CHL Governors' Cup: Eagles, Brahmas, RiverKings on Collision Course

With just a few weeks left before the end of yet another exciting CHL hockey season, the postseason is starting to take shape...but even before that, we have one hell of a showdown coming down the stretch for a certain regular-season award.

While the Mississippi RiverKings continue to defy the odds and march to the Playoffs, the Colorado Eagles and Texas Brahmas are poised for a shootout for possession of the 2008-09 Governors' Cup (most points in the regular season).

Here's an in-depth look at the three teams that stand atop the "CHL mountain."

Texas Brahmas, Southeast Division (37-13-5, 79 Pts, clinched Playoff berth)

The Brahmas have had Colorado's number all season. Whether in their backyard or in the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Texas has stayed right with the Bad Boys of the Northwest Division.

Experts have already pegged both the Eagles and Brahmas to lock horns in the President's Cup Finals. But there's plenty of excitement before then, as the Brahmas continue to put pressure on Colorado for the Governors' Cup. In their last nine games, Texas has gone 6-3, with two of their losses coming against Playoff teams Odessa and Oklahoma City.

The Brahmas begin the final stretch with a trio of home games (Corpus Christi, Odessa, Bossier-Shreveport) starting Friday night. But they finish off the season on the road with a trio of road games (two at Laredo and the season finale at Rio Grande Valley) starting March 18.

Between the two sets is Laredo (who is trying to punch their ticket to the postseason) and Wichita (who may not be smelling extra play, but love to smell upsets and stunners).

The equalizer of this whole thing: Texas is 23-3-1 at home, but they are 14-10-4 on the road.

Mississippi RiverKings, Northeast Division (38-14-3, 79 Pts, clinched Playoff berth)

There is no team that has stepped up to the plate in a bigger way than the Mississippi RiverKings. They're currently riding a nine-game winning streak that includes three huge wins over Colorado.

They've already got a postseason berth, naturally, but they want more. They have seen the top of the mountain, and for them, it was good; now, they're thirsty for more.

The Kings have been dominant as of late; they boast a "Rocky Mountain Shutout" (victories over both Colorado and Rocky Mountain) and victories over Odessa, Oklahoma City, and Bossier-Shreveport (who are all Playoff teams this season). Now they look to continue their winning ways with their last few games of the regular season.

Mississippi won't be seeing either Rocky Mountain or Colorado any more this season, but they will most likely meet one or the other in the postseason. The RiverKings will see division rival Bossier-Shreveport a lot in the final games, as the two will lock horns five times. Also on the docket for the "Ultimate Underdogs" is upset-minded Tulsa (three times).

But here's the wild card: Mississippi has an exactly five-point lead over Bossier-Shreveport...and as has been proven in the past, anything can happen with the Playoffs on the line.

Colorado Eagles, Northwest Division (39-12-4, 82 Pts, clinched division title)

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