VHL Playoff Preview: Moscow vs Riga

[Matt_O 896]

Moscow acquired their two most important players from Riga; now they face each other in the wild card round. With Randoms and Podrick Cast leading the way, the Menace will take on Ryan Kastelic and the Riga Reign to try to make a date with the Helsinki Titans in the semi finals. Lets look at both teams to see who has the edge

 

Moscow Menace vs Riga Reign

Season Series: 6-2 Riga

 

 

The Moscow Menace were introduced to the VHL in the S65 offseason, when the VHL expanded from 8 teams to 9 teams. They had a truly horrendous first season, with only 9 wins. The next season, they struggled, barely finishing ahead of Malmo in eighth place. In that offseason, they decided they had enough of tanking. They traded for Randoms and Podrick Cast from Riga in exchange for many picks. They also got Roger Sterling from Vancouver, to solidify themselves in the defensive zone. They still struggled defensively, but improved on last season by over 60 goals. Riga is one of the better teams in the league on offense and defense, trading for Elias Dahlberg and Joseph McWolf in the offseason. The Menace, in their first ever playoff series, will have to stay poised against a team that has been in the playoffs since the past five postseasons.

 

Roster

 

On offense, the talent Moscow has is undeniable. Their offensive firepower is fueled by Podrick Cast breaking 100 points, and Randoms breaking 80. They also have Jet Jaguar and Dan Baillie scoring at a point per game clip, and solid depth players in Mark Gebauer and Jorgon Weyed. Riga also has a very solid offensive attack, with Ryan Kastelic's switch to center being the turning point. He turned in a remarkable hot streak at the end of the season, finishing with 86 points. He is complimented by Joseph McWolf on the back end, and Elias Dahlberg and Pat Svoboda on the wings. All three of those players were traded for in the great Riga Re-tool, which I have copyrighted. The young guns in Apollo Hackett, Mikko Aaltonen, Lincoln Tate and Hunter Hearst Helmsley have also kept this team a float.

 

X Factor

 

Moscow

The two right wingers, Mat Tocco and Jorgon Weyed, will have to step up. In both cases, the two other forwards (Jaguar+Randoms, Baillie+Cast) have had elite seasons, with over 70 points. Tocco and Weyed have not been up to that standard, with 23 and 57 points respectively. Moscow needs those two, especially Tocco, to step up if they want to defeat the more experienced Riga Reign.

 

Riga

HHH had a poor rookie season and followed it up with a disappointing sophomore season. If Riga wants to beat Moscow, HHH needs to step up his game. The line of Svoboda-HHH-Sigurdsson has been lack luster all season, but HHH has far greater expectations than the other two.

 

Verdict

 

Both teams have the skill to make it to the semi finals. Riga has been plagued by playoff failure ever since S63, while Moscow is entering its first postseason. It is a battle between the ex-Reign, after Podrick Cast and Randoms were traded from Riga to Moscow. Both teams are very close, and it is was a very tough decision to make.

 

Offense: Moscow

Defense: Riga

Goaltending: Riga

 

Verdict: Riga in 7

 

This is going to be a very tight series. If Moscow wins it, I wouldn't be surprised at all. I think Riga's better defense and goaltending will propel them over the highpowered Menace, and Riga will win its first playoff series since they won the cup in S63, and the Roger Sterling 'curse' will continue.

 

 

 

[Victor 10,561]

Riga is one of the few teams which had our number this season, hence I probably agree.

 

That said, if Europe actually wants to provide a serious threat to Toronto in the finals, they should let us through.

[McWolf 3,112]

Should be a good series. Good luck, European buddies.

[Motzaburger 1,590]

Moscow fucked