VSN Presents: Season 79 Malmo NightHawks: Continental Cup Champions

[Alex 3,201]

@v.2

 

During the 2021 Holiday Bonanza an exclusive VSN article was auctioned off and purchased by @Alexandre, who quickly decided that the article would be a recap of the S79 Malmo Nighthawks and their run to the Continental Cup. In this article we’ll take a quick look at the season 79 Malmo regular season and an in depth look at their run through the playoffs to capture their second Continental Cup in franchise history. While you’re here be sure to check out some of the other recent VSN articles below:

 

S81 VHL Awards Race |  Under 200 Power Rankings | Trade History - S76 CGY/VAN

 

Regular season

From the start of the season the season 79 Malmo Nighthawks were nothing short of dominant and would go onto win the Victory Cup for the best regular season record with 53 wins and 19 losses, for a total of 106 points through the 72 games. During this stretch the Nighthawks were lead by Gunnar Odinsson @BOOM who was having a breakout season of their own as they would finish the regular season with 57 goals and 133 points, in addition Odinsson would take home the Slobodzian, Funk, Szatkowski, and Kanou Trophies for their remarkable season. Right behind them in points was Brendan Telker @Telkster with 123 and 58 goals which was enough for the most in the VHL that season and we would see them win the Kevin Brooks Trophy as a result. Having finished first in the league Malmo would be able to skip the wild-card round and would await the winner of the Prague and Davos series in the conference semi-finals.

 

Conference Semi-Finals

 Malmo (4) vs. Davos (2) 

In game #1 Malmo would get the shock of their season as Davos would come out guns a blazin’ and stake easily to a 5-1 victory with their goalie Kunibuni UnGuri @Berocka putting up a 46 save performance in the win, Druss Deathwalker @animal74 would score the lone goal for Malmo. Going into game #2 something must have clicked for the Nighthawks as they would out-shoot Davos by 26 shots and would take the game 5-2 with Brendan Telker scoring the game-winning goal just 8 seconds into the third period. Game #3 would be the first sign of defense in the series as Malmo would go onto win 3-1, Gunnar Odinsson would score what would be the game-winning goal in the second period and Artem Tretiak @Molholt would stand on their head turning aside 31 of 32 shots. Davos would once again show up in game #4 and put up 5 goals of their own in a 5-3 win, tying the series at 2 games apiece. In game #5 Davos would out-shoot Malmo for the first time in the series, however Malmo would hang on for a 4-3 win. In game #6 Artem Tretiak would steal the show and the series in one fell-swoop as they would stop every single one of Davos’ 34 shots on route to a 2-0 win with Deathwalker and Sosa @TMGSosa scoring for Malmo.

 

Conference Finals

 Malmo (4) vs. Warsaw (3) 

Game #1 would be a close one for Malmo as they would win 5-4 while being heavily out shot by The Predators 54-34, Brendan Telker would score the game winning goal mid-way through the third period. By game #2 Warsaw fixed their defensive issues and they would hold the Nighthawks to only 2 goals in a 3-2 win. Game #3 would be the first real one-sided game of the series as Malmo would win 5-2 with goals from Tui Sova @v.2, Gunnar Odinsson, Brendan Telker (x2), and Kevin Wu @kevinscix. Game #4 however was a different story as it was a nailbiter from start to finish and would see Malmo take a 3-1 series lead with a goal by Gunnar Odinsson with only 1 minute and 30 seconds remaining in the game. Games #5 and 6 would be all Warsaw as they would win each game 6-3 and 5-2 respectively while heavily out-shooting Malmo. Game #7 was an interesting one from start to finish as Malmo jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period on goals from Muffbeav @.sniffuM, Brendan Telker, and Scotty Kaberle @fromtheinside. After the first, this game was all Warsaw and they would go on to take 53 shots on Tretiak who would turn aside all but 1 for a 0.981 SV% on route to a 3-1 win.

 

Continental Cup Finals

 Malmo (4) vs. Seattle (2) 

The season 79 Continental Cup Finals featured a Malmo Nighthawks team that had been nearly unstoppable all season against what would be the tail end of the Seattle Bears Dynasty. In Game #1 Malmo would go to overtime for the first time in the playoffs as Junkok @Baozi would send the game to OT with the lone goal in the third period. Brendan Telker would score the OT winner 12 minutes into the first overtime period. Game #2 would also go in Malmo’s favor as Tui Sova would score the game winner with one minute remaining in the third on the powerplay. Game #3 would once again be all Malmo as they would out-shoot Seattle 51-28 on route to a 3-2 and a 3-0 series lead. In game #4 it appeared that Seattle figured something out as they would go on to win 6-3 while having 10 more shots than Malmo, Valtteri Vaakanainen @Jubo would score the game winner late in the first period. In Game #5 the series was back to looking like it would be a quick one with Malmo dominating Seattle the entire game, however Rara Rasputin @Victor wasn’t having it and stole game 5 stopping 40 of 42 shots, and picking up a 4-2 win. In game #6 Malmo wouldn’t be stopped as the first period would finish 3-3 with goals from Muffbeav, Gunnar Odinsson, and Jakob Sosa for Malmo and, Valtteri Vaakanainen, Isabella Campbell @Banackock, and Lucifer Olivier Leveque @InstantRockstar would answer back for Seattle. After a scoreless second period it was looking like the next goal would be the game winner and it would be as Brendan Telker would score on the powerplay with 4 minutes and 30 seconds remaining in the game to seal the Continental Cup victory for Malmo and end the Seattle Bears Dynasty.

 

Thank you to @Alexandre for his generous donation and on behalf of VSN I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

[fromtheinside 1,290]

Nice writeup!

 

It was a great run, one I will always be proud of.  But Alex you forgot about a huge piece of the team. Shout out to @hylands for leading us to glory. Couldn't have asked for a better leader to guide us to the promised land.  Everyone on that squad are a bunch of beauties!  

[BOOM 8,745]

Hell of a season for us. Really enjoyed my brief stay in Malmo. 

[v.2 1,406]

Best VSN article ever created?  Probably.

 

Thank for this @Alexandreand @Alex!

[dlamb 1,326]

I always forget how close that series was. GG

[hylands 845]

the peak of my entire vhl career :’)

 

season 79 nighthawks will always have a special place in my heart

Edited December 24, 2021 by hylands

[animal74 1,809]

I echo Hylands' sentiment as S79 being the peak of my VHL career so far as well. We had something special and would not be denied. Great team and great write-up!

 

Edited December 27, 2021 by animal74