VSN Presents: S93 Weekly Predictions (Apr 15 - Apr 21)

[Gaikoku-hito 2,133]

 

Playoff are right around the corner and the VHL in both conference as a ton of developing story lines; Could we see a three way tie at the end of the week and maybe the season in the European conference title? It might just happen!! Toronto Legion has the North American Conference all but locked up right? Nope, Watch for the Seattle Bears to make a late season push to catch Toronto, which could set up a fantastic finish for the North American title between the two teams in the final week. Is six points up in the final wildcard race enough? Chicago hopes that it will be as they try to hold off Vancouver and Calgary to claim the final wildcard spot in the North. Some team are also looking a head to the end of the regular season and what they hope will be a turn around off season through the draft, free agency and management changes. Either way lets get into this week.

 

 

 

Current Standings:

                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       

1.     Toronto Legion                                  39-11-1           79pts                 10-3-0                                1st North American

2.     Seattle Bears                                    31-17-4           66pts                  9-3-2                               4th North American

3.     New York Americans                       28-16-9           65pts                  7-5-3                               3rd   North American   

4.     D.C. Dragons                                    31-18-3           65pts                  4-8-2                                2nd North American  

5.     Chicago Phoenix                              21-21-10          52pts                  4-7-3                                5th North American 

6.     Vancouver Wolves                           20-26-6           46pts                  5-7-2                                6th North American 

7.     Calgary Wranglers                           20-29-3           43pts                  4-8-2                                7th North American  

8.     Los Angeles Stars                             3-48-1              7pts                  2-12-1                              8th North American  

 

 

Next Week Predictions:

 

 1.    

Toronto really pulled away during this past week from the rest of the North American conference so should easily walk to the NA title, right? Nope, the Legion will be watching over their shoulders this week if I am correct as the fast-charging Seattle Bears should get close to them in overall points and might just pass them but since the Bears are so far back, I am not going to be that bold but should set up an interesting finish as Toronto and Da bears play twice in the final week of the season. Why has Toronto been so dominate so far well look no further than 204 GF; which is 15 more than any other team. The Legion are head by a three head monster of Diego Machado @Dadam30(35-47-82pts), Harry Callahan @dstevensonjr(25-57-82pts) and Jimi Jaks @ke1vi(37-41-78pts) all top three in the league in scoring. Which is only telling part of the story.

 

 

2.    

Trade swung the standings for the Seattle Bears last week as they climbed to second in the North American conference and add in  a weaker schedule this week could see the Bears actually go undefeated this week but that might be a bit bold since they play the Dragons three times but that could only slow them down. By the end of the week the Bears led by new tender Fuukka Rask @Jubis(6-2-1, 2.50ga & 0.918%) should be charging down Toronto and clearly second by the end of the week.

 

 

3.    

Pretty much the same for New York this week playing a few games above five hundred and secure in the third or fourth spot within the conference. FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist @STZ(28-22-50pts) has really fallen off lately and will need to be better down the stretch if New York is going to be a concern for any of the top three teams in the conference. 36W @rory(25-25-8, 2.44ga & 0.929%) has clearly been a bright spot again this season for New York but can he steal a playoff series or two for the Americans?

 

 

4.    

Well, I guess my kiss of death is still working as I didn`t foresee the Dragons falling out of the sky with an 4-8-2 record this past week. Can the bounce back? This will really depend on the three-game series against Seattle this week; if they lose all three games then they will back and clearly be looking at playing in the wildcard round but if they can beat Seattle than they will put some thoughts into the Bears heads as it could be a first round preview. Henry Tucker Jr @NSG(27-15-2, 2.82ga & 0.919%) will need to lead the charge of the Dragons.

 

 

5.    

Are the Phoenix playing with the chasing Wolves? It seems that way since the Phoenix are doing just enough to stay a head of the Wolves only dropping a single point this past week to chasing team from Vancouver and at the current pace should be enough to secure the final playoff spot. Overall, the team needs just a bit more from Yaroslav Trunov @qripll(36-31-67pts) just behind his 94pt pace from last season and Ryan Artyomov @Enorama(15-21-7, 3.29ga & 0.912%) if Chicago is going to claim the final spot.

 

 

6.    

The wild dogs are chasing but how much do they have left as I think I am starting to see the tongues starting to hang? Can Vancouver make up the six points to the Phoenix? Yes, but I think they will need some help if they are going to actually pass them and make the playoffs. First Vancouver need to worry only about what they can control and that is winning game that they need to win. Vancouver will need Liv Slater @Subject056(20-37-57pts) to regain the former from last season an one of the two offensive rookies to take the next step in Logan Ninefingers @Scurvy(19-20-39pts) or Riley Martin @Smarch(18-16-34pts).

 

 

7.    

Calgary has been rather disappointing since they trade for Larry Abass Jr @RileyL(12-10-22pts) and Jens Lekman @Bobcat(5-9-14pts) since I expected them to move up the standings. For whatever reason the trade just hasn`t worked and is most evident by Larry Abass Jr @RileyL struggles since joining the the Wranglers since he had 33pts in Vancouver in 22 games and now only has 22pts in 30 games with Calgary. What has gone wrong other than the fact that the team just cannot find any goal scoring with a defender leading the team in scoring in Phil Strasmore @Phil(9-40-49pts). Nine points back of the final wildcard spot with 20 games remaining; likely means season done and dusted.

 

 

8.    

The season cannot end fast enough for this team but some hope last week as the Stars up ended Warsaw and HC Davos giving some sign of hope and more important fight from a team that will be dusting off the golf clubs in next two weeks. Draft is coming and so should some more help.

 

 

 

 

 

Current Standings:

                    Standings                                        Record             Points                   Last Wk                          Prediction Last Wk                       

1.     Malmo Nighthawks                           34-13-4           72pts                 10-4-0                            3rd European Conference

2.     Prague Phantoms                             34-14-4           72pts                 10-4-0                             4th European Conference

3.     Moscow Menace                              33-16-3           69pts                   7-7-0                              1st European Conference

4.     London United                                  32-15-5           69pts                   8-5-1                              2nd European Conference

5.     Warsaw Predators                            33-16-3           69pts                  11-3-1                              5th European Conference

6.     Helsinki Titans                                  28-22-1            57pts                   9-4-1                              6th European Conference

7.     Riga Reign                                         18-29-5            41pts                    7-6-1                             7th European Conference

8.     HC Davos Dynamo                           10-40-2           22pts                    6-8-0       　                 8th European Conference

 

 

 

Next Week Predictions:

 

1.    

Can I throw my hands up and say I don`t know!! I have a possible three way tie happening for first in the European Conference this week so will have the Malmo remain at the top of the standing as the Nighthawks could be either first or third by the end of the week. Ash Sparks @DarkSpyro(33-12-4, 2.41ga & 0.925%) has been unreal this season for Malmo as he was last season; the question now is can he carry them in the playoffs? Malmo continue to play the team game with no one near the league leaders in scoring. While Jacob Stone @scoop(15-45-60pts) should have his name mentioned again in the Jake Wylde conversation.

 

 

2.    

Again can either be first or as low as thrid in the standings, it is too early to judge the LeBen Aky @Ben_Reformed(0-3-3pts) trade but should help the team as they move towards the playoffs. Still expected to see a bigger move by Prague but it is what it is at this time. Likely it will cost them in the playoff unless John Jameson @Frank(35-54-89pts); Nikolas Kauppi @Tetricide(41-40-81pts) and Skor McFleury @Alex(16-58-74pts) can continue to carry the team with Matt Murdock @Acydburn(29-11-4; 2.55ga & 0.934%). Go time is right around the corner for this team!!

 

 

3.      

Average hockey last week cost me and this team in the standings. Kiss of death is still real it seems but I am going to double down and see this team with a bounce back this week. First or third is my prediction in the really tight European conference. Huge trade see Moscow also get better at the back end with Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh(1-9-10pts). Which is looking good through ten games. Will it be enough to push them toward the Continental Cup at the end of the season? We only have a few weeks to find out!!

 

 

4.    

With the leading goal score Wann Kerr @VattghernCZ(38-55-93pts) on your team, you would expect to be higher up than a wildcard spot but European Conference has been that tight this season that a team that could have easily won the conference is likely playing in the Wildcard game against Warsaw. Can one line drive this team high up the standing and to the Continental Cup? I am not so sure but after the trade deadline that is what they are planning to do!!

 

 

5.    

It will be close with London for home ice advantage during the Wildcard round and I am not sure who is going to finish where. Warsaw has been the surprise team of the season in my eyes with King Kisslinger @Kisslinger(28-54-82pts) breaking out and clearly a Dustin Funk leading candidate; not to mention Thor Reingaard @N0HBDY(37-42-79pts) and Maxim Anisimov @McLovin(34-42-76pts) taking another step this season. Easy when you have an elite goaltender allowing you to cheat towards the offense end as Lachlan Summers @kirbithan(31-16-2, 2.56ga & 0.935%) has been this season.

 

 

6.    

Well, that wasn`t what I expected from Helsinki when I was looking for them to make a trade last week to push them back towards a playoff spot. Gone is star goaltender Fuukka Rask @Jubis(13-18-0, 2.81ga & 0.923%) traded to the Seattle Bears and out goes former Alexander Valiq Trophy winning Kronchy Kardashian @Garsh(12-27-39pts) to Moscow; all but giving up on the season? But than why haven`t they traded aging Daryl Dixon @Ricer13(30-40-70pts) or Michael Shotter @TacocaT9(8-38-46pts)? Twelve points out of the playoffs so it is very unlikely they will make the dance this season as the window of contention is clearly closing for the Titans; if not closed already!!

 

 

7.    

Interesting off season lay a head for the Riga Reign as I look at the team as if they are at a cross road with a new management team expected to take over but also just not good enough to really push forward with the current roster. The roster is lacking star power and with one pick this off season; it is likely that even if they pick star player is going to be enough to push this team towards contending. It will be interesting how the new management views the teams current assets and how aggressive they will be trying to turn this team into a contender. Left in better shape than most teams when changing management so the new managers should have some ability to make changes if that is the direction that they look to head.

 

 

8.    

How long will the rebuild last? Davos looks set to pick another solid three players this off season with what should be at least top three pick with a bit a lotto luck should be top two and two early second round picks at 18th and 19th or 20th. Add in the prospect that the team drafted last season and they should be much better next season but still clearly needing time for the prospect to develop. So how much longer is this fan base going to put up with losing?

 

 

 

 

Final Thought:

10/16 this week or 62.5%. Worse than last week thanks to Moscow and D.C. or the kiss of death; not to mention early pay-off of some of the trade completed last week ahead of the trade deadline. A bunch to still watch for as any of the top five team in the European conference can place 1st or 5th. While in the North American conference the Bears are charging hard for the top spot while Chicago will try to hold off the Wolves and Wranglers for the final playoff spot.

[Banackock 8,134]