Final Week and Playoff Preview

The playoffs are upon us and the third season is behind us.  Here is a recap of last week's action and a look at the upcoming playoffs

USSR vs. Goon Crew (3-2-1)
In the biggest game of the week, the USSR needed some wins to capture the last playoff spot.  The Crew were just playing for pride.  The Crew controlled most of the game until the final day, starting out with 15 PIM from Blake Wheeler.  The Soviets got their top performance from an unlikely place, at the blue line with Mark Giordano who had 1 goal, 3 assists and a +3.  The other unlikely hero of this game was goalie Chad Johnson, who usually is only a back up, racked up 2 wins and a .964 SV%.  The win propelled the USSR into the playoffs in the final spot.

Johnson coming up big

Nyquist earned MVP of the week honors

Around the league...Assassins tuned it up for the playoffs tying the Krampus Carols 3-3.  Assassins had two players score 3 goals each, Hartnell and Backes, while Matt Moulson "ice"  tallied 3 goasl, 3 assists for Krampus.  Goalies forgot to play in this game...Bunnies finally get back on the winning track beating the AshBusters 3-2 behind Flippula's 3 goals, 2 assists and 2 PIM.  AshBusters finished the season strong in net getting 6 wins between Lundqvist and Howard....The Enforcers knocked out the Mayhem from the playoffs.   Iginla for the Enforcers had 5 goals on the week while Getzlaf had 5 assists....Checkers were on auto pilot tying Who Gives a Puck 3-3.  The scariest part of this game?  As if the Checker's weren't good enough, Stamkos is back and scored 5 goals 2 assists, +2 and 2 PIM against Who Gives a Puck. Nyquist however out did him, scoring 6 goals, 1 assist, a +5 for the Puck.  SLVB ends Heisenberg's Ice season 4-2 sending Sid "The Kid" Crosby home for the playoffs.  Bishop for SLVB was the only Goalie to post stats in this game.  Whats up with that?

Round One Playoffs:

The Enforcers (3) vs. USSR (6)

Iginla has been on fire

The Enforcers are entering the playoffs hot.  Iginla has ben red hot scoring 8 goals in the last 2 weeks.  After being shut out by the Checkers 6-0 the Enforcers enter the playoffs on a 3 week winning streak.  They are a dangerous team with Getzlaf, Toews, and of course Iginla.  To counter the Enforcers, the USSR will need to have Ovechkin live up to his reputation considering The Enforcers lead the league in goals scored.  In goal the edge might go to the USSR who will be putting in net Louongo, now with Florida, and back up Chad Johnson, in hopes the Bruins will continue to rest Rask from time to time.  The Enforcers on the other hand will rely on the goalie glove of Mike Smith.  The other goalie for Enforcers is a rookie Darcy Kuemper who has had 1 win in his last 6 starts.
Outlook:  Despite the questions in goal for the Enforcers, its hard to go against them as they are on a roll and lots of fire power.  Even if Ovechkin tries to put the Soviets on his shoulders the same result will likely happen as did the Olympics; early exit.

Fluffy Bunnies (4) vs. SLVB (5)
This should be a good one.  Inter-office rivalry.  Both teams have some strong skaters.  Seguin and Kunitz are top scorers for the Bunnies and you can't forget about Flippula and MacKinnon with the big Center Joe Thornton.  SLVB are hoping Steen and company can match the Bunnies offensive power.  T.J. Oshie adds a good offensive threat while Milan Lucic brings some nastiness to the game with 78 PIM.  Radko Gudas might have to say something about that for the Bunnies as he has 138 PIM on the season!  Would like to see these two heavy weights go at it!  In net, the Bunnies have Rask and Price, rivals in the NHL, teammates in the CFHL.  They are potentially the best goalie duo in the league.  Bishop is solid for the Killer Smurfs and has carried the goalie stats as Bernier has been struggling.

Gudas getting a noogie from Iginla

Outlook: This one will be close.  Can the Bunnies get their offense scoring again and if they do will the SLVB be able to keep up?  If most of the skater stats end up being close or tied, the edge would go to the Bunnies with Rask and Price.

Bunny fans ready for the playoffs