Super Series EP 1: S72 NACF: Calgary Wranglers vs New York Americans

[Laine 1,361]

Introduction:

Welcome to Super Series, where we will be discussing some of the best playoff series in recent memory. Let us start with arguably the best series of the S72 Postseason, the North American Conference FInals between the Calgary Wranglers and New York Americans. The season series between these two was quite even (4-1-3 for Calgary, 4-4-0 for New York).

 

Calgary Wranglers

(49-16-7, beat TOR 4-3)

 

Calgary came into this series after a gruelling 7 game thriller against the Toronto Legion. The Wranglers were offensively lead by Sigard Gunnar, Willie Dredge, Edwin THE Encarnation, Mikko Lahtinen and Charlie Paddywagon. Each of these players averaged over a point per game across the entire S72 Postseason. Edwin The Encarnation and Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen lead the way defensively, being the top 2 players in shot blocks all throughout the S72 Postseason. In goal, the Wranglers had Jacques Lafontaine, whom amassed a 0.908 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average across the postseason.

 

New York Americans

(38-26-8, beat SEA 4-1)

 

New York had the upper hand in both rest and ability heading into this series, having dispatched the defending Continental Cup Champion Seattle Bears in round one with a dominating 4-1 series win which saw New York play some of their best hockey all year. They were lead offensively by Owen Nolan, who had 16 points across 12 postseason games in those playoffs. However, their defense was playing excellent hockey that spring. Lance Flowers, Hugh Jass and Micheal Gary Scott were all top 10 in points by defensemen that spring. Flowers was playing at over a point per game pace (13 in 12 games). All three of those defensemen were also top 10 in blocked shots, contributing at both ends of the ice. Julius Freeman and Keven Foreskin led the way physically, being in the top 5 in hits throughout the postseason. However, the biggest X-Factor for New York in series was going to be A Red Guy, who was playing at a good level that postseason recording a .905 save percentage, but backing it up with a 2.76 goals against average.

 

Game 1: NYA 4 - CGY 3 (NYA Leads 1-0)

 

This game was very close. Most of it was the two teams trying to feel each other out, but the firework started early with Owen Nolan opening the scoring for the Americans just 3:23 into the game. It wouldn't take long for Calgary to respond though, as RJ Jubis would pot his 3rd of the playoffs just 4:03 later. The middle half of the period was very physical with not a lot of shots from either team. New York thought they had striked gold near the end of the period as Soren Jensen scored with 2:57 left in the first period, but Willie Dredge would come back 1:25 later to tie the game 2-2 for Calgary. The score would be 2-2 after one. New York came out firing in this period, recording 15 shots in the 2nd period and getting power-play goals from Scott and Jensen to take a 4-2 lead into the intermission. The third was extremely low shooting, but lots of hitting. Calgary was using their will to knock New York off the puck and it paid off with Gunnar making it a 1 goal game with just over 8 minutes to go. However, it wasn't enough. New York shut the door the rest of the way and took game one with a 4-3 win.

 

Game 2: CGY 3 - NYA 2 (Series tied 1-1)

 

This game opened with more firing. 21 combined shots between the two clubs in the opening 20. As you can imagine, there was some scoring in the first. Richard Penisson opened the scoring for New York mid-way through the first, but Sigard Gunnar would tie it up with 38 seconds left to send us to the first intermission with the teams knotted at 1-1. In the second, it didn't take long for Calgary to build off of their late goal in the first, tacking on a power-play marker from Latrell Mitchell just 58 second into the middle frame. New York would get one back late in the from Penisson, his second of the game to send us to the 3rd tied at two goals a piece. The third was back and forth with a balance of shots and physical play. Calgary would end up getting the lone goal of the period from RJ Jubis mid-way through the period. It would be enough as Calgary would shut down the New York offense and take game 2 to tie the series 1-1.

 

Game 3: CGY 4 - NYA 3 (CGY Leads 2-1)

 

Calgary rode a fast start to the win in this one, scoring 3 goals in the first period, but New York also had one to make it 3-1 after 20. At the beginning of the second, New York absolutely stunned the Calgary crowd, scoring 2 goals in the first 4 minutes of the second to level the game off 3-3 through a dominating period for New York, as they outshot Calgary 18-4 in the second. However, Calgary would get the last laugh of the second, getting a goal Mikko Lahtinen with 15 seconds left to send us to the intermission with the score 4-3 Calgary. New York once again dominated offensively in the 3rd, but not to the same extent as the second period, only outshooting Calgary 12-7. Calgary's physical defense would prove too much as they would shut down New York in the final frame in a wild 4-3 win for the Wranglers.

 

Game 4: NYA 3 - CGY 1 (Series tied 2-2)

 

This game was utterly dominated by New York, but the reason why may surprise you. It looked like Calgary was going to roll over New York, having scored on a dominating power-play shift just 2:36 into the game but then, penalty troubles. Calgary ended up taking 9 penalties in game 4, giving up 2 power play markers and getting outshot 53-22. The only 5 on 5 goal for New York came later in the first from Owen Nolan to tie it up 1-1. New York would score twice in the second, the first goal being 10 seconds into the middle frame to go up 3-1 going into the third. In the final frame, New York's defense shut down the surging Calgary offense to take game 4 and tie the series.

 

Game 5: CGY 3 - NYA 1 (CGY Leads 3-2)

 

This is the definition of stealing a game for the Calgary Wranglers. New York gets a goal midway through the first to go up 1-0, but Calgary strikes at the end of the period with Sigard Gunnar getting a power-play goal with 12 seconds left to level the game at 1-1 heading into the break. Calgary finished what they started in the second, getting 2 goals midway through to go up 3-1 heading into the third. From there, Jacques Lafontaine shut the door, stopping 11 out of 11 New York shots in the third period, 37 out of 38 in the game to help the Wranglers go up 3-2 in the series with a chance to close it out at home.

 

Game 6: NYA 6 - CGY 2 (Series tied 3-3)

 

New York absolutely dominated this game. It started early with a goal from Acyd Burn less than 5 minutes in to make it 1-0 Americans. Their lead would grow later with Owen Nolan's 4th playoff goal making it 2-0. Calgary would respond right away with Kris Rice scoring 25 seconds later to slice the lead in half. However, it didn't last long as only 1:45 later, Keven Foreskin would tack on a NYA power-play goal to make it 3-1 heading into the intermission. Calgary would begin to claw back in the second, Sigard Gunnar's 8th goal of the postseason would cut the New York lead to 1 again 7:17 into the second, but less then 4 minutes later, Foreskin would tack on his second of the game to make it 4-2 New York. It would stay like this through the second with New York entering the third with a 4-2 lead. New York would make it 5-2 on a quick goal by Jensen 12 seconds into the third period. They would get the game's final goal at 6:19 of the third on a 5 on 5 bullet from Scott. New York forces a game 7 with a decisive 6-2 win in Calgary.

 

Game 7: CGY 3 - NYA 2 (CGY wins series 4-3)

 

This game 7 had everything you needed. The goals started early, Calgary got 2 goals in the first 5 minutes of the game from Gunnar and Jubis to go up 2-0 heading into the second period. New York would battle right back, as near the end of the second period, they would score 2 goals in 10 seconds to tie it 2-2. That 2-2 score would take us into the third. The third was a very physical period as big hits and checks into the board became a common site. New York dominated the shot board in the 3rd period, outshooting Calgary 14-3 in the final frame. Despite this, Calgary made their 4th shot count, as Gunnar would score his league-leading 10th goal of the playoffs with just 30 seconds left on the board. New York wasn't done, getting 3 shots away in the last 15 seconds. However, their season was over. Calgary would take this game 3-2 and move on to the S72 Continental Cup Finals against the undefeated Riga Reign.

 

Spoiler

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(1596 words, 8474 characters written by @PatrikLaine)

[FrostBeard 1,975]

What an amazing job @PatrikLaine! Keep up the good work!