London reaching new heights in S88 playoff run

[scoop 3,447]

The London United are currently on the best playoff run in franchise history, reaching the European Conference Finals for the first time in their existence, dating back to Season 73. They came into the playoffs as Europe's four seed, but they did not face much resistance in the first two rounds of the post-season. London has lost the first two games in the Conference Finals against the HC Davos Dynamo, who are looking to make it back to the finals for a second consecutive season, but the United are not looking to simply roll over and die.

 

In their prior 15 seasons, London has made the playoffs seven times. In those seven appearances, they had not won a single series. With a 9-25 overall record, they had rarely ever come within a game of winning a series. In recent years, the team has at least been consistently making the playoffs. Including Season 88, they have been in five of the last seven post-seasons. The experience that their players have gotten has undoubtedly helped out this year. Some of their best performers are players who have been with the team during those prior appearances. Even with the relative success the team has recently been having, London were far from favorites. In the regular season, they were 1-3-1 against both Riga and Prague, their first and second round opponents in the playoffs. The playoffs were a different story, as the United took down Riga 3-1 and Prague, the Victory Cup winners, 4-1. Things were looking up for the team.

 

Of all the European teams in the playoffs, the only one that London had a winning record against during the regular season was the Dynamo. Things thus far have not been going the same way. They lost the first two games of the series, putting them behind in a series for the first time in these playoffs. An 0-2 deficit came certainly be overcome, and we have already seen it multiple times this season. The Dynamo were down 0-3 against Moscow before winning four straight. That streak has been extended to six games, and London is now tasked with halting that momentum if they want to advance.

 

Who doesn't like an underdog? London is experiencing success like never before, and a lot of people would like to see that continue. Unfortunately for their fans, I do think their run is going to be coming to an end at the hands of Davos. I personally am rooting for the United, but a Davos win would not be the worst. The Dynamo currently have the third longest Cup drought in VHL history, having last won in Season 61. This is a battle between a once revered franchise trying to find their way back to the top and a fledgling newcomer that has never even tasted an ounce of success. A championship would mean a lot for either team. Of course, the winner of this series will still have to take on either the Seattle Bears or Calgary Wranglers.

[jacobcarson877 2,559]

Awesome article! Always nice to get a fun history lesson!