VSN Presents: S95 VHL Playoff Preview

[Alex 3,248]

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, also sorry about the delay, I'm coming off a crazy busy weekend.

 

S95 VHLE Playoff Preview | Sjin's Locomotive - The Cologne Express

 

Conference Semi-Finals

 

Vancouver (2) vs. Chicago (3)

 

This series presents two very different stories, Vancouver stormed back after their usual slow start, whereas Chicago has been great and consistent all season. Both teams do have fairly strong rosters, but with Vancouver having a significant edge in almost every position this will be a uphill battle for Chicago with the series essentially being on the shoulders of Ryan Artyomov as they will be tasked with shutting down Vancouver’s high powered offense. We have Vancouver edging out Chicago here.

 

Prediction: Vancouver in 6

VSN vote: VAN 8, CHI 2

 

Toronto (1) vs. Seattle (4)

 

If there’s an upset in any series it will be here, Seattle was dominant in the season series, winning 4 of the 5 matchups, largely thanks to Giorgiy Costanzov who will be a massive X-factor in this series. Toronto’s playoff hopes will depend on their old core of forwards, namely Mac Atlas, and Jimi Jaks who will need to elevate their game once again. We’ve got Seattle pulling off the upset in a very tight North American Conference.

 

Prediction: Seattle in 6

VSN vote: TOR 3, SEA 7

 

Malmo (2) vs. Riga (3)

 

Malmo and Riga have gone toe to toe all season, in the regular season Riga took a slight edge winning 3 of the 5 games. With that being said every game was very close except for one game where Malmo was just dominant. This series could very well just be how well Malmo’s defense and Jacob Stone can shut down Riga’s offense led by Axle Gunner. This series should by all means be a close one that could really go either way, but we’ve got Riga coming out on top.

 

Prediction: Riga in 7

VSN vote: MAL 4, RIG 6

 

Moscow (1) vs. Davos (4)

 

This series should be the most one-sided series on paper, with Moscow having a significant edge with both their forwards and defensemen. For Davos this series will likely be dependent on Grimgor Ironhide, Antonia Bucatini, and most importantly Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen who will need to stand on their head to give Davos a chance against the defending champions. Without much more to say, there’s no reason why Jarmo Ruutu and company will not win this series. Davos may steal a game or two, but this should be all Moscow.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 6

VSN vote: MOS 8, DAV 2

 

Conference Finals

 

Vancouver (2) vs. Seattle (4)

 

This is possibly the most interesting series of these playoffs, Vancouver won the season series 4-2 and while most games were fairly close, Vancouver does have a significant advantage going into this series. Long-time Wolves skater Liv Slater is primed for an offensive show and this series could very well be it as they look to take advantage of Seattle’s defense. For Seattle this series will be dependent on just that, as they’ll be looking towards Mina to help shutdown Vancouver. We’ve got Vancouver taking this one in a close series.

 

Prediction: Vancouver in 6

VSN vote: VAN 7, SEA 4

 

Moscow (1) vs. Riga (3)

 

It seems like the whole season in the European conference has been coming to this point as Riga and Moscow go head-to-head. Moscow won the regular season (4-2) and will be looking to do the same thing here. This series could really go one of two ways, either a defensive showdown, or just a pure offensive battle, really just depending on Red Panda and Olober Syko as they’ll both be tasked with keeping their team in it. We’ve got Moscow replicating their regular season success and ending the Reign.

 

Prediction: Moscow in 7

VSN vote: MOS 6, RIG 5

 

Continental Cup Finals

 

Moscow (1) vs. Vancouver (2)

 

Do you ever get Deja Vu? Because we have just that, and Moscow and Vancouver meet yet again. With Moscow finally getting over the hump last season they come into this series with a different outlook. In the regular season both teams took 2 games, on paper these two teams are extremely alike, and realistically it’s hard to differentiate the two teams, but Vancouver comes in with a slight edge with both their forwards and defensemen which may just be too much for Moscow thanks to their superior depth. This could be a close one, that could really go either way. We’ve got Vancouver bringing the Continental Cup home yet again.

 

Prediction: Vancouver in 6

VSN vote: MOS 4, VAN 8

 

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.

 

Edited September 17 by Alex

[sadie 941]

riga cup win incoming

[dstevensonjr 445]

2 hours ago, Alex said:

 

Toronto (1) vs. Seattle (4)

 

If there’s an upset in any series it will be here, Seattle was dominant in the season series, winning 4 of the 5 matchups, largely thanks to Giorgiy Costanzov who will be a massive X-factor in this series. Toronto’s playoff hopes will depend on their old core of forwards, namely Mac Atlas, and Jimi Jaks who will need to elevate their game once again. We’ve got Seattle pulling off the upset in a very tight North American Conference.

 

Prediction: Seattle in 6

VSN vote: TOR 3, SEA 7

 

This is Harry Callahan erasure, and I will have none of it.

 

Quote

Prediction: Moscow in 6

VSN vote: LDN 8, MOS 0

London coming out of nowhere to win the vote in dominant fashion!

[Gaikoku-hito 2,135]

Happy I wasn`t the only one to notice it!! LOL!!

Also explains why Davos is up 2-0 now!! LOL!

[JCarson 744]

I like to think of the Moscow versus Davos series as the battle of the Rookies.  For Moscow there is Jillian Woods and Maverick Goncalves the top 2 picks in their draft class.  For Davos you have Felicia Hardy, Johnny Tsunami and Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen.  We will see which teams rookies step up and make the difference in this series.

 

For those of you keeping track right now Davos' rookies are leading the way.

[Spartan 4,531]

14 hours ago, Alex said:

Without much more to say, there’s no reason why Jarmo Ruutu and company will not win this series

Guess if STHS ejects our players immediately into the game, we lose!

[Pifferfish 597]

11 hours ago, JCarson said:

I like to think of the Moscow versus Davos series as the battle of the Rookies.  For Moscow there is Jillian Woods and Maverick Goncalves the top 2 picks in their draft class.  For Davos you have Felicia Hardy, Johnny Tsunami and Aleksanteri Kaskiniemi-Kekkonen.  We will see which teams rookies step up and make the difference in this series.

 

For those of you keeping track right now Davos' rookies are leading the way.

Felicia Hardy is an enigma... Like great point production but terrible defender based on the plus minus. I have no clue how they do what they do

[Frank 5,258]

@VSN take it back you bastards!

[Lemorse7 1,021]

On 9/18/2024 at 7:23 PM, Frank said:

@VSN take it back you bastards!

VSN curse is real