Ravenwing's Growth, Heading into Finals

[der meister 3,188]

During their improbable run to the championship last season, New York Americans' center Essian Ravenwing had 5 goals and 16 points in 17 games. Two of the 5 goals were game winners. Ravenwing ended the playoffs with a disappointing 49.49% faceoff winning percentage. 

 

Heading back to the finals for a second consecutive season, the Welshman has stepped up his game. He currently has 4 goals and 13 points in 12 games, tying him for the team lead in scoring with winger Diana Maxwell, whose 6 goals paces the club. Once again, Ravenwing has 2 game winning goals, but his faceoff percentage has climbed by nearly 5%, up to 54.35%. 

With the Americans depth at forward, they've been a difficult team to contain. Sitting just behind Maxwell and Ravenwing is Tom Lincoln, with 12 points, then Unassisted with 11, and newcomer Joel Jarvi with 10. The final forward in the top 6, Phil Shankly, has only 5 points so far, but Shankly was the first star in the game 7 overtime win over the Seattle Bears, where the young Brit scored a pair, including the winner. 

 

Moving into a series with the Stockholm Vikings, the Americans will have to be wary of Tyson Kohler, who currently has a 22.22% shooting percentage, which many may call unsustainable. For the Vikings to win, Kohler will have to continue to carry the Stockholm offense on his back; otherwise, the series could be done in as few as 5 games.

 

Prediction: Americans in 6.