Posts Tagged ‘playoff preview’
Playoff Preview: Opening Round (Part I)
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010Larry Likes Gut Rot’s T-Shirts
#20 Gut Rot (4-10-0-2) at #13 What The Puck (8-7)
Location: Tompkins West, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: First Meeting
2010 Result: Did Not Play
Game Notes: Yes, you read that correctly. What The Puck is the #13 seed. After a promising 7-0 start to the season, Larry’s Orange Juggernaut made a sharp u-turn, dropping seven of its last eight games. However, despite this freefall, What The Puck’s offense still ranks sixth in BTSH. Grizzled veteran Tom MacDonald leads the team with 10 goals, and also provides a gritty counterbalance to Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer’s sheepish leadership style. Gut Rot has also stumbled down the stretch, losing its last six games. The team also holds the distinction of being the only squad in BTSH that failed to win a divisional game this season. However, Gut Rot has had several bright spots in its inaugural season, including the play of Scott, who has notched an impressive 11 goals in his rookie season. In addition, the team has proven capable of playing with some of the league’s top teams, as it upset the defending champion Sky Fighters in Week 11. Gut Rot will need to pull another rabbit out of its hat in order to take down What The Puck.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. They should be able to take advantage of Gut Rot’s defense, which allowed the fifth most goals in BTSH.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. Their players tend to mysteriously reappear come playoff time.
Watchability: 3 Tommys
Joe Better Protect His Beer
#19 Gouging Anklebiters (5-11) at #14 Unicorns (7-8-0-1)
Location: Tompkins East, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Unicorns lead 7-4-1
2010 Result: Week 17 – Unicorns 5, Gouging Anklebiters 1
Game Notes: Once again, the Unicorns ranked among the top teams in defensive prowess this season, as goaltender Craig “Ug” LaCombe led the unit that allowed the second fewest goals in BTSH. Conversely, their offense has been mediocre, which has contributed to their sub-.500 record and last place finish in the Hackett Division. However, the Unicorns did conclude the season on a high note, as they won three of their last four games and earned a point in the other. The Gouging Anklebiters also finished at the bottom of their respective division, which happens to be named after team captain Phil “Sandy” Donohue. After a 4-1 start, the Anklebiters wilted in the summer heat, losing 10 of their final 11 games, with the only win coming via a What The Puck forfeit. Included in this losing streak was their only meeting of the season against the Unicorns, a 5-1 loss in Week 17.
Eli’s Pick: Unicorns. LaCombe has been on fire of late, as he has allowed just two goals in his last four starts.
Derek’s Pick: Unicorns. With most of the Anklebiters attending a wedding on Saturday, I question how focused they’ll be on Sunday.
Watchability: 3.5 Feet
Playoff Preview: Championship Game
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009The Sky Fighters Players Keep Getting Younger And Younger
#7 Sky Fighters (17-7) vs. What The Puck/Fresh Kills
Location: Tompkins West, 3:30 PM
All-Time Series: Sky Fighters lead What The Puck 6-2; Sky Fighters and Fresh Kills tied 7-7
2009 Result: Week 3 – What The Puck 4, Sky Fighters 1; Week 11 – Sky Fighters 4, Fresh Kills 3 (OT-SO)
Game Notes: Although they are flying high right now, the Sky Fighters’ road to the championship has been long and arduous. After taking a sabbatical during the 2006 season, the team resurrected itself in 2007 but could only manage to win one of its 17 games that year. Undeterred, captains Dan Hopper and Amy Lott built on what they believed was a solid base for a competitive team and improved the Sky Fighters to an 11-6 record in 2008. This earned them the 7th seed in the playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by the eventual champion Fresh Kills. With even more talent on the squad this season, the Sky Fighters once again entered the playoffs as the 7th seed, but were able to build on last season’s disappointment. In the first round, an undermanned Sky Fighters squad frustrated the Unicorns in a defensive battle and ultimately prevailed 1-0 in overtime. In the quarterfinals, they took Schloeder Division champion LBS, Inc. to a shootout, where Hopper converted the final goal in the fifth round. Spurred on by the euphoria of this win, they stunned the Corlears Hookers later that afternoon in the semifinals, with Robert Kucera notching the game-winning goal on a shot from his own defensive zone. Regardless of which team they face on Sunday, this year’s final should be another instant classic.
Keys To The Game For The Sky Fighters:
1. Goaltender James Stein is undefeated since unveiling his new Canada-centric jersey. Donning the colors of the Vancouver Canucks, but a logo similar to that of the Winnipeg Jets, Stein has been the backbone of his team’s amazing end of the year run. His stellar play is even more impressive considering the team’s massive goalie controversy earlier in the season between him and Robert Kucera.
2. While the Sky Fighters boast a deep scoring attack, their offense still runs through superstar defender Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka. Despite opponents frequently double and triple teaming him, Cejka still led the team by a wide margin with 20 goals in the regular season. Although he has only one goal in three playoff games, he has generated several scoring opportunities, including a shot that was tipped in for the overtime winner against the Unicorns.
3. With the BTSH championship game as the final stop on the Big Sexy Tour 2009, the Sky Fighters expect a large and rambunctious group of female supporters. However, Chris “Big Sexy” Shumaker will not be the only player in the final with a following of this stature, as Corey “Chongo” Winters of What The Puck and Jaclyn Lee of Fresh Kills have two of the top five fans clubs in BTSH.
Watchability: 5 Infantis. It’s the championship, did you expect anything less?
Playoff Preview: Semifinals
Monday, October 26th, 2009Muscles Has His Own Way Of Expressing The Number Two
#2 What The Puck (18-5) vs. #11 Fresh Kills (11-10-1-1)
Location: Tompkins Square Park, Time TBD
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 8-6-1
2009 Result: Week 4 – What The Puck 6, Fresh Kills 4
Game Notes: In what is becoming an annual rite of the postseason, What The Puck and Fresh Kills will face off once again this Sunday, their third playoff battle in the last four years. As expected, What The Puck cruised through the first round, notching a playoff high six goals against the Mighty Squirrels. Although the quarterfinals provided a much tougher challenge for them, they ultimately prevailed over the Rehabs 2-1. Awaiting What The Puck in the semifinals will be Fresh Kills, the team that eliminated Larry’s Orange Juggernaut from last season’s playoffs. Entering as the 11th seed this year, the defending champions picked up where they left off with an upset victory over the sixth seeded Dark Rainbows in the first round. They continued the trend in the quarterfinals with a stunning 4-3 overtime victory over the regular season champion Denim Demons. Can Fresh Kills extend this amazing playoff upset streak to seven or will What The Puck return to the championship game for the first time since 2006?
Keys To The Game For What The Puck:
1. While Ollie Hartman leads What The Puck with three playoff goals, five other players are tied for second on the team with one goal each. Thus, What The Puck will bring an extremely deep and balanced offense to this game, where anyone on the team is capable of scoring (except Ant “Father Time” Ventolieri, who claims to have assisted on all eight goals).
2. What The Puck’s “Italian Stallion” line has been its highest scoring unit throughout the season due to Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta and Salvatore Malguarnera Jr.’s “shoot first, pass second” mentality. However, Captain Larry continues to relegate them to third line duty, mainly because of their linemate, enforcer Hannah Stark. She also claims to be Italian, and who are we to argue with her?
3. After Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta’s dismal performance as goalie for the Happy Little Elves last week, one has to wonder if his confidence is permanently shattered…not because he gave up seven goals, but because he had to play for the Happy Little Elves.
Keys To The Game For Fresh Kills:
1. Fresh Kills boasts six players with at least one goal in this season’s playoffs. With so many potential scoring options to cover, What The Puck will have to look in all directions on defense.
2. Two of the league’s top defenders man the blue line for Fresh Kills in captain Kevin “The Planet” Foster and Scott Townsend. While Foster is notorious for his booming slap shot from the point that always seems to generate scoring opportunities, Townsend is known as more of a pure defenseman, capable of shutting down any attacker.
3. With several players growing cranky without their afternoon nap, Fresh Kills vacated the court immediately after last week’s win over the Denim Demons. Should Fresh Kills defeat What The Puck, it is unclear whether the team will be rested enough to compete in the championship game.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. In a matchup of old vs. older, old wins.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. Nothing less than a championship will be acceptable for the Mad Dog.
Watchability: 4.5 Zimmers
Playoff Preview: Quarterfinals (Part II)
Thursday, October 15th, 2009The Sky Fighters Have Wiiings
#3 LBS, Inc. (16-4-0-1) vs. #7 Sky Fighters (15-7)
Location: Tompkins West, 3:30 PM
All-Time Series: LBS, Inc. leads 8-3
2009 Result: Week 2 – Sky Fighters 3, LBS, Inc. 1; Week 16 – LBS, Inc. 5, Sky Fighters 0
Game Notes: This rubber match between Schloeder Division rivals LBS, Inc. and the Sky Fighters will also determine one of the four semifinalists for the BTSH championship. LBS, Inc. cruised to the second round with a 4-0 shutout of Cobra Kai. BTSH regular season scoring champion Karsten Pichon notched a hat trick, while goalie Seth Wachtell earned the shutout. The Sky Fighters faced a much stiffer test in the first round, as the had to outlast the Unicorns in an overtime thriller. Superstar defender and polo shirt enthusiast Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka played the entire game, and he assisted on the game’s only goal. Goalie James Stein recorded the shutout after stopping a barrage of second half shots, when his team was beginning to tire. With the Corporation’s fourth ranked offense poised to put a lot more pressure on Stein and his defense, the Sky Fighters will have to score more than one goal if they wish to advance to the semi-finals.
Eli’s Pick: LBS, Inc. Polo shirts are the Corporation’s gimmick.
Derek’s Pick: LBS, Inc. Karsten continues his assault on opposing goalies.
Watchability: 4 Anthonys
Who’s More Gorgeous?
#4 Corlears Hookers (15-3-1-2) vs. #5 Filthy Gorgeous (16-5-1)
Location: Corlears East, 12:00 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 4-0
2009 Result: Week 10 – Corlears Hookers 2, Filthy Gorgeous 1
Game Notes: This quarterfinal battle is a rematch from the 2008 BTSH semifinals, when the Corlears Hookers defeated Filthy Gorgeous 4-2 to advance to the championship game. The Hookers have controlled the series between these two teams, winning all four matchups, although none of their victories has been by more than a two-goal margin. Last week, they won another close game on the strength of Dustin “Fake Dutch’s Brother” Olson’s strong performance between the pipes. Although the Hookers offense was only able to record two goals against the inspired Tuques, Olson ensured the victory with a shutout. Filthy Gorgeous advanced to the quarterfinals in a similar fashion. Goaltender Dan “D.O.” Owens recorded a shutout of his own in the team’s opening round 4-0 victory over the Gouging Anklebiters. With leading scorer “Gentleman” James Pereira absent, Filthy’s second ranked offense was held in check until the closing minutes, when the team logged two empty net goals. With Olson and Owens both playing at the top of their games, goals will be at a premium as these teams write the next chapter in their bitter rivalry.
Eli’s Pick: No pick. Eli will be reffing this game.
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers. Everyone knows they don’t lose until the championship game.
Watchability: 5 Russos
Playoff Preview: Quarterfinals (Part I)
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009SCOTT!!!
#1 Denim Demons (15-2-2-3) vs. #11 Fresh Kills (10-10-1-1)
Location: Tompkins East, 1:00 PM
All-Time Series: Tied 5-5
2009 Result: Week 10 – Denim Demons 4, Fresh Kills 1; Week 22 – Denim Demons 4, Fresh Kills 2
Game Notes: Although the Demons swept the regular season series against their Rubens Division rival Fresh Kills and entered the playoffs as the number one seed, they are not a heavy favorite in this matchup. The Demons advanced to the second round with a solid 5-2 victory over the Mathematics, led by team scoring leader Jeff Kamen’s hat trick. However, they will be without Kamen’s services for the remainder of the playoffs as he pursues a Master’s degree in Israel. Thus, the team will need to look to other sources for their offense. Mike Pereira and Zack Tinkelman are the team’s next leading scorers with 10 and 9 goals, respectively. Micael Holmström also had six goals on the season, but, like Kamen, he too is abroad. Much like last year, Fresh Kills entered the playoffs with a double-digit seed and a huge chip on its shoulder. However, the defending champions continued their playoff run as they pulled off the biggest upset of the first round by defeating the 2007 champion Dark Rainbows. The Fresh Kills defense and goalie Dave Gil de Rubio kept the high-powered Rainbows offense off the board until late in the game when the team was already leading by three. If Fresh Kills can take advantage of the Demons’ absences, the league may see another major upset.
Eli’s Pick: Denim Demons. After bowing out in the quarterfinals the past three seasons, the Demons finally break through.
Derek’s Pick: No pick. Derek will be reffing this game.
Watchability: 4.5 Curries
Brace Yourselves For A Hale Stark Storm
#2 What The Puck (17-5) vs. #8 Rehabs (12-6-1-3)
Location: Tompkins East, 4:30 PM
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 9-5
2009 Result: Week 10 – What The Puck 5, Rehabs 4
Game Notes: As expected, Larry’s Orange Juggernaut marched into the second round with a convincing 6-1 win over the Mighty Squirrels. With new acquisitions Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta and Salvatore Malguarnera, Jr. refusing to play on their countryman’s holiday weekend, other Pucks were finally allowed to step into the spotlight. Five different players tallied goals, including rookie Ollie Hartman who led the team with two. The Rehabs earned the respect and adulation of BTSH by eliminating the Happy Little Elves from the playoffs with a 3-1 first round victory last week. First half goals by Adam Skuse and Bryan “Stork” Welch gave the Rehabs a 2-0 lead, which was enough to stave off a late Elves charge. Late-arriving Dave Fraser salted away the win with an empty netter in the closing minute. Impressively, this victory against their Rubens Division rival came with just two females in attendance. However, if the Rehabs wish to be successful against What The Puck, they will a need a better showing from their stellar all-female defense corps.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. Mad Dog won’t let his team get upset in the quarterfinals for the second straight season.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. Experience is doubly important in the playoffs, so it’s finally Ant’s time to shine!
Watchability: 4 Cupcakes
