TFHL Conference Finals Playoff Preview

TFHL Conference Finals Playoff Preview

After having a little more success in the second round and gaining some ground on Coco, I must disclaim the following predictions: you're probably better off flipping a coin. In each series we have the typical TFHL playoff (mis-)match of underdog and powerhouse. If we were to learn from history money should be on the underdogs, but in this case the favourites may just be too powerful.

Young Guns (4) vs Walkerton Aces (8)

If the Aces, statistically the fifth worst team in the regular season, can now sit four wins from the TFHL finals and eight from the league championship - maybe every team should qualify for the playoffs and see what kind of competition we would have then? The Aces knocked off the hard-knock Saints in a tough battle. Currently the Aces are eeking by game by game - they just get enough goals and adequate enough goaltending to win four of seven games. However, one must give them credit - they are the king-killers right now.

I had the Guns through to the third round, now things get tricky. They are playing much as they did all season: good goaltending by Jose Theodore with adequate (but surpisingly poor) offence. Normally that should be enough to beat the opposition, but this is the TFHL playoffs...

Verdict: Young Guns in seven (probably).

Michigan Pain (2) vs Saint John Fog Devils(5)

Historically if the Pain get out of the first round, then they're pretty-well free and clear; yet also historically, a red-hot team from the West is something to fear. The Devils are getting solid goaltending from their tandem of Thibault and Dubnyk and decent scoring support. One might ask who will they go with in net this series? Thibault is looking hot enough to perhaps knock off a team, but Dubnyk is winning aswell. The Devils are something of an anomoly - usually a hot team has some statistical phenom, but like the Aces, the Devils are winning and looking pretty average. But then all you need is one more win than the other team.

I said in the last edition that whoever took the Blades-Pain series was probably the favourite to take the cup. Although somewhat of a no-brainer, I still stick by that: the Pain are a powerhouse and playing like one, in what may be their last real shot as a squad head and shoulders above the competition - they may have a couple more seasons in them, but this might be the last time they are this much in control of their destiny... a swan-song to their dynasty?

Verdict: Pain in six.