Issue No. 10 — LGAHL Overtime: Semifinal Predictions

Imgur Link: http://i.imgur.com/cYAUEXI.jpg

 

Road to the Calder: Semifinals

By @nubsy004
LGAHL Overtime Editor
Wilkes-Barre Scranton vs. Rochester
Line Depth: WBS
Forwards: ROC
Defense: WBS
Goalies: ROC
Each breaking out the brooms and sweeping their opponents in the quarterfinals, Wilkes-Barre Scranton and Rochester have made strong cases already for why they should be in the finals, alas, only one team will go forward.
Wilkes-Barre moved on the the Eastern Conference Finals in impressive fashion, not allowing Portland a single goal in the previous round. This was a series where @dityboycom shined and @WUMPAFRIEDWUMPS got burned by the well-oiled Wilkes-Barre machine. Continuing his team-leading charge for the Baby Pens is @PahkTheCah1387, who in only four games in the postseason has put up 14 points and is scoring nearly one out of every three shots. Also undefeated in four games is Ambient l37l, who is not far behind with 9 points in four games, and @Antonucci x 15 has garnered 11 in six games. The Pahk, Ambient and @Riemersmaa line is deadly, easily downing every line they have faced so far. Antonucci, @Itz Horty and @Showtime x 88 carried the Pens with a pair of Ws over Portland. And, @Prowsey8, @lMacK EHl and @KP1114 make up a slid third line than can't be overlooked. In net, Dity has been a brick wall to say the least, and even though backup @AceKillerXrated has struggled, he picked up a shutout in the series against the pirates. Defensively, the @OG nyBONE 3 and @Gumba l11l combination has been lethal, as has the duo of @ChiToWnB3atD0wN and @LividPenguin924. Again not to be overlooked are @S1LKKYJOHNSON and @BreDrinX, who picked up two wins against Portland with the Antonucci, Horty, Showtime line. Simply put, the depth of this team is astounding, and why I have picked against them in the first two round is beyond me.
For Rochester, a sweep of St. John's was virtually inevitable, although the Americans didn't fly the flag in as impressive a fashion as their conference finals opponents. @Daddy Harambe91, much like Pahk, is leading his squad undefeated in four games and putting up the most goals of any player on either team with 9. @Soapy412, @Daddy Burnout, @PaulyChunks and @A Sticky Snake comprise a solid group of forwards. All have yet to lose in the two or three games played, and they have 9-11 points each among them. Uncommon to playoff scheduling, Rochester's forward lines were not consistent in the last series. For example, Harambe played one game at center and another at left wing, and he did not have any of the the same forward partners in either match. @FtB x Sauce did the same, playing center in two games but having four different wingers in those contests. Mixing and matching so many players can be risky, but the swaps do not seem to have affected the Eastern North Division champions. As for goalies, Rochester's don't lose. @cup4blues and @LuCkYIrIsH33 have 4 and 5 wins, respectively, and blues is sporting a God-like 90.9 save percentage in the playoffs. Any goalie with a 1 GAA will on his own make a team a major title contender. Defensively, @SeaBass l91l is the most prolific, picking up two wins in the last series with different partners, as did @daveydonuts522, who put on his playmaker skates and had an assist in each of his contests. @Kaddie x75, @Rogers 2010, @Forza Azzuri and @Ashes and Faith round out a crew of defensemen that are sure to give the Baby Pens a challenge.
It should be pretty obvious by now that I suck a predictions, and while I like Rochester's forwards and goalies, I think the Baby Pens' will keep on powersliding across the ice to the Calder Cup final — Wilkes-Barre, 4-3.

By @EricE30
LGAHL Overtime Reporter
Chicago vs. Ontario
Line Depth: ONT
FWDS: CHI
DEF: CHI
G: CHI
The long-awaited rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals is finally here. The Ontario Reign face off against the defending Calder Cup champs, the Chicago Wolves. Chicago won the series last season and advanced to the finals, winning the cup, while Ontario was forced to wait over 12 weeks just to get this opportunity once again.
Ontario, learning from last season's mistakes, went and beefed up its roster with several veteran additions, with the knowledge that once again Chicago would be the last hurdle to clear to reach the Calder Cup Finals. The Wolves, who have been straight dominant these playoffs are looking to once again send the Reign home one round early.
Ontario's lone strength in this series is their veteran depth, and several role players that can produce at high levels. While Chicago does one thing and one thing only — win.
This will be a great series, likely going the distance. Both teams are deep with a slight advantage to the Reign, but overall, the Wolves are statistically a better team in the areas of defense and goaltending.
Its a 50/50 series where one bad bounce, or one mistake by either side, could cost them the coveted shot at the Calder Cup.
It will be a true test, but the Reign will — Ontario, 4-3.

 

@nubsy004 nice writeup.

 

Well we at Chicago have always valued your predictions and tried to make them right for you, but this series we have to look the other way.
One important question to ask is, how do you give Ontario the 4-3 win when you only believe Ontario has the advantage in line depth. That wouldn't make a difference in a game 7 situation where you give Chicago the advantage in every position
None the less, still a superb write-up! Hopefully we will see Chicago in your Calder cup predictions

Good luck to all teams left!!!

 

Ontario is def the under dog, and I must admit im alil biased towards them. Bottom line should be a battle either way.

 

We here at Chicago value these write ups and thank you for making them. They are well put together and honestly 10/10. But with that said... Chicago in 4 #FreeNxgi

 

Were on the second line nubs

 

You wish

 

*We're

Prove it. You complain so much....reminds me of this news story: http://leaguegaming.com/forums/index.php?threads/issue-no-5-—-lgfa-extra-time-theres-a-new-tenant-in-town.237422/

 

Corrects grammar in subsequent post but didn't check the op .

 

I type a lot with one hand.

 

Yeah God forbid I spelt a word wrong from my phone lol. You should link the emo melt down you had in the article beforehands comments

 

Give us your third lines

 

GEE GEE

 

You mean this one? http://www.leaguegaming.com/forums/...a-time-breaking-the-vanilla-ice.236985/page-2

Emo meltdown is kinda strong language. Emos are sad for themselves, not angry at others. I was just tired of you bitching on every post.

 

I'm a leave this here

 

Not trying to make you look like an idiot, but you said that when you were a part of Manitoba. They werent even close to the finals

 

I feel like macros hasn't left the chat box since this screenshot

 

Ik I was gonna be on Chicago, I'm a time traveler