Can Davos Grab a Bye? [1/2]

[CowboyinAmerica 2,889]

 

 

Davos -- This was never supposed to be the season it all came together for HC Davos Dynamo - with so many young players, the franchise was originally looking towards S62 and S63 as the prime years it would compete for a title. The beginning of the season seemed to upend those expectations, though, as the Dynamo roared out to first place halfway through the season with better than expected defense in particular.

 

But recent games have seen the Dynamo crashing back down to earth. With recent losses, as well as long winning streaks by each of their competitors, the Dynamo sit at 88 points in the standings with 10 games left to play—three points behind the Wranglers (on a 4 game winning streak) for second and one point ahead of the Americans (on an 8 game winning streak) for fourth.

 

Getting that third spot in the VHL is crucial. It means a first round bye, while the fourth place team has to go to a playoff against the fifth place team. And despite Quebec in fifth place being not as strong as fifth place teams in years past, with the three game series that the VHL for some reason clings to, anything can happen.

 

So will the Dynamo be able to pull it off? A lot will be riding on their schedule. Here’s the teams they have left to play, in order of where those teams currently are in the standings:

 

Titans x3, Meute x2, Reign x1, Bears x4

 

That’s actually a really solid schedule for the Dynamo to be up against over the final 10 games. Only three games (all against top ranked Helsinki) will be against fellow competitors for the top three spots in the playoffs, while five games will be against the bottom three teams in the league. It also helps that goalie Shawn Brodeur has actually sat more games than necessary so far this season, meaning the chances of one of those victories getting sniped is lower.

 

For comparison, let’s take a look at what the Americans have the rest of the way:

 

Titans x1, Wranglers x3, Meute x1, Reign x3, Bears x1, Legion x1

 

The Americans also have five games against the bottom three teams in the schedule, but especially given Riga’s 52 points to Seattle’s 26, those bottom games for New York will be slightly harder. In addition, they’ll be playing four games against the top of the schedule, including three against a Calgary team that will be going all-out in those contests. The Americans’ schedule is definitely tougher than the Dynamo’s, although I wouldn’t say by an outrageous amount. Ike Arkander can also only play two more games the rest of the way.

 

Now, let’s take a look at Calgary’s remaining schedule:

 

Americans x3, Meute x1, Reign x2, Bears x1, Legion x3

 

This one actually may be slightly easier than the Davos schedule, given that the Wranglers play Toronto three times the rest of the way. This game also underscores just how important those Calgary/New York matchups will be, and you better believe that three of Stropko’s eight games remaining that he’s eligible to play will be in those contests.

 

So if I had my prediction, I’d bet that the final standings will actually be what they are right now: Helsinki in first, Calgary and Davos in second and third with byes, respectively, then New York playing Quebec in the play-in series. But in the VHL, anything could happen, and don’t be surprised by some craziness.

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Review:

Always interesting looking at posts like these after all is said and done. Great cup win by Davos!