HALFWAY THROUGH MATCHUP NUMBER ONE
Oct 18, 2021 0:40:50 GMT -5
Moscow Red Army, St. Roch Hawks, and 4 more like this
Post by Asbjørn Nygård on Oct 18, 2021 0:40:50 GMT -5
HALFWAY THROUGH MATCHUP NUMBER ONE
by Asbjørn Nygård
Hök Skrik Sports
October 17, 2021
The first matchup of the Dynasty Hockey League season is now halfway completed and while all six matchups are still up for grabs some trends and certainties have already been established.
Scores as of 8pm PT on Sunday, October 17th:
Italics = Road Team
So far the road teams are enjoying great success with the exception of Castleford and Moscow. Let's take a look at each matchup to see what categories look decided and which could still go either way:
PORTLAND BUCKAROOS 10 - CASTLEFORD COYOTES 2
Categories that look to be decided: SOG / STP / Blocked Shots / TOI / Saves
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / Plus-Minus / Hits / Wins / GAA / SV%
HSS Analysis: The Coyotes have yet to put a goalie on the ice so it's questionable if they'll even be able to reach the minimum three starts required to be eligible for those categories. Why he had Jordan Binnington on the bench on Saturday night is something new owner Stuart will have to answer to his fans on but Binnington does have three more games on the schedule this week so if he plays in all three and IF Stuart actually puts him in the active roster spot to compile stats he could sneak three of the four goalie categories away from Portland. If not, though, this one is over as Portland has a commanding lead in saves, SOG, blocked shots and TOI which would be more than enough to win the matchup. Castleford needs to play their goalies, have them play well AND find a way to win goals, assists, hits and +/- in order to claim victory.
NEBRASKA BUFFALO 9.5 - OSLO MASTADON 2.5
Categories that look to be decided: Hits / TOI
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / Plus-Minus / SOG / STP / Blocked Shots / Wins / GAA / Saves / SV%
HSS Analysis: This matchup is much closer than the score would indicate as STP is tied and both goals and assists are separated by just one. If those three go in favor of Oslo this becomes a 8-4 score with multiple categories still in play. That said, the Buffalo are in control halfway through and appear to be stampeding their way to a week one win. Even Oslo GM Ross feels this way as he said, "I’m gift wrapping week 1 to Nebraska - so much red, it feels like a Tarantino movie". We're not sure which Tarantino movie he's referring to but we're guessing it's not 'Jackie Brown'. Nebraska GM Tim, though, was feeling his oats and clearly feels that not only is this matchup over but he also is under the impression that he has the team to beat overall in the DHL this season. “There’s no gift wrapping vs the best team in the league. Better to get your bad week over with and save your guys for winnable weeks.”
The red Ross refers to is the injury list for the Mastadon which is unfortunately extensive. Nicklas Backstrom, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Mark Stone, Ryan Strome, Vince Dunn and John Klingberg are all injured leaving Oslo so shorthanded at center he had to go and sign a third center from the Pittsburgh Penguins in Jeff Carter. Despite the injuries the Mastadon aren’t doing themselves any favors when it comes to roster decisions, either as Brandon Tanev has three goals in the minors and both Joel Farabee and Marcus Foligno have a goal an assist.
For his part Nebraska Buffalo GM Tim is riding hot weeks from Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Chris Kreider. Those three have combined for eight goals, eight assists, a +6, 20 SOG, eight STP, 17 hits and well over 21:00 TOI. The rest of the Buffalo roster have six goals, 11 assists, are a -7 and have just six STP. Nebraska is also enjoying the 2014-15 Anaheim Ducks goalie tandem of John Gibson and Frederik Andersen as the two have combined to give him three wins and a very solid 2.00 GAA and .941 SV%.
This appears to be the Buffalo’s week but still a lot can happen. The Mastadon have to use their remaining roster moves wisely and hope that either Gibson or Andersen gets lit up like a Christmas tree in the coming days to give them a shot at flipping some netminder categories. With the two trading barbs in the Shoutbox and still six full days to go this matchup could warrant close inspection all week long!
MATCHUP OF THE WEEK
SIMI VALLEY 9 - MELBOURNE 3
Categories that look to be decided: Assists / SOG / STP / TOI
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Plus-Minus / Hits / Blocked Shots / Wins / GAA / Saves / SV%
HSS Analysis: The DHL regular season starts off with a rematch of the championship from last season and so far it’s looking like it’ll end the same way it did last year – with Simi Valley victorious. But like the Nebraska/Oslo matchup this one could be closer than it appears. If Melbourne can flip blocked shots, +/- and a couple of the goalie categories this could go from 9-3 Kings to 7-5 Bushrangers in a hurry! The trouble for Melbourne is that it cannot afford to lose any categories it is currently winning and that means hanging on to its tenuous lead in hits and hoping the Kings sticks don’t come alive in goals.
The key to this matchup will be in net where so far Kings GM Paul has made the right decisions including the risky move to start Cal Petersen over Robin Lehner in Saturday’s matchup – a move that paid off big time with Petersen getting the win and 23 saves while Lehner got yanked midway through the game. Melbourne has to hope that either Kaapo Kahkonen or Spencer Knight get a chance this week or that Jonathan Bernier plays out of his mind because without stealing at least two goalie categories the task of finding a way to win at least five or six skater categories looks too tough to accomplish.
ST. ROCH 8 – TAMPA BAY 4
Categories that look to be decided: Plus-Minus / SOG / GAA / Saves / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / STP / Hits / Blocked Shots / TOI / Wins
HSS Analysis: Goaltending was the key to St. Roch’s success last season and the same is true so far in week one. The Hawks are off to a great start in net getting two wins, 85 saves and good GAA and SV% from Mike Smith, Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak to start the week. Even Thunder GM Michael seems resigned to the fact that this week could be out of reach due to goaltending saying, “I’m right back in this match-up if my next goalie start gets 60 saves and -10 goals allowed.”
The Thunder have had bad luck in net to start the season as reigning Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury apparently should have retired rather than play for the Blackhawks. Through two starts the usually great goalie has a putrid 7.06 GAA and .826 SV%. To Michael’s point even if Fleury were to get 40 saves in a shutout victory in his next start his GAA and SV% would still be 3.75 and .906, respectively. Those numbers would get him back in the running but still wouldn’t be enough to steal the categories from the Hawks.
Assuming the goalie categories don’t flip it’s a tough road to victory for the Thunder. Tampa would need to win seven of the eight skater categories and two of them already seem locked in favor of St. Roch – SOG and +/-. Usually HSS puts +/- in the up for grabs category, and certainly this could still flip in Tampa Bay’s favor, but with a 14-1 gap through six days it would take an extreme drop from the Hawks or a huge surge from the Thunder to flip that category. Both are possible but a lot has to go Tampa Bay’s way if they are to pull off the win against the consensus Wuest Memorial Trophy favorite this week.
HAUKIPUTAAN AHMAT 7.5 – MORWEENA REIMNOCERI 4.5
Categories that look to be decided: Plus-Minus / SOG / STP / Hits / Blocked Shots / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / TOI / Wins / GAA / Saves
HSS Analysis: The good news for the Ahmat is that they are leading at the moment. The bad news for the Ahmat is that only two of the categories in the decided column is in their favor. The Reimnoceri have four categories in the bag as far as HSS is concerned and that leaves them six days to focus on trying to flip two of the other categories into their favor.
Both teams are tied with 10 goals each so that’s clearly up for grabs and who wins that might determine who wins the week. If that category goes in favor of Haukiputaan they would have a 8-4 lead and Morweena’s work would be cut out for them but if, instead, goals goes to Morweena that makes it 7-5 and a lot more interesting.
Neither roster has any talent being wasted in the minors though if Brady Tkachuk is able to take the ice for Morweena that could be a big advantage for him late in the week. Ultimately someone is going to escape with a hard fought win while the other is left sucking a lemon and wondering what if. Also, HSS has no clue what a Ahmat or Reimnoceri is and this reporter urges these teams to reconsider their names.
MOSCOW RED ARMY 6 – VEGAS ACES WILD 6
Categories that look to be decided: Assists / Plus-Minus / Hits / Blocked Shots / TOI / Wins / GAA / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / STP / TOI / Saves
HSS Analysis: The one matchup that is closest on the scoreboard is also the matchup that has the most categories already in the bag. HSS counts no less than eight categories that have already been decided, barring something stunning in the final six days, leaving these two evenly matched combatants to fight it out in the remaining four categories.
Vegas is off to a great start in net with three wins, a sparkling 1.74 GAA and .940 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins and Tristan Jarry have been fantastic and Jake Allen was good in defeat. Combine that with Carter Hart still looking more like Corey Hart in the crease and Ilya Sorokin looking like Illya Soreekin’ and three of the four goalie categories seem settled. The good news for Moscow GM Adam is that he can throw goalies out there without worrying about ruining his stats and just hope they pile up saves. The schedule is in the Red Army’s favor with the potential for five more goalie starts this week compared to just four more possible starts for the Aces Wild.
This matchup feels like it’ll come down to goals and whichever team can put the most pucks in the next in the next six days will come out with a win. Vegas starts the final six days with a two goal cushion but Moscow can erase that with one good night. This should be a close battle all the way to the end and the Saturday finale is going to be fun to watch!
-30-
Hök Skrik Sports
October 17, 2021
The first matchup of the Dynasty Hockey League season is now halfway completed and while all six matchups are still up for grabs some trends and certainties have already been established.
Scores as of 8pm PT on Sunday, October 17th:
Italics = Road Team
- Simi Valley 9 - 3 Melbourne
- Nebraska 9.5 - 2.5 Oslo
- St. Roch 8 - 4 Tampa Bay
- Moscow 6 - Vegas 6
- Haukiputaan 7.5 - 4.5 Morweena
- Portland 10 - 2 Castleford
So far the road teams are enjoying great success with the exception of Castleford and Moscow. Let's take a look at each matchup to see what categories look decided and which could still go either way:
PORTLAND BUCKAROOS 10 - CASTLEFORD COYOTES 2
Categories that look to be decided: SOG / STP / Blocked Shots / TOI / Saves
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / Plus-Minus / Hits / Wins / GAA / SV%
HSS Analysis: The Coyotes have yet to put a goalie on the ice so it's questionable if they'll even be able to reach the minimum three starts required to be eligible for those categories. Why he had Jordan Binnington on the bench on Saturday night is something new owner Stuart will have to answer to his fans on but Binnington does have three more games on the schedule this week so if he plays in all three and IF Stuart actually puts him in the active roster spot to compile stats he could sneak three of the four goalie categories away from Portland. If not, though, this one is over as Portland has a commanding lead in saves, SOG, blocked shots and TOI which would be more than enough to win the matchup. Castleford needs to play their goalies, have them play well AND find a way to win goals, assists, hits and +/- in order to claim victory.
NEBRASKA BUFFALO 9.5 - OSLO MASTADON 2.5
Categories that look to be decided: Hits / TOI
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / Plus-Minus / SOG / STP / Blocked Shots / Wins / GAA / Saves / SV%
HSS Analysis: This matchup is much closer than the score would indicate as STP is tied and both goals and assists are separated by just one. If those three go in favor of Oslo this becomes a 8-4 score with multiple categories still in play. That said, the Buffalo are in control halfway through and appear to be stampeding their way to a week one win. Even Oslo GM Ross feels this way as he said, "I’m gift wrapping week 1 to Nebraska - so much red, it feels like a Tarantino movie". We're not sure which Tarantino movie he's referring to but we're guessing it's not 'Jackie Brown'. Nebraska GM Tim, though, was feeling his oats and clearly feels that not only is this matchup over but he also is under the impression that he has the team to beat overall in the DHL this season. “There’s no gift wrapping vs the best team in the league. Better to get your bad week over with and save your guys for winnable weeks.”
The red Ross refers to is the injury list for the Mastadon which is unfortunately extensive. Nicklas Backstrom, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Mark Stone, Ryan Strome, Vince Dunn and John Klingberg are all injured leaving Oslo so shorthanded at center he had to go and sign a third center from the Pittsburgh Penguins in Jeff Carter. Despite the injuries the Mastadon aren’t doing themselves any favors when it comes to roster decisions, either as Brandon Tanev has three goals in the minors and both Joel Farabee and Marcus Foligno have a goal an assist.
For his part Nebraska Buffalo GM Tim is riding hot weeks from Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Chris Kreider. Those three have combined for eight goals, eight assists, a +6, 20 SOG, eight STP, 17 hits and well over 21:00 TOI. The rest of the Buffalo roster have six goals, 11 assists, are a -7 and have just six STP. Nebraska is also enjoying the 2014-15 Anaheim Ducks goalie tandem of John Gibson and Frederik Andersen as the two have combined to give him three wins and a very solid 2.00 GAA and .941 SV%.
This appears to be the Buffalo’s week but still a lot can happen. The Mastadon have to use their remaining roster moves wisely and hope that either Gibson or Andersen gets lit up like a Christmas tree in the coming days to give them a shot at flipping some netminder categories. With the two trading barbs in the Shoutbox and still six full days to go this matchup could warrant close inspection all week long!
MATCHUP OF THE WEEK
SIMI VALLEY 9 - MELBOURNE 3
Categories that look to be decided: Assists / SOG / STP / TOI
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Plus-Minus / Hits / Blocked Shots / Wins / GAA / Saves / SV%
HSS Analysis: The DHL regular season starts off with a rematch of the championship from last season and so far it’s looking like it’ll end the same way it did last year – with Simi Valley victorious. But like the Nebraska/Oslo matchup this one could be closer than it appears. If Melbourne can flip blocked shots, +/- and a couple of the goalie categories this could go from 9-3 Kings to 7-5 Bushrangers in a hurry! The trouble for Melbourne is that it cannot afford to lose any categories it is currently winning and that means hanging on to its tenuous lead in hits and hoping the Kings sticks don’t come alive in goals.
The key to this matchup will be in net where so far Kings GM Paul has made the right decisions including the risky move to start Cal Petersen over Robin Lehner in Saturday’s matchup – a move that paid off big time with Petersen getting the win and 23 saves while Lehner got yanked midway through the game. Melbourne has to hope that either Kaapo Kahkonen or Spencer Knight get a chance this week or that Jonathan Bernier plays out of his mind because without stealing at least two goalie categories the task of finding a way to win at least five or six skater categories looks too tough to accomplish.
ST. ROCH 8 – TAMPA BAY 4
Categories that look to be decided: Plus-Minus / SOG / GAA / Saves / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / STP / Hits / Blocked Shots / TOI / Wins
HSS Analysis: Goaltending was the key to St. Roch’s success last season and the same is true so far in week one. The Hawks are off to a great start in net getting two wins, 85 saves and good GAA and SV% from Mike Smith, Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak to start the week. Even Thunder GM Michael seems resigned to the fact that this week could be out of reach due to goaltending saying, “I’m right back in this match-up if my next goalie start gets 60 saves and -10 goals allowed.”
The Thunder have had bad luck in net to start the season as reigning Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury apparently should have retired rather than play for the Blackhawks. Through two starts the usually great goalie has a putrid 7.06 GAA and .826 SV%. To Michael’s point even if Fleury were to get 40 saves in a shutout victory in his next start his GAA and SV% would still be 3.75 and .906, respectively. Those numbers would get him back in the running but still wouldn’t be enough to steal the categories from the Hawks.
Assuming the goalie categories don’t flip it’s a tough road to victory for the Thunder. Tampa would need to win seven of the eight skater categories and two of them already seem locked in favor of St. Roch – SOG and +/-. Usually HSS puts +/- in the up for grabs category, and certainly this could still flip in Tampa Bay’s favor, but with a 14-1 gap through six days it would take an extreme drop from the Hawks or a huge surge from the Thunder to flip that category. Both are possible but a lot has to go Tampa Bay’s way if they are to pull off the win against the consensus Wuest Memorial Trophy favorite this week.
HAUKIPUTAAN AHMAT 7.5 – MORWEENA REIMNOCERI 4.5
Categories that look to be decided: Plus-Minus / SOG / STP / Hits / Blocked Shots / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / Assists / TOI / Wins / GAA / Saves
HSS Analysis: The good news for the Ahmat is that they are leading at the moment. The bad news for the Ahmat is that only two of the categories in the decided column is in their favor. The Reimnoceri have four categories in the bag as far as HSS is concerned and that leaves them six days to focus on trying to flip two of the other categories into their favor.
Both teams are tied with 10 goals each so that’s clearly up for grabs and who wins that might determine who wins the week. If that category goes in favor of Haukiputaan they would have a 8-4 lead and Morweena’s work would be cut out for them but if, instead, goals goes to Morweena that makes it 7-5 and a lot more interesting.
Neither roster has any talent being wasted in the minors though if Brady Tkachuk is able to take the ice for Morweena that could be a big advantage for him late in the week. Ultimately someone is going to escape with a hard fought win while the other is left sucking a lemon and wondering what if. Also, HSS has no clue what a Ahmat or Reimnoceri is and this reporter urges these teams to reconsider their names.
MOSCOW RED ARMY 6 – VEGAS ACES WILD 6
Categories that look to be decided: Assists / Plus-Minus / Hits / Blocked Shots / TOI / Wins / GAA / SV%
Categories still up for grabs: Goals / STP / TOI / Saves
HSS Analysis: The one matchup that is closest on the scoreboard is also the matchup that has the most categories already in the bag. HSS counts no less than eight categories that have already been decided, barring something stunning in the final six days, leaving these two evenly matched combatants to fight it out in the remaining four categories.
Vegas is off to a great start in net with three wins, a sparkling 1.74 GAA and .940 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins and Tristan Jarry have been fantastic and Jake Allen was good in defeat. Combine that with Carter Hart still looking more like Corey Hart in the crease and Ilya Sorokin looking like Illya Soreekin’ and three of the four goalie categories seem settled. The good news for Moscow GM Adam is that he can throw goalies out there without worrying about ruining his stats and just hope they pile up saves. The schedule is in the Red Army’s favor with the potential for five more goalie starts this week compared to just four more possible starts for the Aces Wild.
This matchup feels like it’ll come down to goals and whichever team can put the most pucks in the next in the next six days will come out with a win. Vegas starts the final six days with a two goal cushion but Moscow can erase that with one good night. This should be a close battle all the way to the end and the Saturday finale is going to be fun to watch!
-30-