A look at Hextall's playoff performance

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Since Hextall joined the Legion in season 71 the team has only made the playoffs twice, they we're able to squeeze in in season 72 before dropping out in season 73 but the team rebounded for season 74 and went on a solid run, ultimately falling just before the finals to the Vancouver Wolves. A frustration loose no doubt but we thought we'd take a closer look at Hextall's performance for this playoff run. He ended the playoffs with a .925 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average, his record 7-4-1 with one shutout, much better than his previous playoff appearance of a .900 save percentage and 3.42 goals against average.

 

In their first series the team was up against the Seattle Bears, last years cup winners. In the first game Seattle won 5-2, Hextall faced 14-11-10 from each peroid for a total of 35 shots and saved 30 of them, a tough .857 save percentage in the end.

 

in game two however the Legion turned the tide winning 4-3 in regulation, Hextalling facing stopped all 17 shots from the first period before one got past him in the second and two in the third, it's noticeable the Bears only had four shots in period three yet two of them got pass Hexxy. Either way the Legion won and Jaxx walked away with a .906 save percentage after stopping 29 of 32 shots.

 

Game three saw the Legion not letting up, winning 3-2 in overtime, Hextall seeing 16-15-7-1 from each period including overtime for a total of 39 shots, the only two that got passed him were in the second period. In the end he saved 37 of 39 for a .949 save percentage.

 

Game four saw the Legion crush the Bears in a 7-2 victory, with the Bears getting 15-13-9 shots on net in each period for a total of 37. Again the only two that got passed Hextall were in the second period. Hextall skated away with a .946 save percentage after stopping 35 of 37 for his second best performance so far.

 

Game five saw the Legion shut the door on the Bears with Hextall getting his first ever playoff shutout, stopping all 20 shots for a perfect 1.000 save percentage, the shots from each period were 3-6-11, Hextall was just locked in for this one and wasn't taking a loose for an answer.

 

In round two Hextall would get to face a rivals liked he hoped for, not the Wranglers and Lafontaine this time though, it was Jimmy Spyro of the Vancouver Wolves. He already know the outcome of this series in the end but lets see how these two rivals did battle against each other.

 

Game One saw the game go to overtime with the Wolves eking out the victory, The Legion put 12-15-15-4 shots on net for a total of 46 while the Wolves put 14-9-6-1 for a total of 30 shots on net. Spyro stole this one for the Wolves but it was also a bad game for Hextall, stopping 26 of 30 for a .867 save percentage while Spyro saved 43 of 46 for a .935 save percentage.

 

Game two saw the Legion tie up the series in a 2-1 victory from a strong effort by Hextall, looking to redeem himself after last game, shots by the Legion were 7-4-11 for a total of 22 while the wolves put up 21-12-7 for a total of 40, the only shot to get pass Hextall was in the first period where he faced a crazy 21 shots. In the end Jaxx stopped 39 of 40 for a .975 save percentage and Spyro stopped 20 of 22 for a for a .909 save percentage.

 

Game three saw the Wolves take back the series lead in a 3-2 victory, 8-12-13 for a total of 33 shots for the Wolves while the Legion put up 8-11-2 for a total of 21 shots. Jimmy stopped 19 out of 21 to skate away with a .905 save percentage and Hextall saved 30 out of 33 for a .909 save percentage.

 

Game four saw the teams return to overtime, but not just one period of overtime, but two! Each goalie faced over 50 shots but in the Hextall got to leave the building with the victory, 6-5. The Wolves shots were 12-12-14-9-6 for a total of 53 and the Legion's were 17-13-7-15-5 for a total of 57. Hexy made 48 saves out of 53 for a .906 save percentage and Spyro made 51 out of 57 saves for a .895 save percentage.

 

Game five sees the Legion take the series lead for the first time in a strong 5-1 victory. Wolves put 11-7-10 shots on net in each period for a total of 28 and the Legion put 11-13-9 shots on net in each period for a total of 33 shots. Spyro leaves with one of his worst playoff performances, a .848 save percentage after stopping 28 of 33 shots, while Hextall got the win with a great .964 save percentage after stopping 27 of 28.

 

Game six sees the Wolves tie it up in a close 3-2 victory. Both team put up 12 and 9 shots in the first and second period respectively but the Wolves out shot them in the third 10 to 8 for a total of 31 for the wolves and 29 for the Legion. Jimmy Spyro bounces back with a .931 save percentage after stopping 27 of 29, while Hextall stops 28 of 31 for a .903 save percentage.

 

Game seven, it's all on the line now. The Wolves came out at blistering pace putting more shots on net from one period to the next, 14-16-20 for a total of 50 shots, while the Legion only manged 29, going 8-10-11 in each period. For the last time both goalies had excellent games, Spyro stopping 28 of 29 for a .966 save percentage and Hextall saving 47 out of 50, doing his best to keep the Legion in it and skated away with a .940 save percentage.

 

what's interesting is that Hextalls worst matches were the first games in each series, the only two times his save percentage was under a .900. Any other "poor" game he had he sat around .903 to .909 which while not numbers you want to see aren't terrible, on his best games though he was usually above .940, a good showing from Hextall for sure.

 

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Edited November 2, 2020 by ROOKIE745

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for Nov 1st

[ROOKIE745 608]

claiming for second and last time Nov 8th .