European Conference Semi Finals: Malmo VS. Warsaw-Two Game Recap

[animal74 1,633]

European Conference Semi Finals: Malmo VS. Warsaw

Two Game Recap

 

The main storyline of this Semi Final series is that this is the third consecutive playoff clash of the Malmo Nighthawks and the Warsaw Predators. A fierce rivalry is brewing between these two European foes who have won the last two Continental Cups. In S78, Malmo won the play-in round in five games against Helsinki to set up a meeting in the Conference Semi Final against Warsaw, who had tied for the best record in the league and claimed the league’s best offense with the league’s top scorer (Aloe Dear @Renomitsu). Warsaw dispatched the Nighthawks in five games on route to their first Continental Cup championship. In S79, the two teams met in the Conference Final where this time Malmo had produced the best record in the league and claimed the league’s best offense with the league’s top scorer (Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM). In an eerie reversal of fortunes, Malmo eked out the series win in a tight seven games before winning the franchise’s second Continental Cup. This time Malmo (2^nd in the conference) has the edge in standings points (89 to 80) over Warsaw (3rd in the conference) but the Predators hold a slight edge in offence (259 GF to 252).

 

Also, Malmo’s backup goalie from last year’s championship team, Jacob Carson @jacobcarson877 was re-signed in the off-season by the team that drafted him in S74 and now leads the Predators against last season’s teammates.

 

Here’s how the first two games played out:

 

Game #1:

 

Malmo jumped out to an early lead when Jakob Sosa scored at 2:46 of the first period. Sosa added his second of the frame at 7:52 before Warsaw’s Bogdan Trunov cut the lead in half 11 seconds later. With two power plays, Malmo dominated the shot clock outshooting Warsaw 22-7 but Carson kept the Preds in the game. In the second, Warsaw only received one power play to Malmo’s three but the Preds were the ones who took advantage as Brian Moreau beat Nighthawk netminder Artem Tretiak at 13:31 to tie the game at 2. The third period was much more controlled as both teams looked for the next strike. No penalties were called in the frame and Malmo’s slight edge in shots (9-7) was enough to go ahead on goals by Odinsson and defenseman Tui Sova. The Nighthawks ability to score 5-on-5 was the difference as they went 0-5 on the power play and gave up a goal on the only penalty they had to kill off. The game would have been won by a wider margin if not for Carson’s heroics in net stopping 44 of 48 shots.

 

Score: Malmo 4 – Warsaw 2

 

Key Stats: Jakob Sosa, 2 G; Scotty Kaberle, 3 A; Gunnar Odinsson, 10 SH; Druss Deathwalker, 10 HT; Hadrian, 6 SB  

 

Game #2:

 

More early goals set the tone for Game 2 as Druss Deathwalker got Malmo on the board first again at 5:08 of the opening period. Warsaw’s Kevin King tied it up at 7:27 but Deathwalker regained Malmo’s lead for good, potting his second goal at 9:36. Brendan Telker added another marker for the Nighthawks in the first minute of the second period and Carson and Tretiak both shut the door after that despite Malmo’s lengthy power play in the third after Warsaw’s Markuss Puhovs received a major penalty and game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct later in the period. Once again Malmo badly outshot Warsaw 58-27 and once again Carson stood on his head with 55 saves. Tretiak was fantastic as well only letting the one shot get by him.

 

Score: Malmo 3 – Warsaw 1

 

Key Stats: Druss Deathwalker, 2 G; Tui Sova, 2 A; Brendan Telker, 17 SH; Hadrian, 7 HT; Markuss Puhovs, 5 SB

 

Malmo will win if – the Nighthawks keep pummeling the Predators 5-on-5 and get their power play going. 0-9 on the power play is not a great way to start the playoffs. They also need to keep disciplined to limit Warsaw’s chances.

 

Warsaw will come back if – the Predators beat the Nighthawks, the best penalty killing team in the regular season, at their own game and Jacob Carson gets in Malmo’s head. Warsaw has to limit the amount of rubber he sees though and get more pucks on Tretiak.

 

Mentions: @Telkster @Molholt @v.2 @TMGSosa @fromtheinside @animal74 @IamMOOSE @qripll @weekz @bluesfan55 @VOID Stiles

[fromtheinside 1,278]

Nice reporting there animal! I like the win conditions at the end too, thats a nice little touch!

[Dom 1,444]

I am confused, we are still in quarter finals, no?

[Beketov 8,731]

3 hours ago, Domg5 said:

I am confused, we are still in quarter finals, no?

The naming doesn't make a big difference really. Quarter Finals in the sense of the Cup final is the "finals" but because it's broken down by conference it would be the conference Semi's, conference finals, then Continental Cup Final. The wild card is technically the conference quarter finals.

[Dom 1,444]

4 hours ago, Beketov said:

The naming doesn't make a big difference really. Quarter Finals in the sense of the Cup final is the "finals" but because it's broken down by conference it would be the conference Semi's, conference finals, then Continental Cup Final. The wild card is technically the conference quarter finals.

Oh my mistake, I misread it.