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Kings, Hounds stay alive in playoffs


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Every series of the VHLM playoffs began with a 3-0 lead for the higher seed, with most of those games not being particularly close. Through those first 12 games, there were four games won by five or more goals. For the most part, the bottom seeds of the playoffs aren't bad teams, so the lopsidedness of the opening round wasn't necessarily expected to be this bad. In total, the winning teams won by an average of 3.4 goals. Yes, the higher seeds were all clear favorites, with even the 4 vs 5 match-up pitting the 105-point Wild against the 89-point Kings, whose goal differentials for the season were 84 and 15, respectively; but coming this close to four sweeps?

 

The Reapers and 21st did their parts in moving the playoffs along as quickly as possible, sending the Storm and Marlins home for the off-season. Mexico City and Mississauga, however, were not ready to stop playing just yet.

 

The Kings were taking on the Wild, the team they struggled most against during the regular season. The first three games of the series would see that trend continue, with Saskatoon scoring 20 goals to Mexico City's six. Mexico's Henrik Zoiderberg carried the team in Game 4, however, putting an end to Saskatoon's hopes of a sweep. In the middle of the first period, the Kings jumped out to a 3-0 lead in just over a three minute span. They ended up winning the game 4-2, with Zoiderberg scoring once and assisting on the other three goals. Wrike Chernobyl gave the offense a good chance to win the game, stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced. Worth noting, the vastly inferior MEXI G started in net for the Kings in Games 1 and 2, though Chernobyl did allow six goals in his Game 3 loss.

 

As the series goes back to Saskatoon, it's likely that the Kings have merely delayed the inevitable. While nothing is impossible, the dominance that the Wild displayed over the Kings throughout the regular season and the first three games of the playoffs make it hard to believe the series will even reach a Game 7.

 

The closest of the match-ups going into the playoffs was arguably Ottawa vs Mississauga, with the seven regular season games having been split 4 to 3 in Ottawa's advantage. Although the series started out with the Lynx winning the first three contests, the Hounds at least kept two of them close (a 6-0 Game 2 being the exception). Ottawa was leading 2-1 after the first period in Game 4, but Mississauga scored one in the second and two in the third; meanwhile, Rayz Funk stopped 28 straight shots after allowing two of the first eight he faced to go in. Dan Gles scored two goals in the game for the Hounds.

 

While I do believe the Kings' chances of a comeback are very low in their series, I don't think Mississauga should be counted out. The Hounds have not gotten a ton of production in the series from Callum MacElroy, who led the league in goals and points during the regular season, so if he can come online for them, they could potentially stand a chance. Ultimately I do think it is likely that Ottawa ends the series in one or two more games, but I this is the best chance there is for excitement in the first round.

 

If the Wild and Lynx can finish off their series, the second round will be Philadelphia vs Saskatoon and Halifax vs Ottawa.

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