 games that were played in the regular season shows some tactical advantage.

Quarterfinal 2 - Newfoundland Berserkers vs Maine Timber:

Probably the most interesting series of all four. Especially since there exists a rivalry from earlier seasons (Berserker axes against the trees). Ending 4 and 5, Maine had the luxury of winning the bye thanks to the win in their division. Maine went into the playoffs with 85 points, six more than the Berserkers. If we instead look at +/-, Newfoundland finds themselves at a +75 against Maine's +46. The Berserkers had no problem fighting off the grizzlies in their first playoff series and are probably looking to beat down on a Maine that lacks some recently played games. This series is very likely to be close but I believe the Berserkers will find themselves victorious at the end. Interesting thing to note is that while the Berserkers finished last in their division, it would have been enough points for a first place in Addition Subtraction. Maine has however won 3/4 games during the regular season and this series will be something to watch for sure.

Quarterfinal 3 - Detroit Falcons vs Yukon Malamutes:

Detroit got to wait for their opponents to be decided and it landed on the Malamutes who eventually took the series in game seven against Regina Elk. A team placed 6 struggled heavily against 11. Perhaps the tactics of Regina very well adapted to fighting against the Malamutes but it one should probably expect more difference between two teams like that. Detroit is one of the better teams this season and should absolutely expect to take control of this series. Both total points and +/- speak in their favor. As does the fact that while the Falcons are as good home as away, the Malamutes have been struggling on away ice compared to home ice. I'll say this series is likely to be close, but Detroit is a better team and the rest will surely be in their favor as Yukon had to fight it out in seven games. Their games during the season did however end 3-3 and the Malamutes are not to consider this lost before it started.

Quartefinal 4 - Nevada Battleborn vs Colorado Raptors:

This series should be and absolute sweep. Colorado should have no troubles taking control and leaving the Battleborn wondering what happened here. Nevada managed to get the last bye, not thanks to their dominance, but thanks to their division being the worst by a large marginal. The opposite of the Raptors who despite being second in the league, saw their division's bye going to the first in the league, QCC. Still, Colorado struggled, well not really, but it has to be said that the second place in the league should not lose two games against the second to last. I'll say the Raptors take this without any struggles, ready to strike back from a bad series, especially as they won all their six games against the Battleborn during the regular season.

For semi-finals I'll assume winner of 1 and 2 play each other and then 3 and 4.

Quebec City Citadelles - Newfoundland Berserkers: Quebec City Citadelles takes this series. They are on a completely other level from all the teams this season.

Detroit Falcons - Colorado Raptors: I'll be honest. Both of these series are the ones I see could go the other way so it is very difficult to say how it will end. The fact that Colorado has won four of the six games against the Falcons mean this series would be leaning in favor of the Raptors.

FINAL:

Quebec City Citadelles - Colorado Raptors: Quebec City takes this, ending a very well done season with a cup win.