VSN Presents: S91 Review & Predictions WK 2

[Gaikoku-hito 2,081]

Graphic thanks to @leandrofg

 

Here are with one third of the season done already and I think I did okay last week in my predictions, or did I? Either way we can find out together as we look back at second week of the season and try to project what might happen. Let start by looking at the standing and last weeks predictions, shall we?

 

North American Conference

 Standings                                        Record                         PTS                                         Last WK                                                    Prediction Last Wk

1.            Chicago Phoenix                        15 – 4 – 5                35pts                             (7 – 4 – 3)                          2nd      North American Conference          

2.        Los Angeles Stars                     17 – 7 – 0                  35pts                              (7 – 5 – 0)                          1st       North American Conference

3.         Seattle Bears                             11 – 9 – 4                  26pts                              (5 – 5 – 4)                          4th      North American Conference

4.         Toronto Legion                          12 – 12 – 0                24pts                              (9 – 5 – 0)                          5th      North American Conference

5.         Calgary Wranglers                    10 – 10 – 3                23pts                              (9 – 3 – 1)                          8th      North American Conference

6.          D.C. Dragons                             10 – 11 – 3                 23pts                              (5 – 7 – 2)                         3rd      North American Conference

7.          Vancouver Wolves                     9 – 14 – 1                  19pts                               (5 – 8 – 1)                         6th      North American Conference             

8.         New York Americans                9 – 14 – 1                   19pts                              (6 – 7 -0)                           7th       North American Conference

 

Summary:

Well, that was horrible week in predictions in the North American Conference, or was it? So, Chicago didn`t loss as much as I expected but I was correct that they wouldn`t drop so it was close between top teams. Toronto won more than expected as did well, Calgary and D.C really messed this up by playing below five hundred hockey that I expected them to play; otherwise, I would have had the middle of the order at least closer to correct. Well, no one is prefect especially me!!

 

European Conference

Standings                                          Record                         PTS                                        Last Wk                                                         Prediction Last Wk

1.          Riga Reign                                 17 – 6 – 1                  35pts                              (9 – 3 – 1)                               3rd       European Conference

2.         London United                         14 – 5 – 5                 33pts                               (7 – 3 – 3)                              1st        European Conference

3.          Helsinki Titans                         16 – 8 – 1                  33pts                               (8 – 5 – 1)                              4th        European Conference

4.          Malmo Nighthawks                 15 – 7 – 2                  32pts                               (11 – 2 – 1)                             6th         European Conference

5.          HC Davos Dynamo                  13 – 6 – 4                  30pts                               (7 – 2 – 3)                              5th        European Conference

6.         Prague Phantoms                    14 – 8 – 2                  30pts                               (6 – 6 – 2)                              2nd       European Conference

7.          Warsaw Predators                   6 – 18 – 0                  12pts                              (4 – 10 – 0)                        7th.       European Conference

8.          Moscow Menace                     3 – 16 – 4                  10pts                               (2 – 6 – 4)                         8th        European Conference

 

Summary:

Yeah, much better than North American Conference in the way of predictions with at least three correct!! It will remain tight in the European conference as the top team Riga is only five points up on sixth placed Prague so a single win or a single loss can really change the current standings. Will this continue for remainder of the season? 

 

 

 

This week’s predictions:

North American Conference

 

 

 

                1.               

 

Reason: Los Angeles has a tough schedule ahead with teams that should push them as they play Toronto, Calgary(2), Prague(2), London and finish the week against D.C. Dragons. I still expect the trio of Larry Abass Jr @RileyL (16 – 21– 37pts), Sunglasses Joyo @JetsGoalie101 (15 – 21 – 36pts) and Todd Cooke @KRZY (18 – 18 – 36pts) to lead Los Angeles attack with secondary scoring coming from Napoleon Dynamite @thadthrasher (7 – 20 – 27pts) and continued push from the back-end from Jens Lekman @Bobcat (5 – 21 – 26pts) and Elias Lampi  @Pifferfish (6 -19 – 25pts); both currently in the top ten of defense scoring. Los Angeles also sports the best offense and the second-best defense in the league at the moment so I have them winning more games than they lose again this week.

 

 

              2.    

 

Reason: The point gap to the chasing teams should keep them in second even without looking at the schedule at the moment. Looking at the schedule they should play right around at least five hundred hockey; if not better but I still think they will lose the top spot this week in North American Conference. Chicago will need to find some secondary scoring outside of Scotty Sundin @fromtheinside (19 – 22 – 41pts) and Legacy Gaming  @Gaming Ringleader (13 – 20 – 33pts); if they are going to hold off the strong charging Toronto Legion and Calgary Wranglers. They will also look to tighten up more defensively as they have the 10th most goals allowed in the league.

 

 

              3.    

 

Reason: Toronto will control their chance to move up the standing further this week with games against Seattle(2) and Calgary before they should beat up on some of the rebuilding teams in Warsaw, Vancouver and Moscow in the middle of the week. They might not stay as hot as they were last week but should still play above five hundred hockey with much improved defensive play and goaltending from Joel Castle @animal74 (2.47GA & 0.926sav%) but they will also look for more secondary scoring from veteran Tomas Sogaard @Brandon (13 – 11 – 24pts) as Toronto cannot afford to have only Mac Atlas  @v.2 (16 – 13 – 29pts) and Jimi Jaks @ke1vi (11 – 21 – 32pts) providing the bulk of the scoring. Overall, Toronto is moving in the right direction and should leapfrog the Bears by the end of the week.

 

 

               4.    

 

Reason: I am not confident in this pick at all since they have to make up points on Seattle if they are going to jump them in the standing but luckily for Calgary, they play Seattle twice this week. Add in games against Vancouver (2) and D.C. Dragons (3). Calgary really controls their placement in the standing next week so while I think they can jump Seattle but it could be hard to stay ahead of the Dragons due to the head-to-head series. That being said I think they will player better than five hundred hockey so should move up. They still need more offense as they are the third worse team in goals but are improved on the back-end as Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123 (2.39GA & 0.919sav%) has improved this numbers. Calgary is scoring in committee at the moment with five players within a point per game pace with only Oreo McFleury  @JB123 (13 -14 – 27pts) currently above a point per game pace but not by much. They have improved but they don`t feel like a top team.

 

 

            5.    

 

Reason: Played five hundred hockey last week; with Toronto and Calgary now playing closer to expected from the VHL previews it would make sense that Seattle starts to fall back slightly. The question is how far as they control their placement in the standings with a series against Calgary and add in a back diving schedule that sees them play Vancouver and Warsaw to end the week. Seattle could easily hang onto third in the conference or drop to where I have them placed. Rex Wolffe Gregor @oilmandan (13 – 21 – 34pts)  continue to impressively lead Seattle in scoring and the league in Power-play goals as his fantastic season continues. Seattle is another team scoring by committee with Svatopluk Puk @Otaznik (15 – 16 – 31pts) as their second-best scorer with another four players within a point per game pace. Clueless Wallob @DMaximus (3.08GA & 0.923sav%) will look to improve his goals against average and hope the team tightens up defensively as Seattle has the 5th worst goals against in the league.

 

 

              6.    

 

 Reason: D.C. Dragons have a very long week ahead with a very strong schedule but that will really be determine by head-to-head series against Calgary (3) and a game against Toronto both teams that they are chasing. They will need to win these games plus the game against Moscow if they have any chance of moving up the standings. They might even drop behind Vancouver or New York depending these games. Offensively the team has cooled with Jason @Jason kranz (15 -15 – 30pts) now leading the team in scoring ahead of The Frenchman @OrbitingDeath (10 – 16 – 26pts); who they will expect more from if they are going to make a push towards the play-offs this season. Ryuji Sakamoto @der meister (5 – 18 – 23pts) and Mark Calaway @Beketov (7 – 17 – 24pts) have also seen the offensive numbers fall off from last seasons pace and must be cause for some concern in D.C. On the positive side Geoff Bezos @Quik (2.93GA & 0.920sav%) has improved his consistency but now seems to lack any run support.

 

 

               7.    

 

Reason: I am not sure that they deserve this placement as they could actually catch D.C. Dragons this week if they continue to win at least one of three games as they have done so far this season. Vancouver is having a break out seasons from FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist @STZ (20 – 17 – 37pts) and Liv Slater @Subject056 (2 -25 -27pts); which bolds well as the rebuild continues into next season.

 

 

               8.    

 

Reason: New York might continue to switch back and forth with Vancouver for a few more weeks as the team overall isn`t that bad but without a goaltender they have allowed the second worst goals against in the league. While Tord Yvel @Trazan (3 – 20 – 23pts) is trying his best to play goaltender leading the league in shots blocked with 111. Promising signs in Francesco Mancini @GioSivo (20 – 20 – 40pts) and Jasper Davis  @Josh (12 – 28 – 40pts) as both continue to place amongst the best in the league in scoring. Not to be forgotten is the strong play of Keon Jeannot @Lucas anton (11 – 21 – 32pts) as he is still over a point per game pace.

 

 

 

 

European Conference

 

 

 

               1.    

 

Reason: Easy schedule as Riga starts the week with Moscow and should end the week against New York and Moscow; not to mention that Riga went 8 - 3 the first week and followed that up with a 9 – 3 – 1 record this past week. Showing that they are for real at least at this stage of the season; so, I am not about to bet against them to have another week going 7-3 at least. It should be enough to continue to lead the tight European Conference. Riga has the third best offense in the league lead by AK92 Wit da Hoodie @hedgehog337 (17 – 22 – 39pts) and Babay Shrimp @Blazzer (10 – 25 – 35pts). While also providing the third best defense in the league in front of solid goaltending from Henry Tucker Jr @NSG (2.52GA & 0.928%).

 

 

               2.    

 

Reason: Say New York, New York!! Actually, you can say easy schedule! Starting your week with New York, Warsaw, New York plus visits from Moscow (3) and Vancouver later in the week. They could be first by the end of the week but feel that their inconsistency will hold them back. Familiar faces have come a live for HC Davos as Leandro Goncalves @leandrofg (17 -24 - 41pts), Alfred Champagne @Anthique (20 - 20 - 40pts) and Jake Thunder @Thunder (11 - 26 - 37pts) once again lead the attack. Lachlan Summers  @kirbithan (2.43GA & 0.928sav%) has improved his play back into the All-star goaltender most expected him to be.

 

 

                3.    

 

Reason: Offense is red hot for the Nighthawks with six players over a point per game lead by Henry Eagles @Greg_Di (18 – 20 – 38pts), Yaroslav Bogatyrev @Bojovnik (18 – 17 – 35pts) and Skor McFleury @Alex (Not @Spaz) (6 -26 – 32pts). With the only question mark remaining around the team is goaltending but Justin Lion @Emperor_Fun (1.96GA & 0.936sav%) has started to push Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro(3.03GA & 0.914sav%); who still needs to improve his numbers if he is going to carry this team but so far, they have been able to outscore their goaltending inconsistencies. Can this continue? We will see!! Malmo will cool but most likely not this week.

 

 

                 4.    

 

Reason: Offense has cooled? Actually, it is more a depth scoring issue as last week they were 11th in the league in scoring and this week they are still 11th in the league. They are relaying too much on trio of Molly the Cat  @JCarson (18 – 20 – 38pts), Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ (16 – 22 – 38pts) and Leonard Triller @Triller (6 – 28 – 34pts). London most likely would like a little bit more offense from the back-end from either Lloyd Braun  @Toast (8 – 15 – 23pts) or Hunor Solyom @solyom (0 – 13 – 13pts); who continues to shoot muffins!! Jesse Teno @aimkin (1.89GA & 0.942sav%) continue to be amazing and is a big reason that London continue to be the best defensive team in the league.

 

 

                  5.    

 

Reason: Easy Schedule mixed with important conference games; enter Vancouver (2), Warsaw (2), New York, Riga (3) and Prague (2). This could either be a week where Helsinki jumps over Riga or falls back slightly. With the standing as tight as they are Helsinki could easily be first or sixth by the end of the week. I think they split conference games while they beat up on the rebuilding teams so they fall back slightly. Helsinki also relies on three players too much in Landon Wolanin @jacobcarson877 (23 – 20 – 43pts), Daryl Dixon @Ricer13 (12 – 28 – 40pts) and Pierre Emile Bouchard @Gaikoku-hito (4 – 26 – 30pts). Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh (8 – 18 – 26pts) has shown improvement over the past week but again Helsinki would be looking for a bit more from the defender as he continue to learn from veteran Pierre Emile Bouchard. Fuukka Rask @Jubis (2.40GA & 0.932Sav%) is continuing to have a strong season as Helsinki will hope that it will last.

 

 

                   6.    

 

Reason: Prague really took a step back last week with 6 – 6 – 2 record and they were rather disappointing as the lack of depth scoring caught up to them as they relied too much on one player in John Jameson @Frank (20 – 18 – 38pts) so they will continue to look for secondary scoring. Matt Murdock @Acydburn (2.76GA & 0.923sav%) had a much stronger second week but it wasn`t enough as the team played five hundred hockey but you can`t really ask more from the tender. Add in a tough schedule and I cannot see Prague really being that much better next week and they are now at risk of falling from the play-off battle. The Defending Champion look like they could be in trouble if I am correct that they play only five hundred hockey this week and cannot find any secondary scoring to aid Matt Murdock and John Jameson.

 

 

                7.    

 

Reason: Simple not as bad as Moscow? Actually, this is based on the fact that they went 2 - 8 - 0 the first week and then 4 - 10 – 0 last week so they should improve to 6 – 8 – 0; right!! Maxim Anisimov  @McLovin (10 – 14 – 24pts) continue to lead the team in points and rookie points. Tater Tottingham @Trunkxolotl (11 – 12 – 23pts) is showing some reliable defense scoring while the team will hope for a bounce back week from King Kisslinger @Kisslinger (7 – 10 – 17pts) ; who has slowed slightly.  DJ Fire Dragon @Firekiss (3.41GA & 0.916sav%)  continue to be stead in the net for the rebuilding Warsaw.

 

 

                  8.    

 

Reason: Tough Schedule with Riga (3), HC Davos(3) and London (3); they might be luck to win a game this week if they can beat Warsaw towards the back end; if not it could be a winless week for the black and gold team from the cold Russian city of Moscow. Left Alone @okochastar (18 – 17 – 35pts) continue his dominate ways for the black and gold as does promising young rookie Axle Gunner @Steve (8 – 15 – 23pts).

 

 

 

Overall Thoughts:

European Conference remains near impossible to predict with six of the eight teams fighting for the top spot every week. The blood bath could cool slightly if Prague has another average week and fall off the back-end allowing the other teams to simple determine play-off positioning. In the North American Conference, the question still remains; Is Chicago for real? And what has happened to D.C. as they were expected to be at least a play-off team this season. Otherwise, the rest of the conference is finally starting to shake out as expected. It should be another interesting week in the VHL!!

Edited November 17, 2023 by Gaikoku-hito

[leandrofg 1,156]

I'm loving these!

[Daniel Janser 2,169]

1 hour ago, Gaikoku-hito said:

Well, no one is prefect especially me!!

that is so ironic, tbh and I laughed more than I should have for this obvious typo

[Trazan 131]

These are a really fun read, Good job man

[Spaz 297]

@Gaikoku-hitoI appreciate you thinking I have a star player but I'm the bum of the McFleury's, Reese 

[Gaikoku-hito 2,081]

2 minutes ago, Spaz said:

@Gaikoku-hitoI appreciate you thinking I have a star player but I'm the bum of the McFleury's, Reese 

Never said you had a star player but you are having a good season with Malmo and that should be mentioned. Still a potential to be a consistent defender in the league btw!!

[Spaz 297]

On 11/15/2023 at 6:35 AM, Gaikoku-hito said:

Skor McFleury @Spaz (6 -26 – 32pts)

I'm saying this is @Alex lol @Gaikoku-hito

[Gaikoku-hito 2,081]

3 hours ago, Spaz said:

I'm saying this is @Alex lol @Gaikoku-hito