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FinnRhys · 06-18-2020, 05:44 AM

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The season, Season 54, is coming down to the wire in the Western Conference. While the Edmonton Blizzard were the presumptive favorites for much of the season, holding the best record in the conference for much of it, the Los Angeles Panthers and the New Orleans Specters have surged as of late are rightfully contending for first place in the Western Conference. Add in the resurgent San Francisco Pride, Calgary Dragons and Texas Renegades and you have six teams within 8 points of each other, all with a chance at placing first in the conference should any of them go on a winning streak or a late season run.

The Los Angeles Panthers currently pace the group with 48 points from 24 wins through 35 games. What makes Los Angeles the likely champion of the West, even though they have been see-sawing with Edmonton as of late for the top spot, is their top flight defense. The Panthers lead the Western Conference with the least goals allowed (77) and are third overall in the league in goals allowed. This defense, anchored by Oliver Cleary and Tony Ford, has been exceptional this season, both offensively with a combined 45 points between them and defensively where both are amongst the leagues best all-around defensemen. What has made the defense even more special and spectacular this season has been the fantastic play of Los Angeles' goalie duo of Knox Booth and Nolan McMahon. Both goalies have been lights out this season sharing time in net on a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio respectively. What makes this remarkable is that Nolan McMahon, with only 11 games played this season boasts a 10-1 record, including 2 shut outs a 1.63 goals against average and a 92.7% save percentage. It is not often that you have to starter quality goalies on the team and McMahon's play as the change of pace goalie has been the difference maker. Booth, as well, has been solid in net with 14 wins, one shutout and a 91.5% save percentage to his credit. If Los Angeles' defense can continue to keep opposing forwards at bay, there is a very good chance they will be able to take the Western Conference.

Currently, the second place team in the Western Conference, the Edmonton Blizzard have arguably the least likely chance of taking the conference. While Edmonton has won 22 games and has 46 points, they also have the most games played at 37 and math is not on their side. If Edmonton is going to have a shot at winning the conference this season it will likely come off the backs of their dynamic forward duo of Tony Pepperoni and Julio Tokolosh. Both players have been exceptional this season with both going number one and two in the league in points respectively with Pepperoni pacing the league with 60 points while Tokolosh is not far behind with 58. This dynamic duo has been a god-send for Edmonton allowing the Blizzard to lead the Western Conference in total goals scored with 146. For comparison, the next closest goal scoring team in the Western Conference is the Calgary Dragons with 121, albeit with two games in hand. Overall, however, Edmonton has an uphill climb to gain the Western Conference title and will need to improve defensively in the near term to be able to significantly threaten for the top spot. My prediction is that Edmonton will ultimately fall to third place in the conference, although I personally hope I am wrong and that Edmonton finishes in the top two.

The current third place team in the Western Conference is the New Orleans Specters. New Orleans likely has one of the best chances of catapulting to the top of the conference based upon their talent and having three games in hand on first-place Los Angeles and five games in hand on second-place Edmonton. It is not just a math formula that will potentially lead to New Orleans jumping to first place. In fact, the formula that has been working for the team thus far in the season has been marginal offensive production buoyed by a stringent defense. While it may not be the most sexy style of play, New Orleans has proven that they can make the tough plays and win close games. They have consistently done just enough to win and ultimately, that is all that really matters. With balanced scoring across the line up and a solid, yet not spectacular, defense New Orleans is actually my dark horse to take the Western Conference.

The competition for a run at the cup continues with the current fourth place team, the San Francisco Pride. With 44 points through 37 games San Francisco is absolutely still in the running, especially if they go on a big win streak. With a solid lineup of offensive talent San Francisco has consistently found a way to win. Led by their three 40 point scorers in Jeff Brogen (17 goals and 23 asssits), Steven Moyer (16 goals and 24 assists), and Piotr Czerkawski (15 goals and 25 assists), San Francisco clearly has the potential to make a run for the playoffs. It is their defense, however, that may prove to be their achilles heel. It has been a rough season for the San Fracisco netminder duo of Patrice Nadeau and Ian Venables. Both are decent starters and have been splitting time in net in almost equal shares but neither has stepped up to claim the top goalie position and it would not be surprising if the time share is hurting both goalies' production. In 19 games Nadeau sports 9 wins and a 2.65 goals against average while also boasting a shutout and a 91% save percentage. Similarly Venables has 11 wins through 18 games but has a 3.02 goals against average while also maintaining a 91% save percentage. While San Francisco has continued to make it work, it is unlikely that they will be able to vault all the way to the top position in the conference this season.

Next in the race to first are the Texas Renegades who are tied with San Francisco with 44 points from 20 wins and 4 overtime losses through 36 games. The Renegades are also likely on the outside looking in when it comes to get into first in the conference but they do still have a chance to improve their playoff seeding with a late season run. It will be a tough road, however, as the Renegades have barely broken even in goals for and goals against with 102 goals for while giving up 98 goals. This dearth of offense will likely limit Texas' ability to make a meaningful run but if defense wins championships then Texas may have an outside shot especially wiht the outstanding goaltending of White Goodman who has won 18 games and boasts a 91.6% save percentage. If the Renegades forwards can find a spark, this could be a very dangerous team indeed.

The final team in the run up to the playoffs is the Calgary Dragons. With 20 wins and 42 points through 37 games, Calgary is likely just a bit too far off the pace to have any competitive chance at getting into first place. They do however have a chance to prove a spoiler as they make a run for the playoffs. With 128 goals for on the season their forwards have been in the top half of the league in points production but it is their defense that is going to set them back. The lackluster defense of the Dragons have given up 120 goals thus far and their proclivity for making games closer than they should be will likely keep them from making a run to first, especially with only 13 games remaining. If Calgary's balanced offense, with six players having 35 points or more, can keep the fire hot it would be conceivable that Calgary could just simply outshoot their opponents to a few more wins. Additionally, with one of the top goaltenders in the league in Kata Vilde, anything is possible, even if unlikely. Only time will tell however if Calgary's defensive pairings will be able to put Vilde in position to make a few more saves.

Ultimately, with only 13-15 games remaining in the regular season, now is the time for all of the teams discussed above to make a potential move up the standings and vie for better seeding in the playoffs. Several teams, notably Calgary, San Francisco and Texas may be on the outside looking in for now, but with only six points separating first place from sixth place, every team has a chance to spoil the playoff chances of the others.

FINN RHYS

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Leoben · 06-18-2020, 06:22 AM

Good writeup. It's going to be a wild race to the finish line. All the teams are deserving.

***JKortesi81*** · 06-18-2020, 09:35 AM

This has been a ton of fun to watch every day.

I make sure to catch the streams while at work, and every single Western Conference game matters a ton.

Well, unless Minnesota plays Winnipeg.

Huck24 · 06-18-2020, 09:46 AM

Great article! It's gonna be a tight finish for sure!

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