Three Teams Vying for EU Crown

[tcookie 861]

As we head past the halfway point of S95, there is a three-headed monster atop the European Conference (and the whole of the VHL) that could make for some very exciting jockeying for position down the stretch.

 

Led by massive starts to the season from Shubham Anand (36 goals, 71 points) and Lucy Leitner (14 goals, 61 points) - plus great netminding from Red Panda (26 wins, 2.31 GAA, 0.923 SV%) - the Riga Reign currently find themselves in first place by a hair, with a 32-8-2 record for 66 points in 42 games.

 

Also with 66 points, but in 43 games, are the 32-9-2 Moscow Menace, who boast two of the league's top three scorers in Jarmo Ruutu and David Rashford, each working with 73 points in those 43 games. Between the pipes, Moscow has Olober Syko who's posted nearly identical numbers to Panda (26 wins, 2.31 GAA, 0.925 SV%) albeit over four more games. With 66 points, defenseman Obuz Schneider Canet du Bocage is tied for the league lead in defenseman scoring, too.

 

Finally, one point back of the two leaders, we have the Malmo Nighthawks (30-8-5). Malmo actually has the league's best offense with 174 goals and a +69 goal differential, with veteran centre Randy Bobandy going out with an absolute bang. Bobandy's career best is 91 points, but so far he's on pace to break that in game 51 of this season, with a whopping 77 points through 43 games so far. Defenseman Jacob Stone is the guy tied with Bocage at 66 points, and the goaltending duo of Karl Herzlich and Jorgen Lovstrom has been very effective.

 

All three teams have remarkably similar records and star power at all three positions, so it will be fascinating to see how this battle plays out down the stretch, especially since the two that don't finish first will end up playing each other in the first round of the playoffs.