Henderson Force’s Race to the 2024-2025 USPHL Pacific Division Playoffs

As of January 22, 2025, Henderson Force consistency and determination to stay in the race during the regular season also puts the team one point away from the Fresno Monsters as they are currently in fourth place of the USPHL Pacific Division standings with 45 points and a season record of 22-10-0-1. Out of their 22 wins, one of their wins consist of one shutout.  

Henderson Force may struggle on the power play as they currently have a 18.92% success rate, however, they have a solid penalty killing rate which is currently 83.21%. Their top scorers are #8 Noah Morency who currently has 49 points and #37 Shane Dean who has 44 points recorded in the regular season. Noah Morency leads Henderson Force in hat-tricks recorded during the regular season as he has secured 3 hat-tricks in this season so far. 

In regards to goaltending, three out of four total goaltenders have been active during this season. The three active goaltenders’ stats which include: Nicholas Perry securing 12 wins out of 19 games and a 0.917 SV%; Jacob Brumm securing 4 wins out of 6 games and a 0.912 SV%; and Jacob Kaput securing 3 wins in 4 games he played and 0.877 SV%. 

Looking at what is left of the regular season, Henderson Force have 13 games left in the regular season which consists of: 

• A three-game series against the Fresno Monsters (3rd place, 46 PTS, 23-8-0-0) on January 24-26, 2025.

  • Previous meetings this season: FRM and HNF have not faced one another 

  • Prediction: FRM may have the upper hand against HNF based on season record and their power play success rates. HNF currently has an 18.92% PP success rate compared to FMR’s 24.32% PP success rate. However, HNF does have a slight advantage on the PK as they have an 83.21% PK success rate which is slightly higher than FRM’s 82.98% PK success rate. 

• A three-game series against the Long Beach Bombers (8th place, 18 PTS, 8-23-2-0) on January 31- February 2, 2025 

  • Previous meetings this season: HNF have won both games against LBB (2-0)

  • Prediction: HNF will sweep LBB in this three-game series as they have in previous games by outscoring them (82 SOG vs 68 SOG) and remaining solid on their penalty kill (100%) against LBB. 

• A game against Iron County Yeti (4th place, 23 PTS, 11-24-1-0) on February 7, 2025.

  • Previous meetings this season: HNF have won all 4 games against ICY (4-0)

  • Prediction: HNF will sweep ICY this game as they have in previous matchups when they not only outscored (191 SOG and 39 G vs 98 SOG and 10 G) but also had a stronger performance on the power play 57.1% compared to ICY’s 11.8% PP success rate. 

• A two-game series against Ontario Jr. Reign (2nd place, 47 PTS, 23-9-1-0) on February 14-15, 2025

  • Previous meetings this season: OJR have won three out of the four games against HNF (3-1)

  • Prediction: OJR will have the upperhand in this two-game series as they tend to keep consistent puck possession throughout their previous games against HNF (153 SOG vs. 113 SOG) and remain strong on their penalty killing (100%) when facing HNF. 

• A game against Iron County Yeti (4th place, 23 PTS, 11-24-1-0) on February 21, 2025.

  • Previous meetings this season: HNF have won all 4 games against ICY (4-0)

  • Prediction: HNF will sweep ICY this game as they have in previous matchups when they not only outscored (191 SOG and 39 G vs 98 SOG and 10 G) but also had a stronger performance on the power play 57.1% compared to ICY’s 11.8% PP success rate.

• A three-game series consisting of one game against the Long Beach Bombers (8th place, 18 PTS, 8-23-2-0) on February 27, 2025 and against the San Diego Sabers (5th place, 36 PTS, 18-14-0-0) on March 1-2, 2025. 

  • Previous meetings this season: 

    • HNF have won both games against LBB (2-0)

    • HNF has won three out of four games against SDS (3-1)

  • Prediction: 

    • HNF will sweep LBB in this three-game series as they have in previous games by outscoring them (82 SOG vs 68 SOG) and remaining solid on their penalty kill (100%) against LBB. 

    • In regards to the stats between the two teams, they are relatively similar to one another with HNF at a slight advantage in SOG (146 SOG 144 SOG) and overall goals scored against SDS (18 G vs. 14 G). SDS does have an advantage on the power play compared to HNF as SDS has a 45.5% PP success rate compared to HNF’s 38.5% PP success rate in the four total games played against one another. Overall, it is likely that HNF may sweep SDS, however, it will come down to the power play and who will capitalize while having puck possession throughout the game. 

Henderson Force (45 PTS) do have some tough competition who are all fighting for the 4th playoff spot, however, their matchups for the remainder of the season look to be leaning in their favor. As acknowledged in Summary of the Race to the Playoffs, it is hard to pinpoint who will clinch places 2-4 in the Pacific Division standing as the teams in these spots are all one point away from one another and maintaining their winning streaks. For reference, the Ontario Jr. Reign has 47 PTS and four-game winning streak, the Fresno Monsters have 46 PTS and seven-game winning streak, and Henderson Force has 45 PTS and five-game winning streak. Henderson Force cannot get too comfortable in 4th place as the San Diego Sabers (36 PTS) also have a chance of overtaking Henderson Force. The Sabers overtaking Henderson Force may occur if Henderson Force finds themselves struggling to close out their season with a couple more wins and if the Sabers can take full advantage of their future matchups which look to be swaying in their favor. 

Overall, there is a chance for Henderson Force to climb up in the standings and overtake both the Ontario Jr. Reign (2nd place) and the Fresno Monsters (3rd place) in the USPHL Pacific Division standings. They may also fall in the standings if the San Diego Sabers (5th place) begin their winning streak and if the division mostly remains at a standstill. Henderson Force may officially clinch a spot in the playoffs if they can maintain their impressive winning streak and keep the San Diego Sabers away from climbing up in the standings.