Pressemitteilungen

After a thrilling shoot-out victory by The Virus today in front of 1 093 rowdy spectators at Centre mario tremblay, we now have our final four teams. This was a great first round that saw some close games and good battles in all 4 series, and an upset to finish off a solid week.

1. Ice Monkeys vs
7. The Virus
Season Series: 1-1-0 Ice Monkeys (10:2W, 2:3OT)

The Skinny: The unstoppable Ice Monkeys meet the darkhorses of IV.7, The Virus. Asked before Tuesdays deciding game between Almatois and The Virus, the president of Ice Monkeys charredmonkey had this to say: "I hope Almatois wins, the virus goalie has what it takes to take me down". I couldn't agree more.

This Virus team is a strong Canadian only team led by their captain Rob Mcleary and all-star goalie Tony Tuck. A strong team throughout the season they have already made a splash by beating second place Almatois, and don't expect them to change their style of play against the Ice Monkeys. The Ice Monkeys as everyone knows is the favorite still in these playoffs, easily handing the newly managed team mouludia 2 quick loses to move onto this series. Expect a more focused and hardworking team this series however, as it just may go to three games. Team comparison and key matchups below.

Team Comparison:
Ice---------------------------------- Virus
14 Goals 14
4 Goals Against 14
2 PP Goals 2
13.3% (6th) PP % 22.2% (5th)
100% (T-1st) PK% 66.7% (T-6th)
0 PP Goals Allowed 3
0 SH Goals 0
0 SH Goals Allowed 0
0 PIM 18
Team Leaders:
Ice-------------------------Virus
Goals - Owen Armstrong (2) Kenny Corden (3)
Assists - Juhani Nurro (4) Kenny Corden (3)
Points - Juhani Nurro (5) Kenny Corden (6)
PIM - Juhani Nurro (0) Jason Stainer (6)
Shots - Dale Ryder (8) Todd Giroux (13)
+/- - Mickey Bergeron (+5) Kenny Corden (+3)
GW goals Maurice Cort (1) Rob Mcleary (2)
Goalies: T. Inglethorpe (2.00, 88.57) -Tony Tuck (4.42, 81.3)

Key Matchups: The key to this series is goaltending. Expect a battle between two of the best in Tyler Inglethorpe and Tony Tuck. Inglethorpe should expect to see much more action than last series, with a strong first and second line for the Virus. Expect to see Gord Levesque and Shane Orr everytime the powerhouse first line of the Ice Monkeys are out on the ice. If they can shut them down, they may just win the series. It will be very tough though, as the Ice Monkeys just have so much depth.
Prediction: 2:0 Ice Monkeys

3. Bow Valley Buccaneers vs
5. Windsor Prostitutes
Season Series: 1-1 Tie (8-4, 4-5)
The Skinny: This will be a battle for home ice domination. These two teams have the 2nd and 3rd best home records in the league, and that's a factor that will very likely dictate what happens in this series. Two very strong teams, if any series should go 3 games this should be it. Both teams are brimming with confidence after fairly easy first round matchups, with comments of domination coming from both teams
"i think i have a chance against the buccs but a good win for me today complete domination." That was a quote from the Prostitutes president after handing Rose Valley a embarrassing 9:3 thumping to eliminate them from competition. With a very international line-up representing the Prostitutes however as a fan of hockey in Canada you just have to support the Canadian boys from Bow Valley, and expect overwhelming support for them at the Bow Valley Gardens.
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Team Comparison:
BV---------------------------------- WSR
12 Goals 14
8 Goals Against 7
6 PP Goals 2
40% (1st) PP % 23.1% (4th)
100% (T-1st) PK% 66.7% (T-6th)
0 PP Goals Allowed 1
1 SH Goals 1
0 SH Goals Allowed 0
6 PIM 6
Team Leaders:
BV-------------------------WSR
Goals - Brad Clark (2) Klement Majerník (3)
Assists - Frederick Delaroche (4) Cheslau Laguta (4)
Points - Brad Clark (5) Cheslau Laguta (4)
PIM - Frederick Delaroche (2) Kazimír Bartoš (2)
Shots - Brad Clark (8) Jiří Moučka (8)
+/- - Alex Squires (+1) Jiří Moučka (+3)
GW goals Peter Jenkinson (1) Klement Majerník (1)
Goalies: J. Jobling (3.84, 86.44) - Martin Belica (3.50, 78.79)

Key Matchups: Again in this series it is going to boil down to goalies. Martin Belica and John Jobling were the two hottest goalies in the league heading into the playoffs, and even if neither had that hot of a first round, don't expect the poor play of either to continue. If one does, the series is over.
With the return of new Aussie star Garet Taper to the Buccs line-up, it is going to be tough for the Prostitutes to contain 3 lines that have deep scoring threats. They are going to need strong performances by their #5-6 defensmen, Ray Cloutier and Brody Craig to contain this threat from down under. Beyond that, all lines match up very evenly, and expect a very hard fought series
Prediction: 2:1 Bow Valley

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