According to Websim’s Star Points formula, Connor McDavid of Helsinki had the best game of the season on March 10 (game time) in a 7-3 win over Paris. McDavid exploded for three goals, three assists, 8 shots and a +5 rating. His arms should have been shaking after that one because he also took an…
Quick Glance: Munich comes into this series with mythical god status for their nearly unblemished record over the last 30 games. The Red Bulls finished the regular season in the Top 5 in the four measurements of shots and goals (both for and against), which bolsters the claim that they really have a colossal machine…
Quick Glance: Bern was the only team that swept their first round series as they obliterated Bratislava. Lisbon was 4-2 against Prague. Bern and Lisbon are very close to each other, if you are judging by statistics they accumulated in the 82-game season and the first round of the playoffs. In the regular season, Bern…
Quick Glance: Belfast breezed through Round 1 and really haven’t had to shift into high gear for half a season, thanks to the huge lead they built in the English Channel Division. But it will suddenly get much harder for them in Round 2 against Connor McDavid and the #3 team in the league. Helsinki…
Quick Glance: Paris and Copenhagen both survived spirited series and in both cases, defense ruled. Paris kept Minsk under 5 goals in all 7 games of their series and the Tridents allowed an average of 2 goals per game in 6 against Edinburgh. These two teams only played each other three times during the regular…
Quick Glance: On top of Lisbon players’ shoulder pads is their Lisbon jersey, of course, but on top of that there is a new chip on their shoulder after being edged out for the division title at the last minute by Bern. They are going to try to make Prague pay for it. But Prague…
Quick Glance: Analyzing the numbers leading up to this series is like watching a pendulum. Milan gets the edge in one area, Kosice in the next; then Milan, then Kosice, etc., etc. For example, Milan’s second-leading scorer was named Tkachuk; and Kosice’s second-leading scorer was also named Tkachuk. If you look over the team stats,…
Quick Glance: The Bears beat the Eagles all four times they faced each other this season, and twice they chased Bratislava’s starting goalie to the bench. Bern center Anthony Cirelli was especially mean to Eagle goalie Spencer Knight in the season series. Speaking of goalies, both teams’ starters – Tanner Jaillet and Chris Driedger –…
Quick Glance: In any series, variables like hot goaltending, penalties, injuries and luck can undo strategy and skill. The Zurich Lions will need all those variables if they hope to upset the hottest team you can imagine in the Munich Red Bulls. They are on a 24-game win streak. Unreal. That hot goaltender variable will…
Quick Glance: Edinburgh is in the playoffs for the first time since Season 8 and their reward is a series against a juggernaut. With the strong goaltending of Matt Murray, Copenhagen seems to have strength at every position. They finished the season with the league’s top defense (2.23 goals against per game) and they were…
