Detroit Wins 4 Star: FOR

Everyone knows they will. Detroit is no longer cursed by Simon T. They've only dropped 6 games on the season and there's no way they drop 4/7 in a series. They lead the league by 16 points and have a nasty goal differential of 88. Who is their competition? They've dunked on Anchorage and STL already. Detroit will reap the rewards of their stellar recent drafts. They hold the current MVP frontrunner in Edward Williams, latest number 1 SHL pick in Magnus Liljestrom, and a host of other household names. The entire Detroit team is at the top of the CF% list. It would take some kind of pandemic cutting the season short to stop the Falcons from screeching their way to the cup.

Wagstrom MVP: FOR

Stamkos fan has built a monster in Ola Wagstrom. Flacko Lagerfield may lead the points race with 55, but the Pack have 4 games in hand on the Hawks with Wagstrom comfortably exceeding a point per game pace. Not to mention Wagstrom is also 8 goals ahead of Lagerfield, and boasts 25 more +/-, 10 more shots blocked, and 1.5% higher Sh%. He's also leading New England to a dominant first FHM season.

Some may say Lagerfield has a worse supporting cast, but they forget Hamilton will hold 2nd once New England plays out their games. Phelps and Wilson sit right by their New England counterparts in total points, and I think they would slot in just fine next to Wagstrom.

Toronto worse than Tampa: FOR

The Bay has 5 points on Toronto and at this rate I don't even think the North Stars could get 5 more points total. Toronto has 4 less goals scored and almost 40 more against them. They aren't even in the same league. Detroit may be promoted after this season to take their place.

Unless...

Toronto has possibly the easiest schedule left in the SHL. They face the Platoon twice, Jets once, and Barracuda thrice. All teams they have beaten before. If they get a good two wins out of the Barracuda, and one or two more from those other teams, they could imaginably pull something off. The Cuda on the other hand only have 2 games against the Platoon to extend their lead if they drop games to Toronto.

Andrej Toughest: AGAINST

I think Slip McScruff takes the cake with only 22 less hits but 54 more shots blocked. He's doing it on only 28 PIM too so he's a lot smarter about it.

As has been mentioned in another post here, Mike Izzy deserves a mention for placing 6th in hits despite being like 94 years old.

Fewer than 425 TPE wins SMJHL MVP: FOR

Edward Williams is the clear frontrunner for the award, capped at 350 TPE in his second season. He plays on a stacked line in a stacked team, but he is the best of the best. He even beats out his 425 linemates. 50 points in 37 games in the J is unmistakeably MVP caliber. That includes a league-leading 20 goals. Not to mention an also league-leading 158 hits. His sh% is a whopping 18%. Williams is flat-out dangerous.

NOLA best team to miss playoffs: AGAINST

I believe that the Specters will overtake the Pride to squeeze into the playoffs. They currently sit tied in points at 41 but the purple and black have a game in hand. I had predicted the Specters to do better than they have so far this season, so I still think we will see that late push to hold off San Fransisco.

This will leave the Pride as the best team to win the playoffs, with the Chicago Syndicate as a comfortable second choice.

Goalie wins SHL ROTY: AGAINST

I predicted that Ivan Maximus would win ROTY, and I still find that more plausible than any rookie goalie. Any rookie in net as a starter is getting hammered in FHM. Skaters have more room for error, and Maximus is making none. He currently has 29 points - 11 of which are goals. This puts him ahead of many veterans and surely ahead of any expectations the young center had moving into the Texas roster.

Most assists this season = all time: AGAINST

Slap McShotty holds the lead with 35 or 1 assist per game. I don't see him significantly increasing that number and we should see around 50 assists from him this season, not eclipsing the record.

That being said, the Pack will get a run at the Dragons, Platoon, and Barracuda before the season ends - all teams they have previously put up 8 goals on. McShotty is more than capable of going in on those teams and coming out with a significant boost.

NEW or TEX finishes without OT loss: FOR

I think Texas is a bit of an anomaly, but New England is a hard team to beat, and if the game goes to OT you give them too many chances to win it. I think the Pack survive with no OT losses while the Rens pick up one or two in the final games.

SMJHL West is best: FOR

Before the Berserkers took a nosedive I would have disagreed, but I have little to say since. The Kraken and Timber have been basement dwelling for a while, and the Zerks seem keen to join them. That leaves Detroit and St. Louis, the latter of which only recently decided to become serious. The west appears far more consistent. While the boats are no birds, the bottom 3 teams in the east far exceed their counterparts in the west.

Points are tied at 193 for East and West, but Detroit is the only thing keeping the East in it.

LAP holds first in the West: FOR

While Edmonton is hot on their tail, I think the Panthers have an easier path to the top, but it rides on how they fair in the 2 head to head games against Edmonton that are left. But the Panthers have a better goal differential, and are riding a nice 8 game win streak.