VSN Presents: S87 VHL Playoff Preview

[Alex 2,876]

Welcome to VSN’s VHL playoff preview and predictions, in this article we’ll break down each series and discuss what players could be key to turning the tide of the series and potentially pulling off an upset.This was truly an incredible season and we could be in for a few upsets in the playoffs. While you’re here be sure to check out some of the other recent VSN articles.

 

EU Playoff Race |  VHL Trade Deadline Review | Campbell's Corner

 

Wildcard Series (Best of 5)

 

 Riga (4) vs. Warsaw (5) 

 

In the European Conference we wildcard we have 2 teams headed in very different directions, Warsaw’s window is beginning to close as Zach Kisslinger II @Kisslinger and Brendan Marner @MetalToday only have 1 more season before retirement, whereas Riga is chalked full of young talent including 4 recent top 5 picks in Daniel Weaver @ThePerfectNut, The Frenchman @OrbitingDeath , Sadie St. Louis @sadie, and Skor McFleury @Alex. Riga comes into this matchup as an underdog, despite being the higher seed as on paper Warsaw is far superior with their forwards and defense. With that being said, Riga may be able to exploit Warsaw’s lack of defensive depth and do have a stronger goalie in Henry Tucker Jr. @NSG. We can look for this to be an extremely high scoring series, and Riga may be able to steal a game or 2, but this series likely comes down to goaltending and if Tucker Jr. can quiet the Warsaw forwards.

 

Prediction: Warsaw in 4

VSN vote: WAR 5 RIG 3

 

 Chicago (4) vs. Seattle (5) 

 

Over the course of the season this matchup has been very one sided at times, with Seattle winning the first two games, and with Chicago winning the last 3 to win the season series. The most recent game between the two teams was a tight game, that occurred well before the trade deadline where Seattle stocked up bringing in Vasile Lamb @dlamb and Tavish Degroot @rory which has vastly improved Seattle’s offense. For Chicago their saving grace in this series will likely be Cole Pearce @N0HBDY who will have to stand on his head for Chicago to win the series, this could be a very tight series that will be fun to watch.

 

Prediction: Seattle in 5

VSN vote: CHI 2 SEA 8

 

Conference Semi-Finals

 

 Calgary (2) vs. Los Angeles (3) 

 

Both of these teams have been around the top of the North American Conference all season, including being in first at times. Los Angeles took an interesting approach this season by only having two defensemen in Callum Murray @Berocka and Scoish Velociraptor Maloish @youloser1337 and that could be part of the reason why Art Vandelay @Gustav found himself near the top of the shots against leaderboard this season and he’ll likely prove to be crucial to Los Angeles success against the offensive juggernaut in Calgary lead by Daniel Janser @Daniel Janser, a perennial scoring threat that may just be too much for LA to handle and for that reason, Calgary likely takes this series in convincing fashion.

 

Prediction: Calgary in 5

VSN vote: CGY 9 LAS 1

 

 Vancouver (1) vs. Seattle (5) 

 

Possibly what could be the most interesting series of maybe the entire playoffs, Vancouver has been an elite team all season, but Seattle’s trade deadline acquisitions have this looking like a very even series. By all means Vancouver should win this series as they have a more complete roster and Brandt Fuhr @Tate is coming off of one of their best seasons yet, posting a 0.931 SV%. Standing in Vancouver’s way will be a tough Seattle team that doesn’t give up anything easily, this could be a close series, but ultimately Vancouver probably prevails.

 

Prediction: Vancouver 6

VSN vote: VAN 9 SEA 0

 

 Moscow (2) vs. Malmo(3) 

 

If I told you at the start of the season that Malmo would be in the playoffs, let alone the 3rd seed, you would probably be surprised. This Malmo team has surprised people all season and a big reason why has been the play of Max Torq @Steve and Igor Molotov @Dom who finished the season with 84 and 88 points respectively. Moscow is looking to return to the finals again this season and they have had a very good season free agent signing Ronan Lavelle @Arce has been as advertised as they recorded a team leading 40 goals this season. While Malmo could very well steal some games here and has shown their ability to win big games with their final game against Prague to clinch the playoffs. Although anything can happen, there is a clear gap between these two teams.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 4

VSN vote: MOS 7 MAL 1

 

 Davos (1) vs. Warsaw(5) 

 

For the first time since S39 Davos has finished the regular season first in their conference, but with that being said the European Conference is better than ever and just about any series could be very close.  These two teams last met in the playoffs in season 85, where Warsaw took out Davos in 5 games, Davos will be looking to return the favour here. While some players on Warsaw did take a step back this season Brendan Marner stepped up and finished the season with 111 points and could be a favourite to win MVP. For Davos they will have to shut down Warsaw’s high powered offense and that starts and ends with Xavier Booberry @CowboyinAmerica who has proven in previous seasons that he can not only steal a game, but can steal a series. Additionally, expect to see the majority of Davos's offense go through recent acquisition Florida Man @zepheter and Pete Mitchel @Crstats23, who led the team in goals with 40. This could be a very entertaining series, but Booberry and Davos's defense will likely be too much for Warsaw.

 

Prediction: Davos in 6

VSN vote: DAV 6 WAR 2

 

Conference Finals

 

 Vancouver (1) vs. Calgary (2) 

 

This series is one that we have all known is coming all season, as Vancouver and Calgary have dominated the entire season finishing 1st and 2nd in league points respectively. While both teams do have elite offensive talent, they finished 2nd and 1st this season in goals against and as a result this could be a defensive series with the focus of the series being on Oskar Lindbergh @Doomsday who posted a 0.925 SV% this season. Vancouver’s high powered offense led by Nezuko @Baozi and Sergey Preobrazhensky @Bulduray_1 will be hard pressed to finish, last season Vancouver came out on top, we believe that Calgary wins out this time.

 

Prediction: Calgary in 7

VSN vote: VAN 3 CGY 4

 

 Davos (1) vs. Moscow (2) 

 

Similarly to the Vancouver/Calgary series we saw these two teams matchup last season where Davos took out Moscow, winning the series in 6. With that being said Moscow has had Davos’s number this season, winning every game between the two with only 1 game going past regulation. Similarly to the Warsaw series on paper these two teams are fairly even, with Moscow having a slight edge with their forward group led by Nico Pearce @Spartan , Ronan Lavelle @Arce , and Tomas Sogaard @Brandon. Davos’s biggest advantage in this series will be their biggest advantage in just about any series with Xavier Booberry. Davos will have to get the offensive support for Booberry to make it past Moscow and that starts from their blue line with Siyan Yasilievich @badcolethetitan and Jake Thunder @Thunder who will need to both be elite in the playoffs and continue their regular season play. This could be a tight series, but Moscow’s regular season dominance is just too hard to ignore.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 5

VSN vote: DAV 3 MOS 5

 

Continental Cup Finals

 

 Calgary (2) vs. Moscow (2) 

 

This is a place where Moscow is all too familiar having made it to 5 of the last 7 Continental Cup Finals. Calgary on the other hand will be making their return to the finals for the first time since S72. However Moscow won their 1st and only Continental Cup in S70, when they crushed the hopes of Wrangler fans everywhere by winning the series in 6. Both these teams are absolutely stacked, but it is worth considering how Calgary’s defense has been incredible this season, led by AirRig GoodBrandSun @Rhynex Entertainment and Phil Strasmore @Phil. In order for Moscow to win this series they will need their offense to step up in a big way and that starts with Hammar Voss @BOOM and AK92 Wit da Hoodie @hedgehog337, who both have been vital puck-moving defenseman for Moscow this season. This should be an incredible series that could really go either way. We have Calgary taking the win here and winning their first cup since S62.

 

Prediction: Calgary in 7

VSN vote: CGY 4 MOS 2

 

Thank you to everyone for reading and best of luck to each and every team in the playoffs! If you have any predictions of your own feel free to post them in the comments.

[Lemorse7 900]

warsaw over riga are VSN high on something You are welcome @hedgehog337

[Lemorse7 900]

I also thing VSN members are just trying to troll @Spartan at this point 

[Spartan 4,003]

12 minutes ago, Lemorse7 said:

I also thing VSN members are just trying to troll @Spartan at this point 

The GM's just mad they can't even reach the finals zzzz

[Ricer13 2,593]

Rigged but I’ll take it

[Phil 5,017]

I am MORE than ok with these predictions!

 

[twists 276]

VHLM breakdown when

[ThePerfectNut 563]

Warsaw in 4 they said?

[Daniel Janser 1,983]

On 3/5/2023 at 12:57 AM, ThePerfectNut said:

Warsaw in 4 they said?

to be fair, Warsaw was eliminated in four so at least half of the prediction was correct.

[KaleebtheMighty 1,426]

On 3/3/2023 at 11:34 AM, Alex said:

Prediction: Moscow in 4

[vincentlg2007 461]

On 3/3/2023 at 12:34 PM, Alex said:

 

 Vancouver (1) vs. Calgary (2) 

 

This series is one that we have all known is coming all season