What is the Clark Cup?
The Clark Cup is the trophy that is awarded to the team that wins the USHL Playoffs.

When do the playoffs begin?
The 2008 USHL Playoffs will get underway the week of April 7, 2008.

What is the latest the playoffs will go?
The Clark Cup champion will be crowned the second week in May.

How many rounds are in the playoffs?
The 2008 USHL Playoffs will consist of three rounds. The first round will be played April 8-19, 2008. The second round will be played April 22-30, 2008. The final round will be played May 2-11, 2008.

What format will the playoffs follow?
All three rounds will be played in a best-of-five games format.

How are the games scheduled?
Playoff rankings are based on where teams finish in the league standings.  Once playoff match-ups determined, the teams playing each other will work together to schedule the five games for their playoff series.  Generally, the higher seed will host the first two games, the lower seed the second two games and the higher seed the final game, as necessary.  In some cases, however, building availability or other issues during the playoffs can cause the schedule to deviate from the above series format and into something different as agreed upon by the competing teams.

Who qualifies for the playoffs?
The top four teams from each division will qualify for the post-season.  The first two rounds will be played within the division, with winners advancing and playing in the Clark Cup Finals.

What if there is a tie in the standings to finish the regular season, what are the tiebreakers that will be used?
In the event of a tie in the standings, the following are the tiebreakers that the USHL uses.

1. The record between the two teams involved (head-to-head record)
2. The team with the most wins in league competition
3. The team with the least losses in league competition
4. The greater goal difference (goals for minus goals against) in the total league competition (goal differential)
5. The greater goal difference (goals for minus goals against) between the teams in the games played between them (head-to-head goal differential)

What if playoff games are tied after regulation?
The games will continue until there is a winner. The teams will play 5-on-5 sudden death overtime until a winner is decided.

How long are the overtime periods?
Each overtime period will be 20 minutes in duration.  If a goal isn’t scoring in the initial overtime, then the ice will be resurfaced and another 20-minute overtime period will be played.  This process will continue until a winner is decided.

So there won't be shootouts in the playoffs?
No. Playoff games cannot be decided by a shootout.