VAN vs CHI Prediction

[Da_Berr 219]

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

With the first two rounds of the playoffs over, it's time for some predictions. \

 

NA VAN vs CHI
These two teams are extremely comparable, although I do believe that VAN has an overall team by a slight margin. Firstly, the forwards. CHI's best forward on paper is Robin Winter, a trade deadline acquisition from the struggling DAV. Since getting to CHI, he has been slightly over the PPG mark and has been a pretty good player for them. VAN's best player purely based on TPA is SS Hornet, Winter's teammate from DAV. Hornet has a similar story to Winter with comparable points and hits since coming to VAN. Of these two, I'd say Hornet is the better player, especially since he's on fire during these playoffs. Behind the top forwards for each team, we have Andrew Su and Christian Mingle. Su has come off of a killer season where he tied 1st for points with 121 but has struggled so far in the playoffs. Mingle also had a huge season for CHI, with 93 points and over 300 hits in the regular season. Like Su, he has also struggled in the playoffs so far. This matchup can go either way, as Su is better as a pure scorer, whereas Mingle can have a large impact even without scoring. It mainly depends on who can get their groove first. After that, I believe VAN has the definite advantage for depth for forwards.

 

For defence, I believe VAN has a better top 2 pairing, but CHI is better in-depth. VAN has both Micah Adrienne and Griff Manzer, two proven defencemen with 77 and 67 points each respectively. They are also decently physical defencemen, both racking up over 150 HITS and 130 SB. CHI on their blue line has Matty Socks and L. Matty Socks this season was on fire with 92 points and 150 HITS and SB. L has had a quiet but solid sophomore campaign with 55 points and over 200 HITS. Unfortunately, L has currently struggled in the playoffs and has yet to notch a point. So far Socks, Manzer and Adriennes' playoff performances have been solid and very similar to one another all having 5 points. CHI also has R and Lucas Brandt who have been consistent depth pieces for them, and I believe slightly outclass the younger Gabriel Akerstrom and Robin Galante Nilsson on VAN. 

 

Finally, for what some may consider the most important position in hockey, the goalie. I'd say both team's goalies are comparable. CHI has Jean Pierre Camus, who has had a stellar season so far. In the regular season, he was able to reach the 40 wins mark with an impressive 0.922 SV%. He has also been red hot in the playoffs so far, with only 1 regulation loss and a 0.932 SV%. For VAN, we have Jimmy Spyro who is on his retirement tour. Despite having a less than stellar performance in the regular season with a 0.910 SV%, Spyro has turned up the heat in the playoffs, boasting a stellar 0.939 SV%.

 

Overall I'd say VAN wins this in 7 games, although there are many factors on each team that could affect the outcome. Will both goalies stay red hot? Will the underperformers on each team finally find their groove?