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TipToasty · 01-16-2025, 02:48 PM

Round 1 Recap

#7 Kelowna Knights vs #9 Yukon Malamutes
Prediction: Yukon 4-2 Kelowna
Outcome: Kelowna 4-1 Yukon
Game 1: Knights

4-0

Game 2:

8-5

Game 3:

3-7

Game 4:

5-3

Game 5:

4-1

Kelowna have been consistently scary for a non-top three team over the past three seasons. This year, the team finished the regular season in seventh place, the last of the teams with a positive goal differential. Mel Guolla led the team in the playoffs with ten points, including four goals. The team feasted on offence, never scoring fewer than four goals throughout their four wins. With solid contributions on both ends of the ice, The Knights will have to keep it up as they take on top seeded Quebec City in Round 2.

Yukon lose one capped player going into next season, but retain a strong Season 79 class, with four current third-year players with max fourth-year TPE. If S80 prospects continue to develop, Yukon could be a force next season.

This was the most inaccurate of my original predictions. Kelowna is working with the most number of inactive players of any of the top ten teams. With the teams splitting the regular season series, history obviously predicted a closer outcome, though Yukon’s regular season defensive deficit should have pointed me toward the correct outcome.

#3 Carolina Kraken vs #16 Detroit Falcons
Prediction: Carolina 4-1 Detroit
Outcome: Carolina 4-0 Detroit
Game 1: Kraken

5-2

Game 2:

5-2

Game 3:

2-4

Game 4:

0-4

Carolina finished with 100 points this season, walking away with 75% of all available points. They carried the regular season success into round one and easily walked past Detroit. Carolina’s offense averaged over 4 goals per game, lead by winger Hetaksh, who had six goals in the series. Goalie Honza Havran had an astonishing series with 1.5 GAA and .917 SV%. All Carolina players finished with a positive +/- for the series. Carolina takes on San Diego in Round 2.

The Falcons finished last in the league this year, and only managed six goals in the first round. Offense was nowhere to be found in this round as the team struggled to draw power plays, though they did manage to give up only two goals while short-handed. All around, Detroit could not find any ground in this series.

Detroit is a young team, with five players in their rookie season. Goalie John Gibson is a highly touted prospect, and defensemen Mathieu Mathematique and Vasher Summers are likely to be strong members of the S81 draft class. Detroit is losing three players who sit at over 420 TPE going into season 81, and every player on their roster from the S79 draft is sitting at 204 TPE or fewer. It may be a few more seasons before Detroit really steps into success.

#6 Ottawa Highlanders vs #11 Colorado Raptors
Prediction: Colorado 4-3 Ottawa
Outcome: Ottawa 4-3 Colorado
Game 1:

4-1

Game 2:

3-2

Game 3:

5-4

Game 4:

0-5

Game 5:

1-3

Game 6:

4-2

Game 7:

5-2

Ottawa is a team that relies on defense, though high scorer Spaceman Spiff rode his regular season scoring success into the playoffs, scoring a goal per game across the seven game series. The Highlanders won by an average of three goals, while losing by an average of closer to 1.5 goals per loss. This series was won by their ability to contain Colorado in their D zone.

I got some flack for my prediction on this series. I felt this was the closest series, and while it did stretch to a game 7, Ottawa was able to easily pull off the final victory when it counted. This was the most exciting matchup of the first round due to the styles of play, but if Ottawa brings a few more players to the peak of their performance, Round 2 may be just as competitive as the Highlanders take on the always dangerous Maine Timbers.

Colorado finished outside the top ten for the first time since Season 73. The teams strong run regular season results may have taken a year off, but the team fought hard in the first round. The team loses two capped wingers heading into the next season, and may have a few growing pains ahead, with a small S79 class. If their S80 prospects can grow into bigger roles, however, Colorado may be fighting for a top five regular season spot again before too long.

#5 Maine Timbers vs #15 St. Louis Scarecrows
Prediction: Maine 4-0 St. Louis
Outcome: Maine 4-2 St. Louis
Game 1: Timber

2-1

Game 2:

8-0

Game 3:

3-2

(OT)
Game 4: Scarecrows

5-3

Game 5:

8-0

Game 6:

2-4

Maine is a team that seems to always be on their game. No stranger to deep playoff runs, the Timber are never a team you want to find yourself playing in the first round. While this year was a bit of a drop in the standings, Maine packs a high powered offense that includes two of the league’s high scorers: Valtteri Pulkkinen and Anthony Louchard. Maine has found at least two, and often times three of their players at the top of the regular season points totals for each of the last five seasons. Jose Salcedo led the team with five goals, while Pulkkinen and Denali neddleberg each contributed four goals across the series. Maine take on Ottawa in the second round.

St. Louis put up a fight against a high powered offense. While they fought to contain the Timber scoring, games 2 and 5 showed that Maine was just a step above this year. The Scarecrows currently have eight S78 players and only one S79 player on their roster, so next season may be more turmoil than comfort. The team may want to maximize their draft capital and shoot for success a few seasons down the road.

#2 Newfoundland Berserkers vs #12 Thunder Bay Walleye
Prediction: Newfoundland 4-1 Thunder Bay
Outcome: Newfoundland 4-0 Thunder Bay
Game 1

6-2

Game 2

6-3

Game 3

4-9

Game 4

2-6

Newfoundland opens up their playoff run with a sweep of Thunder Bay. This was in line with my expectations, though I did expect Thunder Bay to sneak away with one game. Hannah Crowder led the Berserkers goalscoring, netting five goals in the four games. Jason Bourne led the series with 13 points, including four goals. Berserkers goalie Katharina Rosenthal finished the series with a 2.75 GAA and .906 SV%, playing every minute of the series. Newfoundland will take on Anchorage in the second round.

Thunder Bay struggled to build offense over the four games, with three players scoring two goals each to lead the team in scoring (Benjamin Theodore, Jeff Santiago, Tip Toasty). Goalie Jack Ryan was in net for all four games, leaving fourth-year goaltender Grant Berd with only 11 minutes of ice time for the series. Ryan had a 6.83 GAA and .879 SV%. Thunder Bay are working through some major challenges, and may look a lot different next year. Goalie Grant Berd and Season 80 leading scorer Jon Garfield set to move up to the SHL next season, leaving two significant gaps. The Walleye will have four capped players moving into their fourth year, Teddy Bloos, Puddles O’Duckling, Tip Toasty, and inactive player Chaos Giraffe. With consistent TPE earners Jack Ellul and Benjamin Theodore anchoring the defensive first line and making the jump to third year TPE cap, Season 81 may be a brief window for the Walleye to have a statement season. Other locker room changes may affect Season 81, as well.

#8 Nevada Battleborn vs #10 San Diego Tidal
Prediction: Nevada 4-2 San Diego
Outcome: San Diego 4-2 Nevada
Game 1:

6-2

Game 2:

1-4

Game 3:

5-2

Game 4:

4-2

Game 5:

6-2

Game 6:

6-4

San Diego made yet another step in the right direction this year, after sitting in the basement of the league just two seasons ago. The Tidal finished tenth in the regular season, and came out swinging against Nevada in the first round. After picking up one win on the road, and capitalizing on two home wins in the first four games, they jumped at the opportunity to finish the series at home with a solid 6-4 victory. The Tidal relied on a team effort, with all but two players scoring goals in the first six games. They will have to continue sharing the load as they take on defensive powerhouse Carolina in Round 2.

Nevada retain all of their players, with zero S78 call ups on the roster. With four capped players heading into their fourth year and an active S80 class, Nevada should not let a first round exit discourage their chances for next season.

#4 Anchorage Armada vs #12 Vancouver Whalers
Prediction: Anchorage 4-3 Vancouver
Outcome: Ancorage 4-1 Vancouver
Game 1: Armada

5-1

Game 2:

6-1

Game 3:

1-3

Game 4:

2-1

(OT)
Game 5: Armada

5-2

Anchorage put on a dominant performance in their four wins, and nearly swept the series, taking a low-scoring game 4 to overtime. The team had six multi-point scoring players in the series, and did a great job sharing the offensive duties. Center Zeus Storm and defender Javelin Bodine led the team with seven points each, and three players shared the team lead three goals over the five games. Anchorage takes on Newfoundland in the second round.

Vancouver had a rough season, but should see lots of player development going into Season 81. With a largely young roster, the Whalers have a good chance to move up if even one develops in terms of goal scoring.

#1 Quebec City Citadelles vs #14 Great Falls Grizzlies
Prediction: Quebec City 4-0 Great Falls
Outcome: Quebec City 4-1 Great Falls
Game 1:

3-0

Game 2:

7-3

Game 3:

0-4

Game 4:

3-2

Game 5:

5-4

Defending champions Quebec City are, without a doubt, the team you do not want to play. Even with an underwhelming series from regular season scoring machine Cristoforo Roccamontepiano, Citadelles managed to put the puck in the net seemingly with ease. Defense also stepped up to make the series quick, putting up two shutouts in five games. Quebec take on Kelowna in Round 2.

Great Falls are a team with plenty of young talent, including several highly touted S79 prospects. With Grindle Waters-Johnson and Nanashi Mumei stepping into their fourth year, and promising S80 prospects raising their cap, don’t count on the Grizzlies dropping so low in the standings next year.

Round 2 Predictions

#3 Carolina Kraken vs. #10 San Diego Tidal
Carolina are a defensive powerhouse, which should be the controlling factor of the series. Look for relatively low scoring wins from the Kraken as they move on to the Conference Finals.
Prediction: Carolina 4-1 San Diego

#5 Maine Timbers vs. #6 Ottawa Highlanders
This is a close matchup that could be pushed either way by goaltending and strategy. Maine have the clear advantage in terms of offense. If Ottawa can get hot, they may make it interesting, but look for the Timber to control early and never look back.
Prediction: Maine 4-2 Ottawa

#1 Quebec City Citadelles vs. #7 Kelowna Knights
Quebec City have been dominant on both ends of the ice, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon. Kelowna has the potential to hang on, but realistically, Quebec should be able to command the series from the start.
Prediction: Quebec City 4-2 Kelowna

#2 Newfoundland Berserkers vs. #4 Anchorage Armada
This is my most anticipated series of Round 2. These teams both pose a threat on offense, and are close in defensive performance. I believe this may come down to goalie performance. If Katharina Rosenthal can continue her dominance, Newfoundland should come out on top.
Prediction: Newfoundland 4-3 Anchorage

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