Playoff Previews Part 1
When Apollo Creed “beat” Rocky in the original Rocky, he told our hero, “Their ain’t gonna be no rematch.” (I’m assuming Apollo used the wrong there since he was probably concussed)
LBS, Inc.. at Denim Demons
The key might be which team Luke decides to play for. He was a Lbs., then a Demon, then an Elf, then on Cobra Kai…pretty sure he played for the Washington Generals as well.
Predictions:
Rich: Coach is about as underrated a playoff goalie as you can get. Check out how many goals the Demons score on games they are eliminated. Since the start of Coach’s tenure as goalie, he’s been money. But so is Tim Brown. I really want to see this game. My brain says the Lbs., but my gut says the Demons. 2 plus years of Crossfit and I still got a pretty hefty gut, so I’ll go with the Demons in a grueling 2-1 victory.
Eli: Maybe I’m missing something, but I think the Demons coast in this one. Mike Pereira has been showing up consistently since July, and adding him to Zack, Jeff, and Lee makes their attack even more potent. Plus, they have depth with a lot of rookies that most people don’t know much about. LBS, Inc. has won just three times since the end of June, and a lot of their veterans are out with injuries. Demons, 5-1.
Derek: Yes, a few of the Corporation’s vets are doubtful for this game (Ken and Karsten most notably). However, LBS mainstays Jason and Tommy have been picking up the slack in the last few weeks, and Luke Sellick has had a very strong season to complement them. I still stay Demons take the victory, but they won’t coast. 4-3 for the Fighting Rubens.
Nick: In my mind, I always thought of FK, LBS, and CH in the same top tier of teams in the league. However, LBS no longer strikes the same feeling inside of me as the other two. They’re still a pretty good team, mind you, but so are the Demons, so I pick the red guys winning this one 3-2.
Sky Fighters at Gouging Anklebiters
It’s been a lot of years for Craig in BTSH, and he’s won exactly one playoff game in net. The same amount as me.
Was this a picture from the game he won?
Rich: No, it wasn’t. And as much as I would love for Craig to win again…and I really would, I don’t think it will happen. This year. Sky Fighters are dangerously good and I kinda think they are the third best team heading into these playoffs…next to the other two asshole teams.
Eli: One thing Craig does have is two wins against the Sky Fighters this year, as the Anklebiters shut out Dan Hopper’s bunch 2-0 on May 18 and prevailed 3-2 in a shootout on August 3. But beating a team three times in one season is always tough, and I see the Sky Fighters winning a defensive struggle, 2-1.
Derek: The Sky Fighters ended the regular season on a mini win streak, with their last lost coming a month ago (even then, they took the Demons to OT to secure a point). However, they also suffered an embarrassing 7-1 loss in their exhibition against the Mathematics, so goaltender James Stein’s confidence may be shattered. I’ll still take the Sky Fighters, 3-2.
Nick: This is a really tough one to call. The Sky Fighters deserve credit for a remarkable season turnaround. In June, it looked like they were heading for relegation and a trip to the playoff qualification round last weekend. Some key additions and timely contributions from their existing roster helped pull them out of the funk. Anklebiters have seemingly been solid for the whole season, holding their own in a good division and against good teams. I think this one will go to OT, with the Sky Fighters prevailing, 4-3.
Filthy Gorgeous at Sky Fighters La Famiglia
Did Monica play five games for Filthy or was she too busy birthing Baby Talia? If she didn’t play five games, I will hold a boycott in the center of the rink demanding she can’t play.
As for the Tuques, yay…season and now you have to play a ridiculously talented Filthy team. Congrats.
Rich: As talented as Filthy is, so are the Tuques. And they are hungrier and want it more. That’s redundant. 4-3 Tuques in a great game.
Eli: Regardless of whether they drew the Sky Fighters or La Famiglia, I don’t like Filthy’s odds. Denis & Shafiq > James & Suvin. La Famiglia advances, 4-2.
Derek: But what about Sunny?! Is The Peter Wilson enough to offset him? Eh, who knows. Anyway, at some point, there has to be a significant upset, and since I don’t want it to happen to Math, I’ll say that Filthy sneaks away with the victory here. 5-4 in OT.
Nick: Tuques’ offensive punch of Denis and Shafiq versus Gorgeous’ team defense and goaltending. Tough call, but that’s why this is the playoffs. James and Suvin are a great top line, but Denis and Shafiq are one of the elite pairs in the league, and so Tuques will win this one 4-2.
Rehabs at Mathematics
As quickly as HE (Romeo) came, HE has now left. Romeo’s departure has left the Rehabs with still a very good goalie, but one who sucks at social media and probably isn’t even gay.
Rich: I tried to poll Anita and Romeo since they played for both franchises who would win. But Anita is not on Facebook and prob in some wilderness hunting squid, and Romeo claims he never played for Math. So you are stuck with my prediction. I love the Rehabs. They have very few girls but they all are really good. No one outhustles the Rehabs. However, Math prob has more male talent. I see this as a 2-1 victory for Math with a late goal by Nathan Norris. In OT. That late. Though I could also see Sena scoring for the Rehabs in OT. Don’t let her shoot! Or do, I like her so I’d be happy if she was the hero.
Eli: $howT!m3 also played for both franchises. Did you ask him who would win? Or what team he currently plays for?
Derek: Did anyone think to ask $h0wJu? Yikes, Math may have exchanged more players with the Rehabs than we have with the Butchers.
Nick: Next question.