Moscow's Hard Time

[MetalToday 266]

Everyone is talking about big rivalries, there is not much of a bigger rivalry than what we have with Moscow. The team has a rivalry with every other team in the league. The Moscow Menace is a team that has had a lot of trouble in the playoffs, coming close in recent seasons, but not getting the deed done. Moscow has won a cup previously in season 70, but with that being 17 seasons ago, they are 3 generations late for another cup. Moscow has come close and has a good team for quite some time, in fact they have not missed the playoffs since season 80, but they just cannot get it done. However, that is not all, Moscow has also made the conference from season 80 to season 85, that didn’t do much when it really mattered though. Seasons 80, 81, 82, 83, 85 seen Moscow reach the finals, but again, there was no trophy placed in their hands.

 

So yes Moscow's biggest rivalry is everyone in the playoffs after that first round. But one of their hated teams to play in the playoffs is Vancouver. The Vancouver Wolves have beat Moscow 3 times of the teams 5 finals appearances. So yes, there is some heated battles in games against each other.

 

Another team that Moscow has problems with is Warsaw, as they have defeated this none cup winning teams for quiet some time. Warsaw won 1 cup recently, and that was after Warsaw beat Moscow in the conference finals. Moscow fans probably thought if they were to have just beaten Warsaw, that would have been there year at that point.

 

Warsaw and Vancouver seemingly meet Moscow at some point in the playoffs all the time, so there is no surprise when then teams and players mention that, and share their displeasure with each other. However, Moscow has been a powerhouse since season 80, and that fact that they have still yet to win a continental cup is crazy. Moscow has a good team, and they will likely be one of the frontrunners for the near future when it comes to playoff chatter.

 

There is only 7 teams with 1 or 0 continental cups, and Moscow Menace is one of them. Although there is not much to be ashamed of since they are still pretty new, both Malmo and Warsaw have more continental cups them Moscow, despite being newer to the league. Overall the rivalries in Moscow run deep in the dressing room, and whether or not these playoff history is affecting them mentally, is unknown, but may be a factor. The team should be much better on but without getting over that hump, they will never win. They are good, and they have been good, the only thing they have left to do is win, and that feat will not come easy, especially with the competition surrounding them. With only 1 cup in 21 seasons, it will be interesting to see what the team brings to the table in the upcoming playoffs.

[Spartan 4,531]

[BOOM 8,816]