Under 250: The VHLM Review (S70 Final Review)

[Mr_Hatter 1,603]

 

Hello, and welcome back to Under 250: The VHLM Report. In these series, we will be taking a look at the trends and topics from the past week in the VHLM. What twists and turns will our minor league hold? Stay tuned to find out!

 

The Review:

 

Welcome back to this season’s final review, where we take a look at the end of playoffs and crown a winner for this season’s Founder’s Cup! The semifinals set us up nicely for a final showdown, and boy, the cup finals did not disappoint. With five games out of six being decided by just a single goal, including three overtimes, this was truly a finals for the ages. Without further ado, let’s take a quick look at how the semifinals turned out before turning our eye to the Founder’s Cup Finals. 

Semifinal Review

 

 Minnesota Storm (1) vs. Houston Bulls (4) 

 

In perhaps surprising fashion, the Storm continued their strong form and swept the Houston Bulls to secure their trip to the cup finals. Right out of the gate they came in strong, winning the first two games with back to back 4-2 victories. Certainly, though, Game Three put the series to bed, after the Storm would beat the Bulls away by a score of 5-0. This series was a real feather in the cap for Storm goalie Jaxx Hextall, whose 34 save shutout contributed towards a .944 SV% across the whole series. The Bulls tried to reign it in during Game Four, but despite keeping it close the whole game, they were simply outgunned as they fell to Leon Gutzweiler’s game-winning goal in overtime, as they were outshot 42 to 23. 

 

 San Diego Marlins (2) vs. Ottawa Lynx (3)

 

One of the most highly anticipated postseason matchups we were preparing for this season, the Marlins vs Lynx did not disappoint. The first game of the series left us all waiting to see what would come next, as the Lynx took it in overtime off of the final goal in a hattrick for Ola Vikingstad. Finnegan MacBurn also shone brightly as his five assists were crucial in the Lynx’s 6-5 victory. Game Two was a quick rebound for the Marlins, whose strong offence carried them to their victory. Despite trailing by a goal after the second intermission, the Marlins somehow managed to score all five of their goals in just the third period, including a two minute period with five minutes left to play that saw them put four goals in the back of the net. Ike Bennett’s back to back goals to kick off that stretch count for the game-winner. Game Three saw Ottawa wrestle back control of the series, as they would go on to win 4-2, with Joakim Bruden’s 23 saves on 25 shots playing a pivotal role in their victory. Ottawa extended their lead in a Game Four victory with Lewis Dawson’s two goals and one assist proving vital. Despite being up 3-1 in the series, it was by no means over, as we saw the Marlins take the next game in a 3-4 nailbiter. Uhtred scored twice as JaredN took the game-winner halfway through the third period. Alas, the comeback was not to be as the Lynx closed their grip on the series, and closed it out with the Game Six victory. It was a nervy game, with both goalies playing their heart out. At the end of the day, the Lynx’s three goals beat the Marlin’s two, and they were on to the Founder’s Cup Finals

 

Founder’s Cup Final Review

 

 Minnesota Storm (1) vs. Ottawa Lynx (3)

 

In a repeat of Season 67’s cup finals, we found ourselves with just two teams left after two rounds of play, the Minnesota Storm and the Ottawa Lynx. The two teams were battling it out in the early stages of the regular season for the first seed, and it was only fitting that they would be left standing at the end of the postseason. 

 

The first game of the series started with a bang. Minnesota was on the front foot for most of the game, outshooting the Lynx 48 to 35, but Ottawa stuck in it, never letting the lead grow to more than two goals. With four minutes remaining in regulation, the first star of the game Richard Penisson found the back of the net to send the game to overtime, where he finished it off for his second of the night, handing the Storm their first loss of the postseason. Game Two was a strong rebound by the storm, as they took the game 4-1 off a fantastic performance from Jaxx Hextall once again with a .966 SV%. Game Three went once again to overtime, where the Lynx would once again take the win. With just 15 seconds to play in the second, the Storm took the lead, but the Lynx once again turned to Penisson who scored in the third, sending us to another overtime. This time it was Lynx star Vikingstad finding the back of the net for the Lynx to win them the game, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

 

In perhaps the most entertaining game of the series, Game Four saw yet another overtime, but this time the Storm would come out on top. In a first period blitz, Minnesota scored five goals, including two from Alex Armstrong, as they leapt to a 5-1 lead after the first. You would think Ottawa would have just laid down and given up, but they kept with it, not allowing the Storm to run away with it. Two goals from Vikingstad in the second cut the lead to just two before he tied the game up with his hat trick goal on the powerplay in the third. Both teams scored again, and the game was headed to overtime. History was not set to repeat itself, however, and the Storm took the win just a minute into the overtime period as Teddy Smith found the back of the net. Game Five was another nailbiter, and a defensive masterclass as the two teams conceded only 45 shots between the two of them. A scoreless first period and two from the Lynx in the second led to a nervy third period for the Storm that left them needing to score at least two, but they delivered. Three goals came and Minnesota took the series lead for the first time, a lead which they would not give up. Game Six would prove decisive, and once again by a margin of just a single goal. It was a close matchup. The team’s matched each other with a goal each in both the first and second periods, but the third period proved the last one of the season. Ben Storm took the game-winner, and the Minnesota Storm took the Founder’s Cup. 

 

Congratulations to the Minnesota Storm for their Founder’s Cup Victory! To all others, thank you for the great season, and good luck next season!

 

 

That’s all for this edition, and this season, of Under 250: The VHLM Review. Thank you all for reading Under 250 this season in our test run of the series. Stay tuned for more VHLM coverage, as we aren’t going anywhere. Until next time!

 

Players Mentioned: @ROOKIE745, @Gwdjohnson, @Dil, @DizzyWithLogic, @Caboose30, @PadStack,

 @jared, @Kendrick, @leafsman, @bluesfan55, @dylanjj37, @Siddhus, @BigBallerFromDownUnder

 

 

VSN Writer Mr_Hatter