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S49 SMJHL Playoffs Preview - Why Your Team Will Win, and Why They Won't
#1
(This post was last modified: 09-15-2019, 08:14 PM by Leoben.)

Ready for grading.

Welcome to the Season 49 SMJHL Playoff Preview where the opinions are made up and the stats don't matter.  Below are takes based on my non-biased, non-handpicked, and totally objective look at the performance of every team during the regular season.

I have broken this up into three posts for the preservation of the playoff anthems.

Detroit Falcons  Falcons

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
Detroit look like the favorites as they are lead by a high powered offense.  They lead the league in goals and it's not even close.  Led by such studs as Roenick and Tankovic, they look like straight up killers.  They walked into the playoffs without much of a challenge.  Their special teams are solid and they have the second best power play unit in the league.  If you're looking for complete units then look no further.  This Cup has been theirs to lose since day one.

Why They Won't
They're not the most physical team, preferring style over grit.  It hasn't hindered them yet though.  They have had mixed success in overtime and are awful in shootouts.  Thankfully that won't be an issue for them in the playoffs.  If it gets down and dirty, these guys might show some cracks down the stretch.  If they get pulled into overtime for a few games, they'll start to look beatable.


Kelowna Knights  Knights

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
Jeez.  Someone took it real personal when I compared them to Williams F1.  I take full responsibility for your success this season.  You're welcome.  Kelowna turned it around quick, going from the little team that couldn't tie their skates to the team that made Detroit look like the Junior Varsity team in Mogadishu.  They are not doing anything flashy but they are a very physical team.  They will bully you if you let them.  Their top scorers are Josef Novotny and 113th overall pick in the SHL Draft Raquel Guitierrez, and boy is she pissed.

Why They Won't
Much like Detroit, they might break if you bend them.  They're also coming in very cold having lost their last six.  The cracks are starting to show and their success will depend on how much they can hold it together.  Whoever wins the play-in to face them might just smash them.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them make an early exit much like St. Louis last season.


Halifax Raiders  raiders

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
The memes are dead and these play-in regulars have their first bye in a generation.  A very physical team and a threat to just about anyone.  They have the endurance to play the long game and will not tire before you.  Led by studs Cody and Esa Parmborg, they have depth for days.  If they beat you in the playoffs, it's no longer considered an upset.  That stigma went away once they sent St. Louis packing.

Why They Won't
Aside from "LOLIFAX" they are beatable.  They don't allow many goals but they don't score as many as the really good teams.  When it comes to close games, they have been on top more often than not but if they keep testing that against teams like Montreal or Detroit, this will not have a happy ending.  They're also coming in a little cold after an incredible second half of the season.


Vancouver Whalers  Whalers

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
They are defending champions and while they have lost a few of their key pieces, they still have a good shot.  They have the best power play unit in the league and their penalty kill is decent.  They are also a very disciplined team having the fewest penalty minutes.  Basically, they are nothing special but they do everything right.  Factor that in with their experience for winning, these guys could go all the way.  They made it this far.  They are coming in warm usually winning and losing games in groups of two or three.  But warm enough to make an impact.

Why They Won't
They're not physical, they don't shoot, and they just play it too safe.  When the game goes long, they told.  While they were able to get by on good decisions in the regular season, they will have teams gunning for them early and often in the playoffs.  If they play it safe against a team like Lethbridge who has something to prove, they're going down for the count.  The playoffs are all about taking risks and gambles, and these guys are content to let the challenge take all the risks.  That's a fine strategy until the challenger hits you square in the jaw.

[Image: v1uynGf.png]

Highlanders Patriotes

Renegades  raiders  Finland
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#2

Lethbridge Lions Lions

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
They rank third in scoring thanks to Aparjode and Jazz, and really came on strong down the stretch. They have the best penalty kill unit in the league to compensate for any discipline issues, but there is nothing major going on there. Their power play unit is solid. They are very offensive minded also ranking third on shots. Basically, this is my sleeper pick to win the Cup. They don't do much that is particularly amazing, but they do everything just a little better than Vancouver in my eyes. If they manage to oust the reigning champs, they could win the whole thing.

Why They Won't
Their defense issues will be the death of them. Even though they rank fifth overall, they are tied for dead last in goals allowed. While this didn't stop them in the regular season, a tougher team like Detroit or Kelowna will just stomp them through the ice before they know what hit them. If they can manager to tighten up on defense and in goal, then they will have a fighting chance. If they haven't done that already, then they won't get past Vancouver, never mind winning the whole thing.


Montreal Militia Militia

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
In what I thought was a rebuilding season, these guys find themselves in sixth place. Boone and Morris had stellar seasons and are leading the charge in Montreal. They are very physical leading the league in hits. If you don't come to play old school hockey against these guys, you are going to have a bad time. They are around the middle in goals for and shots which is fine. They win when it matters. They're fine in overtime, not good or bad but serviceable. I am excited for the Halifax series and I think it will be a lot closer than most people think.

Why They Won't
Their power play is weak and while their penalty kill is solid, it wouldn't have to be if they stayed out of the box. But the risk of being such a physical team is the lack of five on five action. It hasn't hurt them yet but a more experienced team will make them pay for their risks. They need to tighten up in the playoffs or it will be a shorter run than last season where they managed to almost reverse sweep Anchorage.


Colorado Raptors Raptors

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
Crudelli, Kane, and Valentine-Okoli had pretty solid seasons. Colorado are also coming in hot off a winning streak which can help in the playoffs. It's a good confidence booster. Colorado have a solid core with experience and they never give up. We also know they have stamina as they have had to go to overtime a lot and uh...

Why They Won't
They have lost 20% of their games in overtime. If you stretch them even a little they're gonna snap. Their offense is anemic and their special teams is anything but special. Sorry Raptors, good luck in the lottery.


St. Louis Scarecrows Scarecrows

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
Nikolaj Muller is constantly a candidate for MVP and Barrett Blackwood isn't far behind. They are undefeated in overtime unless you count shootouts so they have heart for days. If they can push you to overtime, you're in trouble. If you let them stick around long enough, they will beat you. They are a pretty physical team and a very aggressive team near the top of the league in shots. They were knocked off by a team in a similar position last season so I wouldn't be surprised if they manage to do the same here.

Why They Won't
Their special teams is awful, I'm not going to lie. They have the worst power play and penalty kill in the league. They will need a lot of luck to go far in the playoffs. While their offense isn't awful, they have too many holes on the other side of the ice to really make a different. Stranger things have happened but they're not going to happen here.

[Image: v1uynGf.png]

Highlanders Patriotes

Renegades  raiders  Finland
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#3
(This post was last modified: 09-02-2019, 06:47 AM by Leoben.)

Anaheim Outlaws  Outlaws

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
Lallo Selman scores when it counts and has been responsible for a handful of wins.  He could make some noise in the playoffs.  It's fascinating that the two favorites for last season are now in a play-in series to move on to the regular playoffs.  How the mighty have fallen.  Still, Anaheim are no joke boasting a semi-aggressive offense and a decent penalty kill.  They're not bad in overtime but not stellar either.  

Why They Won't
They just don't have all the pieces right now.  Last season their window was gaping and now it's a peephole but you can't see the good bits.  They're not very disciplined and don't score when it matters.  While they may beat St. Louis, I don't expect too much else out of them once the playoffs get going.  Onward.


Anchorage Armada  Armada

Playoff Anthem


Why They Will Win
They managed to right the ship, so to speak, after a dreadful start to the season.  While they are finishing dead last after a moderately successful Season 48, I will not count them out.  They don't have any stellar scorers but Larsen and D'Alcott did what they could.  Considering where they started, who am I to rule them out?  There defense isn't terrible and they are okay in long games.  Their power-play is okay.

Why They Won't
Much like Anaheim, it's just not all there right now.  They don't have a great penalty kill and while they lack the penalties of some of the other teams, they haven't been able to capitalize on anything.  In a season or two they will be a force and they might even have success over Colorado but I have to call it a wash.  They're just soft right now.

[Image: v1uynGf.png]

Highlanders Patriotes

Renegades  raiders  Finland
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#4

absolutely love this, man! great great article.

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thanks to @Wasty, @Bruins10, @Carpy48 and @iRockstar for the sigs!


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#5

I got 100 hits as a whaler this season. Im trying to be physical I swear.


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#6

09-02-2019, 02:42 AMMarc Bradford Wrote: and 113th overall pick in the SHL Draft Raquel Guitierrez, and boy is she pissed.

[Image: tumblr_magm8yMJoo1rsud01.gif]

09-02-2019, 02:42 AMMarc Bradford Wrote: Kelowna Knights  Knights

Playoff Anthem



"Hi.
Me again.
Allow me to pick up where I left off."

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Jamie T Wrote:But I wish I'd been a little more exceptional
And I wish I'd been a little unconventional
But I was not enough, no, I'm not enough
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#7

Money

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#8

09-03-2019, 09:39 AMJiggly_333 Wrote:
09-02-2019, 02:42 AMMarc Bradford Wrote: and 113th overall pick in the SHL Draft Raquel Guitierrez, and boy is she pissed.

[Image: tumblr_magm8yMJoo1rsud01.gif]

It is okay friend. It happened to me too. Jon turned out happy enough Smile

Not like Jon holds an insanely high grudge against anything with a pulse or anything and is coming for fucking blood of anyone guilty or innocent.

Raptors Proud S67 - S69 Colorado Raptors Captain  Raptors
Uk S57 Forward of the Season Award winner  Uk

Now I am free <3

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#9
(This post was last modified: 09-06-2019, 01:50 AM by puolivalmiste.)

Code:
0:01 of 1st period - Cant Eykhil wins face-off versus Jan Zacha in neutral zone.
0:18 of 1st period - Boruvka Banananak beats up Bjorn Leppanen.
0:18 of 1st period - Penalty to Bjorn Leppanen for Fighting.
0:18 of 1st period - Penalty to Boruvka Banananak for Fighting.
0:18 of 1st period - Penalty to Bjorn Leppanen for instigated a fight.
0:18 of 1st period - Bjorn Leppanen is ejected from game.

This is what happens if you try to play physical game. Fucking zebras so afraid of Lions that they will help them to win.

Just as small sidenote, I also had puck when I started the fight.

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Sigs by @Carpy48, @Nokazoa and me


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