Third Seed? OK Then

[CowboyinAmerica 2,840]

 

Manhattan -- The VHL regular season ended yesterday, and with it was the capper on what has been a roller coaster ride for the New York Americans. In the first third of the season, the Americans were last in the conference, spitting distance from last in the league, and it seemed like the team's rebuild had sputtered. But then, it all came together, and after a miracle run that saw them shoot past D.C., Calgary and Toronto, New York somehow made its way to third in the conference.

 

Now, the Americans will face the Seattle Bears in the first round of the playoffs - a team that, as you may remember, bulldozed its way through the playoffs just last season. It's also the team that former Americans defenseman Guy LeGrande made his way towards in a trade, hoping for more immediate contending opportunities. Vegas lines have the Bears as the heavy favorite, for understandable reasons.

 

In the New York locker room, though, there remains hope. The team only has to look at its 4-3-1 record against these very same Bears during the regular season, with two of those wins coming on the road. Near the end of the season, the two teams split games in New York - the Americans won the first game of the back-to-back 5-2, while Seattle took the second one 4-0.

 

"I just want to make this a series, and I believe we can get there," said defenseman Lance Flowers. "Our goal for this year was playoffs, and now we're here. So anything on top is simply gravy. With that mindset, we're going to play loose - so why not go out and surprise a few people?"