VHL This Week (5.10.15) - Dynamic Duo

[Molholt 2,185]

VHL This Week

| S43 Regular Season - Second Edition |

 

Welcome
 
The way things were expected to happen are starting to take shape, as we've now played 20 games in the season. This week we'll talk about how the standings are shaping up, how the individual leaders are doing, and then we'll take a deeper look at a tandem that is putting up out of this world numbers so far this year. Let's start by taking a look at the things you need to be aware of around the league this week!
 
Announcements
 
The VHL has revamped its social media, and we're asking for your help! Give the VHL's Twitter account a follow, check out the Facebook page, and make some graphics for or just check out the new Instagram feed!
 
Team Talk
 
We've had a change in power in the North American Conference, as the conference favorite Quebec City has reclaimed the top spot over Seattle. Quebec has been playing very well recently, winning eight of their last ten, with one of the losses coming in overtime. They've won 5 in a row as of writing, and are sitting in first place on their side with 30 points (14-4-2).

 

Seattle sits in second place with 28 points (13-5-2), as they have won seven of their last ten. While Seattle has scored two more goals than Quebec, their goals allowed is higher which gives them a lower point differential.

 

Coming in third so far is the New York Americans, a team who is rebuilding but is still managing to hold Toronto out of the playoff picture. New York's 17 points (8-11-1) is the lowest of any playoff picture team in either side by 10 points. We expect to see Toronto overtake them, but neither team has been stellar as of late.

 

Toronto will need to step up their performance, as they have only won four of their last ten, even though they've now added a legitimate goaltender. They are currently on a two game losing streak, so they've got some issues to work out. While we do expect them to overtake New York in the standings, they'll need to get some things clicking before playoffs or they'll see an early exit.

 

Calgary is holding the bottom position in the NAC with just 10 points (4-14-2) on the year, which is the second worse total in the league. They'll likely continue this trajectory as they are a rebuilding team.

 

The European side is much closer and is currently led by the Cologne Express, who sit with 34 points (16-2-2) atop the standings. They haven't lost in regulation in their last ten games, but have lost two in overtime. They have the second highest point differential in the league, with the second fewest goals allowed.

 

The Dynamo sit in second with 33 points (16-3-1), the only difference being one regulation loss instead of an overtime loss. They have also won eight of their last ten, with both losses coming in regulation. The Dynamo have the fewest goals allowed by far this season, with eleven fewer than Cologne. This helps them to the league's best point differential.

 

The Vikings currently reside in third with 27 points (13-6-1). They have won four in a row, and six of their last ten. The Vikings are the best goal scorers in the league right now with 67 as a team. 

 

Riga is our first team out of the playoff discussion in Europe, with 13 points (6-13-1), which is less than half of the third place Vikings. The Reign are a rebuilding team, so this is no surprise. They have won half of their last ten games though, and at least show some early signs of being competitive in the near future. However, they have allowed the most goals in the league thus far.

 

The Titans bring up the rear, and are the worst team in the entire league so far with just 7 points (3-16-1). They have the fewest goals scored in the league and the worst point differential. Another rebuilding team, this is no surprise. They've lost eleven straight games, the worst active streak.

 

Dynamic Duo

 
Let's start off with taking a look at the incredible run the Davos Dynamo goaltenders are having at this point in the season. It is safe to say that not many people expected Callum Sinclair to be the best goalie this season. He's a good player, but many other veterans were the likely picks. It is even safer to say that no one would ever expect DAV G to be a top goalie as well, as he has never been an everyday player, and doesn't even have a real name. However, these two have been absolutely outstanding so far. 

 

Sinclair is atop the goalie leaderboard among qualified players in save percentage and goals against average. His 0.948% is 0.012% better than Brookside in second place, who is a much more experienced goalie. His 1.29 GAA is 0.28 better than Brookside's, and is an outstanding mark if he can keep it up. It would be quite the unbelievable season if he managed to continue this pace and put up a full season of these numbers. 

 

DAV G has been just as impressive. While he hasn't played enough to qualify, his four games in net have all been wins for Davos. He has allowed two goals this season, for a staggering 0.972% save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average. The ability to give Sinclair a needed break and bring in a backup who is playing at this level has been a major blessing for Davos, and is a big reason why they easily have the fewest goals allowed as a team.

 

Player Talk

 
Let's get back to the rest of the leaders. A familiar face has taken over the goals leaders. Let's all welcome back Bruno Wolf! After a slow start to the season, he has surpassed Lord Karnage and Jackson Miller, who were leading the last time we checked in. His 17 goals are the highest in the league. 

 

Jake Wylde continues to dominate the assists category, no doubt helped by Wolf's resurgence. He has 32 dimes, 12 more than the two Cologne Express players tied for second, Xin Xie Xiao and Thomas O'Malley. 

 

We have four players who have an argument for being the league's best center right now in terms of points. Tom Slaughter leads them with 32 points (13-19 split), but Jody 3 Moons, Nicolas Caprivi and Thomas O'Malley all trail with 31 points. Jody 3 Moons leads them in goals with 14 and O'Malley leads them in assists with 20. When you factor in face-off percentages, Slaughter's 68.50% is well ahead of the rest of the pack, with 3 Moons sporting a 62.47% as the next highest among the four.

 

James Faraday is leading the pack of left wingers in points with 27 (12-15) so far. He is followed by reigning rookie of the year Lord Karnage who has 16 goals and 24 total points. 

 

Bruno Wolf tops the right wingers with 30 points and his league leading 17 goals. He is followed closely by XXX with his 20 assists helping him to 29 points. 

 

Among defenseman, Jake Wylde is leading the way handily, largely due to his significant lead in assists (32), which give him 33 total points. Next in line are two Seattle defenders, Villeneuve and Karlsson, as well as Toronto's Jerrick Poole. Phil has 22 points and Karlsson is tied with Poole with 21.

 

Our rookie of the year favorite has shifted to the top pick E'Twaun Delicious, who has jumped from third among rookies to first in total point. His 11 goals and 9 assists help him to a 5 point lead over Prince Gigga-Bijou among first year players. It seems like the award is now his to lose. 

 

Bruno Wolf is currently on a 5 game goal scoring streak. Slaughter and Delicious are both on 4 game streaks. Mario De Rossi is on a 7 game point scoring streak.

 

Vladimir Komarov is the only player to win a fight this season.

 
Trivia Talk
 
Answer these questions by sending a PM to me. Also, do not post your answers in public. Lastly, all answers are found within this article, not based on any games posted after this has been posted.
 
1. How many combined assists do Cologne's top two passers have, according to this article?
 
2. How many goals has Jake Wylde scored this season, according to this article?
 
3. What percentage of face-offs has Tom Slaughter lost, according to this article?
 
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Edited May 10, 2015 by Molholt

[Victor 10,943]

ugh now I have to do basic math

[eaglesfan036 4,603]

nicely done

[Phil 5,119]

Tricky last question.

[STZ 5,360]

Great job withe the questions this week I like that it isn't time sensitive anymore

[Molholt 2,185]

Great job withe the questions this week I like that it isn't time sensitive anymore

 

It wasn't before either - all of those were in the text as well, apparently I just didn't indicate it clearly enough. 

 

All of my questions will always be something referenced in my article, unless expressly stated otherwise.