VSN Presents: S90 VHL Playoff Preview

[Alex 2,876]

@leandrofg

 

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.

 

S90 VHL Recap | VHLM Power Rankings: Weeks 5 & 6 (Pre-Playoff Edition) | The Race for First Place - The Final Countdown

 

Wildcard Series (Best of 5)

 

 Vancouver (4) vs. Seattle (5) 

 

Our first playoff series could be an interesting one with both Vancouver and Seattle being some of the stronger teams in the league on paper. However, for one reason or another their regular season fell a little flat, Seattle struggled to score goals this season, whereas Vancouver had goaltending issues for the majority of the season with Brandt Fuhr @Tate having the lowest SV% of all playoff starting goaltenders with a 0.917. With that being said Fuhr could very well steal this series. For Seattle it will all likely come down to their offense, specifically if the trio of Leandro Goncalves @leandrofg , Randy Bobandy @AJW, and Yaroslav Bogatyrev @Bojovnik can find their footing in the series and run away with it. This series could be close, but we have Vancouver edging out Seattle here.

 

Prediction: Vancouver in 4

VSN vote: VAN 10, SEA 0

 

 Helsinki (4) vs. London (5) 

 

Two teams at the opposite ends of their window meet in the EU wildcard with Helsinki and London going head to head. In the regular season it was all Helsinki with them winning the season series 6-0 and enter this series as the clear favourites. If London’s forwards can finally find their offensive stride they could pull off the upset here and not to mention playoff Jesse Teno @aimkin is just different and can easily win three games in this series. For Helsinki the big question mark is Fuukka Rask @Jubis and if they can bounce back from a sub-par regular season and if their offense can get to Teno. Ironically, this may very well be the perfect opportunity for London’s forwards to finally break out this season. We’ve got London pulling off the upset here and just squeaking by Helsinki.

 

Prediction: London in 5

VSN vote: LDN 6, HSK 4

 

Conference Semi-Finals

 

 D.C. (2) vs. Los Angeles (3) 

 

D.C. and Los Angeles had a very close season series with D.C. winning the first 3 games, and Los Angeles winning the final 2. For D.C. this series will likely come down to if Jason @Jason kranz, Vincent Laroche-Gagnier @vincentlg2007, and Ryuji Sakamoto @der meister can carry their play from the regular season into the playoffs. For Los Angeles it is all about Todd Cooke @KRZY, who had a huge breakout season and will need to continue their play for Los Angeles to do well in the playoffs as they were directly involved in 51% of Los Angeles goals this season. This series could be close, but LA might just be too much for D.C..

 

Prediction: Los Angeles in 5

VSN vote: LAS 6, DCD 3

 

 Toronto (1) vs. Vancouver (4) 

 

This series could possibly be the biggest series of the first round with Vancouver being the number one team in the league on paper, and Toronto being the best team in the conference. In the regular season Vancouver was one of two teams to win their season series against Toronto winning 3 of the 5 games. In the regular season the games were very high-scoring and we could be in for more of the same here. Both teams have elite offensive cores, with Ronan Lavelle @Arce, Mac Atlas @v.2 , and Tomas Sogaard @Brandon for Toronto and Dogwood Maple @dogwoodmaple, Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ, and Girts Galvins @Girts for Vancouver. This series would likely be extremely high scoring and could very well go either way. We have  Toronto just getting by Vancouver here, but don’t be surprised if Vancouver’s much stronger defensive group shuts down Toronto completely.

 

Prediction: Toronto in 7

VSN vote: TOR 6, VAN 3

 

 Prague (2) vs. Riga (3) 

 

Riga’s success this season hinges heavily upon Brian Kowalski @Wheaties and James Marino @Adrest245, if their forwards can finally find some traction they could potentially pull off the upset. These two teams did split the season series, however, Prague outscored Riga by a total of 19-16 and blew Riga out a couple of times. This series is Prague’s to lose as they appear to be better than Riga at every position, however in large part could come down to Matt Murdock’s @Acydburn play as Riga will be throwing everything at them. Riga could very well steal a game or 2 here, but Prague could just be too strong for Riga.

 

Prediction: Prague in 4

VSN vote: PRG 10, RIG 0

 

 Davos (1) vs. London (4) 

 

The two most recent Continental Cup Champions going head-to-head, in the regular season Davos won all 6 of the games against London. This series could very well be a goaltending battle with Jesse Teno and Laclan Summers @kirbithan both coming off of great seasons. However, the main thing that separates these two-teams comes with their goal production with the majority of London’s offense coming from Leonard Triller @Triller and Molly the Cat @JCarson (35 and 39 goals respectively), whereas the majority of Davos’s offense comes from their blueline with Skor McFleury @Alex and Jake Thunder @Thunder being two of the league’s top 3 defensemen and will be looking to shut down London’s offense. This series could very well be all Davos, unless London can find a way to beat Summers.

 

Prediction: Davos in 5

VSN vote: DAV 10, LDN 0

 

Conference Finals

 

 Toronto (1) vs. Los Angeles (3) 

 

In the regular season it was all Toronto with them winning 4 of the 5 games all while completely shutting down Los Angeles offense as the most goals they would score in a game was only 3. For Los Angeles this series can come down to 2 things; first off their offense, specifically their depth with Napoleon Dynamite @thadthrasher, Svatopluk Puk @Otaznik, and Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101 as they will all have to take some of the load off of Todd Cooke; secondly, Art Vandelay @Gustav will have to be at their best if they hope to get passed Toronto’s offense. For Toronto in this case, their offense should take care of itself and if Joel Castle @animal74 can keep Los Angeles offense at bay and if they can, this series could be a quick one.

 

Prediction: Toronto in 5

VSN vote: TOR 9, LAS 1

 

 Davos (1) vs. Prague (2) 

 

Possibly one of the more awaited series having met in 2 of the past 4 seasons, with each team winning a series once. In the regular season Davos won 3 of the 5 games, in part due to Lachlan Summers stealing the show and James Teekirque’s @Mongoose87 fantastic offensive play. If Prague is to win this series they will have to get the best of Lachlan Summers and that starts with John Jameson @Frank and Perry Laperriere @KaleebtheMighty as they are the main two focal points on Prague’s roster and almost all of the offense goes through at least 1 of them. For Davos, their offense could be tested here as the team will be needing James Teekirque, Pete Mitchell @Crstats23, and Alfred Champagne @Anthique to be at the top of their game, all of whom were over a point per game this season. This series will go one of two ways, either a high-scoring goal fest, or Summers and Murdock could steal the show. It will be very close, but we have Davos just edging out Prague here.

 

Prediction: Davos in 7

VSN vote: DAV (6), PRG (3)

 

Continental Cup Finals

 

 Davos (1) vs. Toronto (1) 

 

Possibly one of the longest awaited series this season, as the upstart Toronto Legion take on the defending Cup champs in Davos! This season Davos won 3 of the 4 games, again in large part due to Lachlan Summers' all-time great season. The goaltending match-up here is an interesting one with two of the top S86 goaltenders going against each other with Lachlan Summers (0.938 SV%, 2.06 GAA) and Joel Castle (0.927 SV%, 2.29 GAA). Apart from the goaltenders, this series will likely come down to Toronto’s offense going up against Davos’s defense. While at the top end, these two teams match up very close together, their depth could be what makes the difference here. The series would likely be very close with either team coming out on top. 

 

Prediction: Davos in 7

VSN vote: DAV (5), TOR (4)

 

Thank you to everyone for reading and best of luck to each and every team in the playoffs! Realistically, these could be the closest playoffs in some time, as even the lower seeds have some of the best rosters in the league. This should be very interesting!! If you have any predictions of your own feel free to post them in the comments.

[v.2 1,261]

Thunder taking a faceoff

[der meister 2,923]

Looking forward to proving VSN wrong. Sakamoto shines in the playoffs.

[AJW 1,749]

VSN A BUNCH OF HATERS 

 

[Banackock 7,654]

3 hours ago, AJW said:

VSN A BUNCH OF HATERS 

 

Always have been.  But don't they usually cater to Davos....? Hey, who does the head VSN guy GM again? You don't happen to think they'd have some form of influence on this... do you? 

 

IDK what the HSK/LDN series is, but HSK in 4.

[Alex 2,876]

3 hours ago, Banackock said:

Always have been.  But don't they usually cater to Davos....? Hey, who does the head VSN guy GM again? You don't happen to think they'd have some form of influence on this... do you? 

 

IDK what the HSK/LDN series is, but HSK in 4.

Part of the reason why there’s a vote is to remove biases. Ironically we’re almost always wrong.

[Banackock 7,654]

6 minutes ago, Alex said:

Part of the reason why there’s a vote is to remove biases. Ironically we’re almost always wrong.

Sorry, Alex. Was just playing   Always appreciate the work into these articles and no matter what, they always entertain and are thorough  

[animal74 1,610]

@VattghernCZ I'm ready for ya buddy! Former LV Aces teammates going at it!

[VattghernCZ 669]

3 minutes ago, animal74 said:

@VattghernCZ I'm ready for ya buddy! Former LV Aces teammates going at it!

Lessgooo! Whoever wins, let's make Shindigs proud!

[JCarson 590]

On 10/1/2023 at 9:42 PM, Alex said:

Part of the reason why there’s a vote is to remove biases. Ironically we’re almost always wrong.

Except in this case. London in 5

[Alex 2,876]

42 minutes ago, JCarson said:

Except in this case. London in 5

first time we've gone 2/2 in the wildcard for a while lol