Game 7 Tonight!

[animal74 1,624]

 GAME 7 TONIGHT 

 

Moscow and Seattle face off tonight in Game 7.

 

In what is already being dubbed as one of the most epic Continental Cup Finals series in VHL history, the S83 edition of the Finals between the Seattle Bears and Moscow Menace will conclude tonight with Game 7.

 

S83 marks only the second playoff meeting between these two teams, the only other time being in the S71 Finals when Seattle dispatched the then defending champions in five games. Moscow is looking to avoid becoming only the second team in VHL history since the S25-S28 New York Americans to loose four straight Cup Finals and in doing so avenge their S71 loss and win the franchise’s second Cup. Seattle, meanwhile, is seeking their first Cup since S77 after losing in the Finals in S78 and S79 to Warsaw and Malmo respectively. 

 

Neither team has played in a Game 7 yet in these playoffs. Moscow played in the league’s most recent Finals Game 7 in S80 when they fell to the Vancouver Wolves the first time in S80. Seattle’s last Game 7 was way back in S59 when they beat the Helsinki Titans for the Bears’ 7th Cup. They own a 3-1 record in Finals Game 7s.

 

This has been a seesaw series as the evenly matched squads have traded wins since the opening faceoff. They were tied for the top record in the league during the regular season with Moscow having the slight edge in offense and Seattle in defense. True to form, the series has been tight with four of the six games won by a single goal and three of those being decided in overtime with Moscow winning two of those three in extra time.

 

Each team has had their stars step up with different heroes every night. Moscow’s future HOFer Duncan Idaho @OrbitingDeath  leads the series with 8 goals, 15 points, 4 power play goals, 2 game-winners, 5 multi-point games and is tied with Seattle’s rookie defenseman Mikhail Kovalchuk @Banackock with 7 assists. AJ Williams @ajwllmsn leads Seattle with 5 goals and 10 points. Moscow’s Hard Markinson @STZ and Seattle’s Max Torq @Steve lead all blueliners with 9 points apiece.

 

Each goalie has faced highs and lows. Seattle’s Em Em Flex @oilmandan has by far been the busier goalie having faced over 45 shots a game compared to Papa Emeritus @Beketov of the Menace seeing an average of 10 less shots a game. Flex has made over 50 saves three times in this series but his best game was probably Game 2 when he stopped 60 of 62 shots to lead Seattle to a 3-2 win in Game 2 after a heart-breaking double overtime loss in Game 1. He kept the score 1-0 after the first period despite Moscow outshooting the Bears 36-5 in the period. Emeritus arguably had his best game in Game 5 making 34 saves and only allowing one goal in a 5-1 victory to give the Menace a 3-2 series lead. Seattle outshot Moscow 35-18 yet Emeritus shut the door.

 

Now the question remains: Who will win Game 7 and capture the S83 Continental Cup? Will Moscow’s legendary trio of Top-20 all-time playoff scorers (Idaho, Seabasstard @Seabass, Markinson) shake off the Finals curse that has shackled them the previous three seasons and finally win the franchise’s second Cup? Or will Seattle’s dynamic defense usher in perhaps a new dynasty for the Bears? 

 

We’ll find out tonight.

 

Bring on Game 7!

 

[animal74 1,624]

And the Bears prevailed! Congrats Seattle!