VSN Presents: S92 VHL Playoff Preview

[Alex 3,247]

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.

 

S92 VHLE Playoff Preview | S92 Weekly Predictions (Wk 6) & Season Review

 

Conference Semi-Finals

 

 Los Angeles (2) vs. D.C. (3) 

 

The North American Conference playoffs could be very interesting, all four teams are very close on paper and in the regular season standings. In the regular season D.C. edged out Los Angeles winning 3 of the 5 matchups, in large part due to the great play of The Frenchman @OrbitingDeath and Mark Calaway @Beketov. On the surface D.C. is the better team with a significant edge on the blueline and in goal. However, both teams are very offensive and we could be in for a high-scoring series! As the league's 2nd (LAS), and 3rd (DCD) best offenses go head to head. We have Los Angeles taking this series in a hurry as their offense is just a touch ahead.

 

Prediction: Los Angeles in 6

VSN vote: LAS 8, DCD 2

 

 Calgary (1) vs. Toronto (4) 

 

Toronto had a very weird season, coming off of a Continental Cup, the hangover was real! They’ve got a tough matchup in Calgary early now as a result. Toronto’s offense has been spectacular of late, combined with great play from Joel Castle @animal74, they will be a tough out. On the opposite side of the coin, Calgary has been built from the net out with Merome Dilson @MexicanCow123 and a solid blueline. With that being said they have struggled offensively this season and will need to shut down Mac Atlas @v.2 and company to make it past Toronto. This should be a good one, we have Calgary squeaking through.

 

Prediction: Calgary in 7

VSN vote: CGY 5, TOR 5 - CGY advances due to winning season series

 

 Helsinki (2) vs. Moscow (3) 

 

Moscow is back in the playoffs! After a great rebuild, they will be looking to make some noise and pull off an upset early. Helsinki is very similar to Calgary in the sense of their structure with the league’s top goalie in Fuuka Rask @Jubis, and a remarkable blueline, scoring will be tough for the upstart Menace squad, but Moscow does have a slight edge offensively, so this should be a good one. We’ve got Axle Gunner’s @Steve side taking this one in a close series.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 7

VSN vote: MOS 7, HSK 6

 

 Malmo (1) vs. London (5) 

 

This series should be a great one as the league's top team on paper takes on the league's best team in the regular season. Malmo turned a lot of heads this season, with a great Victory cup winning season despite only the 9th best roster in the league. This was heavily in part due to the great play of Jacob Stone @scoop and Reece McFleury @Spaz as they both had a great season! London on the other side of things could very well bring Malmo’s Cinderella story to an end quickly with Jesse Teno @aimkin, who despite an up and down season is still the highest TPE goaltender in the league, and Molly The Cat @JCarson who will be looking to exploit Malmo’s relatively weaker goaltender. This series could really go either way, but we have Malmo making it through.

 

Prediction: Malmo in 7

VSN vote: MAL 8, LDN 5

 

Conference Finals

 

 Calgary (1) vs. Los Angeles (2) 

 

It almost seems like the whole season has been coming down to this matchup, Calgary and Los Angeles have been going back and forth all season in a close battle. In the regular season Los Angeles took the series winning 4 of the 6 games. Los Angeles’ offense is honestly just ridiculous, and will be a tall task for Merome Dilson and their defense, offensively Randy Bobandy @AJW will need to find a bit more of a scorer's touch if Calgary is going to make it far in the playoffs, and get past an offensive Stars team. We have Los Angeles taking this one in what should be a hard fought series.

 

Prediction: Los Angeles in 6

VSN vote: LAS 7, CGY 1

 

 Malmo (1) vs. Moscow (3) 

 

This could be a very close conference finals as Moscow and Malmo are incredibly evenly matched on paper, with Moscow’s offense having a slight edge over Malmo’s and vice versa. In the regular season it was close as well with Moscow taking the win in 3 of the 5 games. Malmo’s playoff hopes could very well come down to Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro who will need to shut down Moscow’s young stars. This series is really a toss up, we have Moscow coming ahead here.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 7

VSN vote: MOS 5, MAL 5 - Moscow advances due to winning season series

 

Continental Cup Finals

 

 Los Angeles (2) vs. Moscow (3) 

 

Moscow finds their way to the finals yet again, and a first time for the current core. To some a surprise, but this roster seems to be hitting their stride at the right time after a season of rapid improvement. In their way? A Los Angeles team that is currently in their final season of competing before a rebuild. This would be a battle of old vs. young as the league's oldest team takes on the youngest. Los Angeles’ experience should be key to their success with all of Todd Cooke @KRZY, Art Vandelay @Gustav , Jon Webber Jr @RileyL, and Napoleon Dynamite @thadthrasher retiring following the playoffs. With that being said, Olober Syko @Spartan will have their work cut out and will need to steal the show for Moscow to pull off another series win and finally bring the cup home. With that being said we have old winning out this time, as Los Angeles taking this one.

 

Prediction: Los Angeles in 4

VSN vote: LAS 8, MOS 0

 

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.

[Spartan 4,530]

Brutal

[scoop 3,447]

23 minutes ago, Alex said:

Malmo turned a lot of heads this season, with a great Victory cup winning season despite only the 9th best roster in the league. This was heavily in part due to the great play of Jacob Stone @scoop and Reece McFleury @Spaz as they both had a great season!

I'm curious by what metric we have the "9th best roster."

 

Also, comparing Moscow's slight edge to us on offense (if it even exists) to the vast superiority that our defense has over theirs is laughable.

[Alex 3,247]

3 minutes ago, scoop said:

I'm curious by what metric we have the "9th best roster."

 

Also, comparing Moscow's slight edge to us on offense (if it even exists) to the vast superiority that our defense has over theirs is laughable.

Malmo does have the 9th best roster overall based off of the formula I've been using for about 10 seasons (weights towards top 4 forwards and top 2 D) and also is 9th in total TPE. You are right Malmo's blueline is the main reason for their success this season and that shows as it is ranked 2nd. Purely looking at forwards Moscow does have a very slight edge 8th vs. 9th. IMO the series would be a real toss up, Moscow has had success against Malmo this season, and season series is a relatively accurate way to project playoff series. With that being said STHS is STHS and nobody really has a good grasp on how it works.

[scoop 3,447]

1 minute ago, Alex said:

and season series is a relatively accurate way to project playoff series.

Tell that to the 0-2 hole that Malmo is in against London.

[Gaikoku-hito 2,132]

2 hours ago, scoop said:

Tell that to the 0-2 hole that Malmo is in against London.

but must also understand that some teams get shafted by STHS in the regular season as London is the best team on paper using the formula that Alex gave above as London has the best offense, 5th best defense and 1st goaltender not to mention #1 in total TPE and average TPE. Which is why I went with London to upset Malmo!!

 

But we do take the series heavily into consideration as it is a good indicator of what we can expect to happen; also down 2-0 doesn`t mean anything to STHS as most come back to win 4 straight and take the series in six. I would be worried if Malmo drops another game though!!

[Gaikoku-hito 2,132]

3 hours ago, Spartan said:

Brutal

But

[Daniel Janser 2,214]

6 hours ago, Spartan said:

Brutal

I think by now it is a 'Spartan cannot win' meme

[Alex 3,247]

1 hour ago, Daniel Janser said:

I think by now it is a 'Spartan cannot win' meme

I didn’t say it…

[rory 1,943]

Lucky

[Grape 738]

 

12 hours ago, Alex said:

 

 

Continental Cup Finals

 

 

 Los Angeles (2) vs. Moscow (3) 

 

Prediction: Los Angeles in 4

Some things never change

[Spartan 4,530]

6 hours ago, Daniel Janser said:

I think by now it is a 'Spartan cannot win' meme

By now? You're like 10 seasons late. 

[KaleebtheMighty 1,539]