Playoff Previews: First Round - VAN/SEA

[Doomsday 4,143]

Playoff Previews: First Round

Vancouver Wolves vs. Seattle Bears

 

After spending a vast majority of the season fighting for the top spot of the Victory Hockey League, the Vancouver Wolves instead had to settle for the top spot in the North American Conference. In the first round, they've come across the team they perhaps least hoped to meet: the two-time defending champion Seattle Bears, who found themselves fortunate to keep their threepeat dreams alive after a serious skid to end the season. 

 

Road To the Playoffs

 

For Vancouver General Manager Keaton Louth, Season 70 was business as usual. The Wolves cruised to a 46-20-6 record thanks to a balanced squad of scorers and a fantastic tandem of netminders. Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Shawnomir Jagr led the way, with both scoring 80 points. Julius Freeman finished just shy of them with 79 points, making a formidable trio of forwards for VHL defensemen to worry about. In net, Greg Eagles led the way with 37 wins and a .923 save percentage, while rookie Jimmy Spyro surprised the league by winning nine games and matching Eagles' save percentage. The emergence of Season 68 first-round pick Jeff Downey as a top defenseman was a huge boost for Vancouver, who are looking for their first Continental Cup win since Season 67.

 

For Blake Campbell's Seattle Bears, this has been a very frustrating season. After the highs of back-to-back Continental Cup titles in Seasons 68 and 69 (nice), the Bears have tumbled back to the pack in Season 70. The constraints of the salary cap forced Campbell to move some of the critical components of those championship teams, such as John Frostbeard and Dan Wilinsky. The effect on the Bears' chemistry was evident, and Seattle lurched out of the gate, even spending some time in the league cellar in last place. However, the heart of the Bears' core, including Ambrose Stark, Scott Greene and Acyd Burn, rallied Seattle into a comfortable position in the standings. However, a poor stretch to end the season dropped them to the fourth seed, pairing them with a Vancouver team eager to avenge their loss to Seattle in the Semi-Finals last season.

 

Why Vancouver Should Win

 

Although Seattle humbled Vancouver last season, the Wolves suddenly have gotten the Bears' number this season. In the six games played between the two teams, Vancouver won five of them. The Wolves boast top-end talent at forward with HHH and Freeman both cracking 1,000 TPA, and second-line centre Micheal Gary Scott isn't far behind. Vancouver has threats throughout their lineup, which makes slowing them down difficult. HHH knows that this series will be crucial towards cementing his legacy. Another loss to Seattle in the playoffs could make a big dent on his reputation and resumé for the Hall of Fame, so expect to see him at his very best. While Greg Eagles is no Rayz Funk, he is a quality tendie in his own right, and with a capable back-up in Jimmy Spyro, Vancouver has an interesting opportunity to ride the hot hand in the net. Funk has notoriously gone through hot and cold stretches this season, and should Eagles go cold, the Wolves have Spyro to turn to. 

 

Why Seattle Should Win

 

The two-time defending champions are no secret to adversity, but they face their toughest challenge yet this season. If there is any single player capable of swinging this series in their team's favour, it is undoubtedly Seattle's superstar goalie, Rayz Funk. He has won the Daisuke Kanou Trophy as Playoff MVP during both of the Bears' title runs and they will need him to be better than ever to beat Vancouver. Seattle features a very balanced roster, with no skaters above 1,000 TPA, but only three below 700. While Vancouver boasts excellent, star-calibre forwards, Seattle doesn't rely on star power. Their balanced roster of both forwards and defensemen mean that the Bears are rolling out strong lines a vast majority of the game. Three of their defensemen have 800+ TPA, two of them over 900. The Wolves, by contrast, have none. This combination of defence and elite play from Funk could be the recipe Seattle needs to stymie Vancouver's dangerous attack and outlast them in a game of attrition. 

 

VSN's Pick

 

Make no doubt about it, this is going to be a brutal, bitterly-fought series by both sides. Vancouver's trio of forwards in HHH, Jagr and Freeman make them a favourite on paper, but Seattle's well-rounded approach that doesn't rely on a single group of players to produce is quite advantageous in a seven-game series. The Bears also become a different team in the post-season, in large part to the playoff heroics of Rayz Funk in the net. If he returns to form, this is a series that will go in Seattle's favour. Additionally, the Bears' balance will lead to lots of scoring opportunities, as Vancouver's defence will likely struggle to keep up with Seattle's forwards that have considerably more TPA. This is a fight that the Seattle Bears are built to win, and I'm calling for the upset with a Seattle victory in six games. 

 

- Doomsday, VSN Writer

 

Players Mentioned: @Beaviss, @TheLastOlympian07, @rjfryman, @Greg_Di, @Spyro, @JeffD, @FrostBeard, @oilmandan, @Banackock, @DoktorFunk, @Acydburn, @Motzaburger, @Rayzor_7, @Enorama (for the sweet team bars used in the article)

[Banackock 8,137]

I voted Vancouver and I say in 5 games. I’m mostly just basing it off the season and struggles for the Bears. We’re very great at making stuff happen when things are going bad though.. twice recently.. 

 

Im sure it’ll be a good series either way. 

[Greg_Di 1,028]

Going to be another tough series but I think it will come down to which goalie goes on a hot streak.