Favored foes

Everything starts and stops this season with top-seeded and defending state champions Regis Jesuit. The Raiders have a 22-game unbeaten streak dating to last season and just missed a perfect mark this season - the only blemish was a 4-4 tie with No. 2 Ralston Valley. . . . Speaking of Ralston Valley, the Mustangs enter on a 15-game unbeaten streak since a 3-2 loss to Lewis-Palmer early in the season and finished as co-Foothills League champion with Regis. . . . Lewis-Palmer won the Pikes Peak League, posting an 11-2 league mark. The Rangers have gone 10-1 since a two-game losing streak at the start of January. . . . Things didn't look good early for Aspen after a 1-5 start. Since the calendar hit 2009, though, the Skiers have won 12 of 13 games, the one loss coming to Regis. . . . Pueblo County also used a strong second half to qualify for the playoffs. The Hornets started 1-6 but went 9-2-1 in their last 12 games.

First-round's finest

Seventh-seed Pueblo County faces off against No. 10 Palmer, a rematch of a 5-4 Hornets win in which Ryan Barnes scored the winner with 2:34 left in regulation. . . . The Hornets have had the most time off of any team. Their last game was more than two weeks ago, while Palmer comes into the playoffs off a 2-0 shutout loss to Steamboat Springs last week. . . . In years past, teams have wanted to avoid Summit in the first round because of its history of scoring upsets, but this season, the Tigers are the fourth seed and will play No. 13 Cheyenne Mountain. Don't overlook the Indians, though, as they have won five of their past six, while scoring 38 goals in those wins.

Filling the net

The Machebeuf trio of Zack Lass, Brennan Steineker and Alex Page kept goaltenders busy all season. Lass is the state leader in goals (35), assists (31) and points (66). Steineker (16 goals, 26 assists) ranks third overall in points with 42, while Page (26-13) is tied for fifth with 39 points. . . . Regis brothers Gregg and Nick Davis put together solid seasons, with Nick edging Gregg in goals (17-16) but Gregg ahead in assists (24-22). . . . Cheyenne Mountain's Trentt Houghton (22-15) has seven games with three of more points.

Behind the mask

One of the big reasons for the turnaround by Steamboat Springs has been the play of goalkeeper Matt Dawes. Dawes has won a state-leading 14 games (14-4), and his 1.80 goals-against average ranks third. His three shutouts are second to Ralston Valley's Adam Lucas (five). . . . Lucas has posted an 11-1-1 record and his 1.64 GAA ranks second. He posted back-to-back shutouts twice this season. . . . After suffering back-to-back losses to Regis and Ralston Valley, Lewis-Palmer's Brent Schwarz was unbeatable, posting a 6-0 record with two shutouts. On the season he has a 12-2 mark and his 1.45 GAA is tops in the state.

Glass-slipper fitting

The Aspen Skiers have played against two of the three teams in their region, which will be played in their building. Aspen has been nearly unbeatable at the Lewis Arena, putting together a 25-4 mark there in the past three years, which includes going 11-1 this year. The Skiers have averaged five goals in those home wins this season.

Hat trick

Of the 16 teams in the field, only Machebeuf, Rampart and Doherty weren't playing hockey at this point last year. Machebeuf made the biggest improvement, going from 4-15 in 2008 to 15-3-1 and a top-five seed this season.

Doherty, 4-15 last season, was the last team to get into the playoffs and gets a first-round date with Regis.

Ice hockey schedule

* First round, Friday In bracket order

At Family Sports Center, Englewood

[No. 16 seed] Doherty (9-9-1) vs. [1] Regis Jesuit (18-0-1), 5:45 p.m.

[9] Peak to Peak (8-9-2) vs. [8] Steamboat Springs (14-5-0), 8:10 p.m.

At Sertich Ice Arena, Colorado Springs

[13] Cheyenne Mountain (11-8-0) vs. [4] Summit (15-3-1), 5 p.m.

[12] Rampart (13-6-0) vs. [5] Machebeuf (15-3-1), 7 p.m.

At Lewis Ice Arena, Aspen

[14] Chatfield (8-9-2) vs. [3] Lewis-Palmer (16-3-0), 5:15 p.m.

[11] Aspen (13-6-0) vs. [6] Battle Mountain (13-6-0), 7:30 p.m.

At Apex Center, Arvada

[10] Palmer (12-6-0) vs. [7] Pueblo County (10-8-1), 5:15 p.m.

[15] Kent Denver (7-10-0) vs. [2] Ralston Valley (17-1-1), 7:15 p.m.

* Quarterfinals, Saturday

Family Sports Center, 5:40 p.m.

Sertich Ice Arena, 1:15 p.m.

Lewis Arena, 4 p.m.

Apex Center, 3 p.m.

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