Quick Glance:
Munich played methodically and beat Lisbon in five low-scoring games to advance. They were patient and waited for high-percentage scoring chances, which is evidenced by the fact seven of their players had shooting percentages of 14.3 or higher. Paris took a different tact, getting by Bratislava in a wild, free-for-all series that came down to a single goal in seven games. You could say home ice advantage was what got them through to the next round, but that wouldn’t be fair. Despite the craziness in Round 1, Paris was actually careful with the puck. As a team, Paris’ turnover ratio was a very impressive +27. And defenseman Colton Parayko had a great series.
Goalies (playoffs):
- Munich – Nico Hovinen 1.98 GAA and .924 save pct.
- Paris – Chris Driedger 3.14 GAA and .878 save pct.
Top Plus/Minus players (playoffs):
- Munich – Alexis Vanier and Noah Hanifin +4
- Paris – Colton Parayko +7
Expert Panel Predictions:
- Commissioner Chuck: Munich in 6 games. The Red Bulls just play a smarter game and they support their goalie better. Paris was sloppy and a bit fragile in Round 1, and while they could change tactics and play tighter in the next round, they can’t get younger. The Eiffels will already be playing sore, if not hurt, and I don’t think they have the depth to keep up the torrid pace as their opponents get better and better.
- Rose: Paris in a sweep. Yes, they are older and hurting a bit, but I see their age as a big benefit. Munich reminds of those four young brats in my neighborhood. They are always hanging around no matter how much my dog barks. Munich’s young forward stars Dylan Sikura and Clayton Keller will be going up against an incredibly talented and experienced defense corps. Against Paris’ experience, we will see how these young brats handle frustration.
