Vasteras on the Bubble

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Vasteras, Sweden -- There are only seven games left for the Vasteras Iron Eagles in their inaugural VHLE season. But to say that anything is at all settled would be an understatement.

 

As it stands, Vasteras sits at 32-27-6, just about a .500 record and good for fourth overall in the league at 70. But of course, only four teams make the playoffs. And the Cologne Express are just one point behind the Iron Eagles with 69, albeit with one more game played.

 

"The playoffs aren't just in the future, for us they've already begun," said goaltender Xavier Booberry after the team's recent overtime win against Rome. "Every game from here on out will be a must-win for us."

 

The road will be even tougher due to the team's schedule in those seven games: one heads up against Cologne and two against last-place Istanbul, but also four of the team's final five games will be split among first place Stockholm and second place Rome. There's even a chance that Vasteras could climb to third with some strong play (Bratislava is three points ahead with an extra game played), but no matter how it breaks down, the Iron Eagles just want playoffs above all.

 

"I really think that these teams are so tight, it's a toss up as long as you're in the playoffs," Booberry said. "But we need to get there first. It's go time."