Playoff picture clearer up top but battle for 4th could go down to the wire

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With just two weeks remaining in the 2012/13 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League's regular season, a handful of things have become clear regarding playoff positioning.

Selkirk College will hold the top seed heading into the postseason after a win on Saturday, combined with an SFU loss to Trinity Western, clinched the regular season title for the Saints. Selkirk will open the playoffs on home ice on Friday, March 8th against the league's fourth-place finisher.

Simon Fraser, meanwhile, is assured of a second-place finish and home-ice for at least the first round of the playoffs. The Clan look likely to face off against their top rival, Thompson Rivers University, who are one point away from clinching third and have three games remaining.

The most interesting battle is for fourth, as three teams (EWU, UVIC and TWU) are still in the mix for the BCIHL's final playoff spot.

Eastern Washington is coming off a big home ice win over Selkirk College on Sunday and will close out the regular season with another home-and-home series against the Saints on March 1st and 2nd.

Trinity Western looked down and out after an 0-8-1 start to the season, but the Spartans have played .500 hockey since and could still sneak in to the postseason with a strong finish. TWU will visit TRU on Saturday with the chance to pull within two points of UVIC and EWU before closing out the season with a pair of games in Victoria the following weekend.

In the event of two or more teams finishing on an even number of points, the BCIHL's tiebreaking formula would come into effect. In order, the high would go to the team with the:

1) Highest number of wins
2) Most points acquired in head-to-head meetings between tied teams
3) Highest goal differential
4) Highest number of goals scored
5) Lowest number of penalty minutes

There are a few potential scenarios where a tiebreaker may be needed, particularly if TWU continues their hot streak. But the most likely to occur would be between UVIC and EWU, who are even on 17 points with two games to play. Should they remain tied, UVIC would take the final playoff spot based on their 4-1 record against the Eagles.