Apparently I'm supposed to post this here this week

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This is my VHL Magazine entry for this week's issue, I'm supposed to post it in here this week

Edited February 29, 2016 by ADwyer87

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On February 27, 2016 at 2:45 AM, ADwyer87 said:

Around the VHLM

S47 Finals Preview

 

Welcome, everyone, to the last issue of Around the VHLM for the S47 season! The second round of the VLLM was much more exciting, including an exciting game 7 in Ottawa. Today we will be looking at this year's VHLM finals participants and be breaking down each team to figure out what they need to do to win! So let's get started!

 

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Ottawa summary: Two things stood out to us in the 7 game series against Yukon. One was that Atticus Von Braxton IV has been tragically left out of S48 Rookie of the Year consideration. Another is that Ottawa has possibly the top left winger core in the VHLM. Pietro Maximoff and David Hamilton combined for 13 goals and 10 assists in the aforementioned matchup. They could use some help from their elite winger Kendrick Cole though. So far this playoffs Cole has yet so put a puck in the net, despite piling up assists. Cian Mercer has been a great option for the Lynx on defense so far. His goal scoring ability is pretty weak, but he is a top VHLM playmaker and plays fundamentally sound defense. Mercer could be called upon to control the pace in both the the offensive and defensive zone in this finals. Yannik Zug has simply not lived up to expectations this playoffs. He hasn't added much offensively to the team, and besides his shot blocking abilities, he's actually been a liability defensively. The Lynx might be better off replacing him with someone else for the finals.

 

Bratislava summary: Bratislava has made an incredible transformation from where they were midseason. Saul Hackett has been a great fit in the Watchmen’s system so far and is the team’s leading scorer in the playoffs so far. Vincent Adultman has been a huge beneficiary of these new teammates and the great chemistry has continued to show in the playoffs. S48 draftee Bogdan Podarok struggled the last half of the season, but he has shined throughout the playoffs so far, leading the team in goals with 5. Benjamin Tumack has stepped up and is adding nice scoring ability on top of his always solid physical game on defense. Alexander Davidson was sent down to the VHLM around the trade deadline. He's added some high volume shooting to the team and has been very good on offense. Artom Zhumbayev has been an enigma these playoffs. While he was one of the top players in the regular season, and boasts an excellent 4-0-2 record so far, his save percentage has been a measly .883%, something he must improve to keep the Watchmen in the finals.

 

Keys to victory for the Lynx: Beating the defense. Bratislava easily boasts the top defensive squad in the VHLM. They have so much talent at D that some even play on the forward lines! If Ottawa is going to have any chance at winning the series, they are going to have to figure out a way to get behind the Watchmen defense. If they can manage to go through the, and get shots on net, they can hope to capitalize on the struggling goalie Zhumbayev.

 

Keys to victory for the Watchmen: AVB4. The Ottawa goalie is a big reason that the Lynx made it past Yukon in the conference finals. He's looked excellent in the playoffs so far and it won't be easy for Bratislava to get pucks behind him. In order to score, quality of shot will most likely matter more than quantity. Waiting for a perfect opportunity and risking a play being broken up should be more effective than sending a sub-par shot toward Braxton that he should easily stop

 

Prediction: There's much to like in this matchup. The defending champion Ottawa Lynx will definitely be excited to win back to back, but the Bratislava Watchmen, with two players(Adultman and Zhumbayev) on last year's Moscow squad, could be hoping for a last minute chance at revenge! Ottawa has a superior main core and goaltender, but Bratislava is drowning in depth and have an incredible defensive unit. Taking that in mind(and definitely not the fact that my player is on the Watchmen), I predict for the S47 VHLM Founders’ Cup finals to be won by Bratislava in 6 games.

 

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VHLM THREE STARS OF THE CONFERENCE FINALS
1. Unassisted - YUK - 9 G, 8 A, 41 S, 14 Hits, 6 SB
2. Black Velvet - YUK - 7 G, 10 A, 75 S, 20 Hits, 18 SB
3. David Hamilton - OTT - 6 G, 6 A, 60 S, 18 Hits, 7 SB