5 Reasons the Reapers Were Eliminated

[Joe Exotic 32]

"It obviously stings right now," Reapers center Joe Exotic said. "Great group of guys in here. It really felt like things were lining up for us pretty well. I definitely felt we had the group to do it in here, go all the way."

 

Here are 5 reasons the Reapers were eliminated:

 

 

1. Lack of response

 

Unlike the regular season, the Reapers were unable to counter when the Aces scored. Las Vegas refused to allow Philadelphia any momentum, including in Game 4, when they quickly erased the Reapers' early lead by scoring 2:14 after Exotic's power-play goal.

 

"In this series, anytime we got momentum, they got it right back," Philadelphias coach said. "It was almost like a flip-flop from the regular season where we owned them. They did a really good job."

 

 

2. No breaks or bounces

 

The Reapers had two goals taken away over the first two games in Philadelphia; forward Damien Wolfe was penalized for goalie interference in Game 1 that negated what would have been a goal for Exotic, and defenseman Liam Flaten accidentally kicked the puck past Reapers own goalie Isak Sjostrom in Game 2 that cost them some momentum.

 

Las Vegas got the bounces it needed, starting with Vladimir Shaposhnikov's overtime goal in Game 1 that landed right on his stick after a shot went off the end boards.

 

"It almost felt like we were Las Vegas in this series; just couldn't get a two-goal lead, couldn't get a bounce," Exotic said.

 

 

3. Even-strength play

 

The Reapers were one of the better teams 5-on-5 this season, but they generated little against the Aces. Philadelphia scored two goals at even strength, none until Damien Wolfe’s wrist shot against Aces goalie  Nils Friedriksen at 14:13 of the second period of Game 3. The other came from Joe Exotic with 1:09 remaining in Game 4.

 

"You think about [how] we've had success all year, it's being able to shut down other teams. Counter, frustrate them, all that," @DMaximus said. "They did a lot of that to us. When you're pressing, we usually counter and they did that against us. We were chasing the whole series."

 

 

4. Jack Russell goes cold

 

Russell wasn't the only Reapers forward who didn't score in this series, but it stands out more for Jack who is in his fourth year in the VHLM. The closest Russell came to scoring was in Game 2, when he hit the goal post midway through the third period.

 

"They're a good defensive team, you've got to give them credit," Jack said. "They play very similar to us. We've been on the other side of it where we've frustrated teams too."

 

 

5. Fourth line held in check

 

Throughout the season, @Dmaximus often referred to his fourth line with Joe Exotic on it as the Reapers' "identity line" given their ability to set the tone with their physical play and providing energy. After Joe moved up to second line center, a well-deserved promotion, the Reapers just did not play with the same depth. The Aces were able to counter, particularly at home, when they handled the Reapers.

 

Players like Joe Exotic will now go into the draft. It is unlikely the Reapers will have the same depth next year but we look forward to the new season starting ASAP.

 

[Victor 10,949]

No Carole Baskin, I am disappointed.

[Joe Exotic 32]

53 minutes ago, Victor said:

No Carole Baskin, I am disappointed.

 

I'm trying to move on with my life. Stop bringing up that bitch Carole Baskin.