We’ve all seen those numbers mindless sports announcers throw around starting as early as July for baseball, the infamous “magic number” needed to clinch a position, whether a division title or playoff berth.

That number is based strictly on wins and losses, and basically tells people the number of wins or opponents’ losses – or a combination of both – a team needs to achieve its goal.

Things get a bit more complicated in hockey, though, because sometimes, instead of just two points for a win and none for a loss, a result will yield three points, like in an overtime loss or shootout.

So the standard definition of a magic number, as used by baseball folks, doesn’t quite work.

But there’s still a way for you math geeks to get your fix out there, and what better time to start figuring all of this out that right now, with 12 games left in the regular season.

I will warn you, though, all of the numbers I’m about to throw out at you do NOT include Saturday night’s games, since this had to be in long before that even started.

Friday’s results are included, though.

Here we go.

Let’s start with the Eastern Division. There are a couple of intriguing races going on here, so we’ll start at the top. The Saint John Sea Dogs were supposed to make their march next season. I suppose no one told them that. The Sea Dogs sit in first place with 77 points, with 13 games to play (again, as of Saturday morning). Halifax is in second at 75 points, with 12 games to play.

Saint John can earn a maximum of 26 more points this season, so they could cap out at 103 points. The Mooseheads can earn 24 more, so their maximum point total is 99. That last number is the key. To officially earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Division, Saint John needs 23 points (which would give them 100), or the Sea Dogs need Halifax to not earn 23 points. Any combination of Saint John points earned or points Halifax fails to receive drives that number down.

For example, If Saint John wins three games, and Halifax goes 2-1, Saint John will drive the magic number down eight points, six for its three wins and two for the Halifax loss.

So, the Sea Dogs’ number sits at 23.

In the race for third between Cape Breton, Lewiston and, yes, Acadie-Bathurst after this weekend, we see an even more convoluted scenario.

Cape Breton has 68 points with 12 to play. Lewiston has 67 with 13 to play, and the Titan have 63 with 14 to play. The team with the highest maximum output among the three teams is still Lewiston with a total possible output of 93, even though Cape Breton is currently ahead. So, for now, Lewiston’s magic number with respect to Cape Breton in the race for third is 26. Any combination of 26 points for Lewiston, or 26 not earned by Cape Breton, will ensure the Maineiacs will finish ahead of the Screaming Eagles.

With respect to the Titan, the Maineiacs’ magic number to finish ahead of them is 25. Any games won or lost in regulation, head-to-head, is worth four points in either diretion, and these number can all change quickly given how tight these races are.

Looking at the Western, er, Telus Division, there are some pretty tight races there, too, and none tighter than the race for the top spot.

Baie-Comeau lost at home to Halifax on Friday and Rouyn-Noranda picked up two points in an overtime win at the Sea Dogs in what could be a preview of the two league semifinal matchups this season, should current seeds hold.

The Drakkar have 82 points, and with 11 games left, max out at 104.

The Huskies have 81 points, and they max out at 103 points, also with 11 games to play. Baie Comeau’s lead gives them the number by which Rouyn-Noranda will be measured, which in this case is the maximum, 22. In baseball terms, these two teams would be considered a dead heat, perhaps the Huskies being a “half game” back.

And right now, a tie in points would give Rouyn-Noranda the division title, because the Huskies have one more win than the Drakkar.

The other playoff anomaly in the West is that, after Friday night’s results were in, the nine teams from the West were locked into the playoffs.

Drummondville’s maximum point output, even if the Voltigeurs were to win out (highly unlikely), is 47, four points fewer than Rimouski’s current total.

Also, the Oceanic have been on a tear, going 8-3-1 in their last 12 games. Their 51 points with 12 games left leaves them two points back of PEI (currently seventh in the East, for the No. 7 seed in the East for the playoffs. The ninth-place team in the West transfers to the East, and is then placed according to points.

Head spinning yet? Take some Asprin and head to the rink. You’ll feel better.