S48 Playoff Power Rankings

[scoop 3,432]

Playoff Power Rankings

At least I got the top four teams right, but that was an easy call. Canada's success has certainly been a bit of a surprise, but overall some of the things that I expected to happen did. Team Canada and Team World have earned byes for the first round of they playoffs, while the expected results in the quarterfinals would see Team Europe and Team Scandinavia to face them. The upset potential is always there for Team Mercenaries, but Team USA is different story.

 

1. World (+1)

After losing a couple games early on, Team World went 6-0-1 to secure the second seed in the playoffs. Lord Karnage is playing fantastic as always, leading in goals (9) and hits (44). Ariel Weinstein is one of the better goalies in the tournament, posting a 0.920 save percentage. The team scored 35 goals and allowed just 27, making them third in both categories and second in differential. They aren't without flaws, however and they could still very well end up without a medal given the closeness of the top four teams.

 

2. Canada (+2)

I can't justify calling a team with Atticus von Braxton as its starting goalie the best, because he's proven to be a major liability. Yes, they clinched the top seed while scoring 38 goals, but they allowed 33. Marcel Faux, recently named the Most Improved Player in S48, continued his upward climb leading the offense with eight goals and 16 points. Canada had three of the top six players in hits in Bronson Faux, Zach Parechkin, and Ted Doughty.
 

3. Europe (-2)

As I expected, if Europe was going to struggle, it was going to come from the offense. With no player scoring more than five goals, they scored the third fewest with just 27 goals; and they were just four above last but eight behind third. Hans Wingate looked solid, and he should be their starter throughout the playoffs. Additionally, while their offense wasn't the best, they did have the best powerplay unit, leading the tournament with 11 goals and a 26.8% conversion rate.

 

4. Scandinavia (-1)
Like Canada, Scandinavia suffers in net. They could easily be ranked higher if there wasn't always the chance that Sven Wolf or Joanna Akerfeldt, whoever happens to be playing, blows the game for them. Akerfeldt did go 4-0 in in the final four games, but three of these wins were against the teams ranked below them. As a team, Scandinavia allowed the fewest shots, took the second most, and had by far the best face-off percentage. However, their penalty kill was last in the league.

 

5. Mercenaries (-)
Following up on his Aidan Shaw Trophy, Sandro Clegane has put up a valiant effort for Team Mercenaries. Starting seven games, he had the best save percentage (0.935) and two shutouts. But the offense could not get going for the team, as not a single player had a double-digit point total. They allowed the second fewest goals at 26, but unfortunately they only scored 23 themselves. They did take a game from both Canada and Europe, but two wins against the United States were all they could add to that.

 

6. USA (-)
They'll have one last shot to win a game against Team Europe in the quarterfinals, but it's likely they'll end up with a winless tournament. As expected, Freedom McJustice did alright, scoring eight goals, but as a team they scored the second fewest. Even worse, they allowed an average of 4.9 goals per game. They did manage to at least take their final two games to shootouts, and overall half of their games were lost by just a single goal.

[evrydayimbyfuglien 600]

Woop, woop!

Let's go team World!

Great job with this, you guys have both done a good job with the entire tourney so far.

[CowboyinAmerica 2,891]

A potential World/Europe semifinal would be a great one. Just remember to take the advice here and put me back in the starting lineup @Phil   

[Phil 5,119]

Just now, CowboyinAmerica said:

A potential World/Europe semifinal would be a great one. Just remember to take the advice here and put me back in the starting lineup @Phil   

Was just about to send a PM to Higgy

[Baozi 1,658]

Go World!

[Victor 10,946]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

Was just about to send a PM to Higgy

Betrayal after my CLEGANEBOWL demolition.

[CowboyinAmerica 2,891]

4 minutes ago, Victor said:

Betrayal after my CLEGANEBOWL demolition.

 

If we end up playing the Mercs in a gold or bronze medal game, I'm 100% cool with a CLEGANEBOWL rematch.

[Phil 5,119]

14 minutes ago, Victor said:

Betrayal after my CLEGANEBOWL demolition.

If Our Blessed GM @Kendrick wants it differently, he'll command it be so.

 

So say we all.

 

 

[Victor 10,946]

It is known.

[Kendrick 4,741]

@Phil Wingate shall be our guy until Lindy Ruff tells me to switch them.