Claimed:VHLM Quarter-Final Playoff Analysis

[Guest Svoboda_3]

North American Conference Quarter Finals         

 

(2) (47-19-6) Vs. (3) (17-50-5)

 

This series is a complete mis-match on many proportions. During the regular season, Minot took all 8 games between these two clubs going 8-0-0, while Saskatoon was 0-6-1-1 against their divisional rival. Minot has rolled along quite nicely in the North American Conference this season, but has had to take a back seat to the front-running Yukon Rush. Entering this series, Minot has all sorts of depth at nearly every position, while Saskatoon lacks in every facet. Minot is led by a quartet of offensive weapons, consisting of Ashton Galbraith, Bruno Wolf, Jakob Linholm and Aelred Leskowsky. These four players compliment a balanced scoring attack throughout the line-up and can easily score at will. On Saskatoon’s side, the talent and depth only goes as far as Joel Wielenga and Tobias Funke, the two veteran commodities up front. In goal, TotallyNotA Bear prevails in comparison to Dizzy Dean, but one goaltender’s situation was a lot better than the other, which constitutes for the statistical difference.

 

While Minot is a healthy organization with a strong derived goal, Saskatoon is in that transition phase, where they recently changed General Managers and several personnel members. Categorized as a rebuilding situation, Saskatoon doesn’t pose much of a threat to the Gladiators, but instead, the organization has chalked this series up as a learning experience for the future. There is a possibility of the Wild stealing a game during this series, but that will have to be on the onus of goaltender Dizzy Dean to come up with the performance of his life.

 

Players To Watch:

Minot Gladiators

Ashton Galbraith 72GP | 33G | 106A | 139P | +34

Bruno Wolf 72GP | 57G | 75A | 132P | +39 | 113PIM | 257H

Jakob Linholm 72GP| 63G | 66A | 129P | +39 | 97H

Aelred Leskowsky 72GP | 60G | 63A | 123P | +34 | 192H

 

Saskatoon Wild

Joel Wielenga 68GP | 22G | 50 | 72P | -30 | 102H

Forrest Josef 17GP | 5G | 11A | 16P | -6

Tobias Funke 72GP| 22G | 49A | 71P | -37 | 135H

Stelio Kontos 72GP | 33G | 18A | 51P | -62 | 120PIM | 182H | 176SB

 

Prognosis:

There’s no doubt that this is a David versus Goliath match-up. Minot is just too strong and too deep of a hockey club to lose 4 games to the lowly Saskatoon Wild in a 7-game series; a team that doesn’t score often and gives up too many. As much as a person would want to see Saskatoon win at least 1 game, the Minot Gladiators are likely to pick up 4-straight victories against the Wild. Minot in 4.

 

European Conference Quarter Finals

 

(2) (48-20-4) Vs. (3) (42-28-2)

 

Despite these two teams’ seedings in the European Conference, Bratislava was the more successful team during their head-to-head match-ups, going 6-2 during their 8-game battle in Season 37. The defending Founder’s Cup champions are looking to repeat, but will have to run the gauntlet this season in order to do so, starting with a formidable opponent in Turku. These two teams match-up rather well, so this should be an exciting series. The Turku Outlaws are led by a strong contingent on defense, consisting of Captain Vojczek Svoboda, Jake Wylde and Dimothenis Vlasis. After that, Turku’s depth is what was widely documented this season, consisting of Travis Boychuk, Azi Ali, Mikael Svensson, and Kez Kincaid to name a few. Not only is Turku a defensive-minded club, but they have to horses to score and the confidence to toss out any line and be assured in their ability. Bratislava however, has a duo of masterful weapons, comprising of VHLM leading scorer David Januzaj and Sasha Stepanov, two players who tore up the VHLM this past season. After those two players, the depth decreases as you gaze down the line-up, but that doesn’t dis-credit how potent their team can be.

 

In goal is where this match-up will be won. For most of the season, the Bratislava Watchmen were able to scrape by without a capable goaltender, but after picking up Matti Auvinen, the team struggled and relinquished their stance in the European Conference. Turku however, has gone with a platoon stance between Fernando Pergher and newly arrived Season 38 draftee Brock Waldron. Even though Brock’s numbers may not be earth shattering, he has progressed throughout the season and should be primed for the playoffs.

 

Players To Watch:

Turku Outlaws

Vojczek Svoboda 72GP | 29G | 98A | 127P | +37 | 126H | 123SB

Brock Waldron 35W | 17L | 3OTL | .0882SV% | 3.10GAA | 3SO | 3312MP

Jake Wylde 72GP | 41G | 48A | 89P | +36 | 139PIM | 273H | 94SB

Travis Boychuk 72GP | 26G | 53A | 79P | +27  | 100H

 

Bratislava Watchmen

David Januzaj 72GP | 67G | 140A | 207P | +44 | 170H | 155SB

Sasha Stepanov 72GP | 94G | 97A | 191P | +50 | 160H

Magnus Hertzberg 72GP | 52G | 50A | 102P | +32 | 122H

Matti Auvinen 20W | 18L | 2OTL | .864SV% | 4.50GAA | 0SO | 2402MP      

 

Prognosis:

This series will be extremely heated and close. There’s no doubt that each team possesses the capabilities to take the series, and while Bratislava has owned the season series between these two teams, Turku has progressed a lot more over the course of the season in many areas. That alone may be the cause of concern for the Watchmen, who might see their run come to an end. With the depth that Turku has and the goaltending progression of Waldron, Bratislava will keep this series close, but home ice is the difference here. Turku in 6 games.

[Will 4,660]

Context: 3/3

968 words. Really nice article here. I really liked the fact that you took the time to gather some stats about some the players that are sure to be key assets to their respective teams during the playoffs. Best of luck to you in Saskatoon, as well as your other personality in Turku.

 

Grammar: 2/2 - Just some minor brain farts here:

 

Saskatoon is in that transition phase = Saskatoon is in a transition phase

 

they have to horses to score = they have the horses to score

 

Appearance: 1/1

Looks great.

 

Overall: 6/6

FINAL: 6/6

Edited April 21, 2014 by Draper

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