Playoff Predictions

[herder head]

The ideal situation for the Cats would be if they won in 5 games, that way they get 3 home gates, get a bit of rest before facing the Bous, but at the same time not have too long of a layoff. They would probably prefer that to a sweep.

The teams with the best power play and penalty killing will probably go deep in the playoffs, it seems in this league most games are decided by special teams.

If by some chance CBN advances to the Herder I certainly hope they don't play at Mile One, one of the main reasons we bought hot seats in Hr. Grace at $50 each was that we would be guaranteed seats at the SW Moores for the finals.

[royals #1 fan.]

here's my two cents worth on the royals vs bou's series.
In 6 regular season games this is how the scores between the two teams went ;

October 20th (sat) 7-5 bou's win in Deer Lake.
October 21st (sun) 6-2 bou's win in Deer Lake.
Nov 3rd(sat) 6-3 Royals win in Deer Lake.
Nov 4th (sun) 5-4 Royals win in Deer Lake.
Jan 12th (sat) 6-3 Bou's win in Clarenville.
Jan 13th (sun) 8-5 Bou's win in Clarenville.

The bou's won 4/6 games, a couple by 3 and 4 goals. 4 of these games however were before Gillis made his debut with the royals.
Gillis also went 8-5 in net, in his 13 regular season games.

-- Defense is definitely the weaker point in the royals. Injuries have been no help with this either with the loss of Saunders early on, loss of Steve North, and then guys like Ashley Coles who has work commitments as well. but after watching this past weekends two games the royals showed ALOT of heart. and dug deep and beat grand falls Saturday night and had a 5-1 lead half way through the 2nd period on Sunday.

If the royals goaltending stays hot with Gillis, and the boys show up to the rink and show some heart and play a full 60 minutes of hockey they can pull a upset on Clarenville.



May the best team win!
GO ROYALS GO.

[royals #1 fan.]

As well as last weekend, I forgot to mention no d-men were there, it all comes down to heart. You gotta wanna win. and they did wanna get some momentum going into the playoffs and they did pretty well IMO

[Hockey Eyes]

The ideal situation for the Cats would be if they won in 5 games, that way they get 3 home gates, get a bit of rest before facing the Bous, but at the same time not have too long of a layoff. They would probably prefer that to a sweep.

The teams with the best power play and penalty killing will probably go deep in the playoffs, it seems in this league most games are decided by special teams.

If by some chance CBN advances to the Herder I certainly hope they don't play at Mile One, one of the main reasons we bought hot seats in Hr. Grace at $50 each was that we would be guaranteed seats at the SW Moores for the finals.

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Wasn't the deal with the hot seats that if they sold a certain number they would play the Herder at SWM. Did they reach that magic number ?

[geoguy]

The ideal situation for the Cats would be if they won in 5 games, that way they get 3 home gates, get a bit of rest before facing the Bous, but at the same time not have too long of a layoff. They would probably prefer that to a sweep.

The teams with the best power play and penalty killing will probably go deep in the playoffs, it seems in this league most games are decided by special teams.

If by some chance CBN advances to the Herder I certainly hope they don't play at Mile One, one of the main reasons we bought hot seats in Hr. Grace at $50 each was that we would be guaranteed seats at the SW Moores for the finals.

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Wasn't the deal with the hot seats that if they sold a certain number they would play the Herder at SWM. Did they reach that magic number ?

That question was asked numerous times this winter with no answer given

[AESHL]

I don't expect the cb's to win but the team we seen last weekend was a different group from all year. The lines worked and the players seamed to care which wasn't so evident all year.

I think this has the potential to be a long series but the CB's have to come out of GfW with a split this weekend.

[bigsweed]

When a team like the Ceebees has come out and admitted punlically that they are hurting for cash, it would mak NO sense to play their games at the SW Moores. Sure, I agree that its not fair to the fans, but it makes zero sense as a business thats on the verge of going bankrupt to NOT play in the Mile one.

[Hockey Eyes]

When a team like the Ceebees has come out and admitted punlically that they are hurting for cash, it would mak NO sense to play their games at the SW Moores. Sure, I agree that its not fair to the fans, but it makes zero sense as a business thats on the verge of going bankrupt to NOT play in the Mile one.

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You are spot on. It is economic sense and common sense which something this league has shown to be a commodity in short supply. Now nobody asked be but .......assuming the CeeBees don't make the Herder and I can guarantee you they won't , the only way they can play next year at all is in an eastern division that would have them with Mount Pearl and the Rona Eagles or have them rejoin the Avalon East Senior Hockey league. No team can afford to drive across Newfoundland and put a full team up in a hotel just to play two games of weekend hockey .
An eastern division with the CeeBees , the Mount Pearl Blades and the Rona Eagles guarantees an east west -Herder final and guarantees games at a Mile One facility that holds over six thousand people . You can pay a lot of bills with that. Just ask the AESHL . They BANKED 100,thousand dollars from their last Herder . You have to sell a lot of tickets on a snowblower to match that .
Just as an aside and unrelated to this ...last year I posted on this site that IMO the next team that was NOT Clarenville or GFW to win the Herder would be the Rona Eagles.

[catsfan96]

With Playoff predictions it's very tough to judge, especially in the NLSHL. Teams are deep, you have 3 sometimes 4 lines that can produce on any given night. Not to mention the goaltending! Look who the teams have between the pipes:

Bous: Churchhill/Kennedy
Cats: Whiffen/Jewer
Cee Bee's: Yetman/Diamond
Royals: Gillis/Dyke

IMO this is quality tenders to start also waiting in the wings on the bench. To me either one of these goalies can get hot at the right time, Take for example Import goalie Gillis, this guy faced 50 shots and took home the W for the Western Royals, hes ready for a lot of rubber and can easily steal a game or two.

What about Yeti in CBN, he will have something to prove this weekend and beyond as this series goes to his former club. AJ this guy has been on top of the leader board for tenders all year, can this carry over and transpire into a long playoff run? How about Church, can't count him out with all his playoff success for the Caribous organization.

So just by taking one aspect of all 4 teams with playoff berths looks like were in for a dandy post season.

Now about predictions:

I'm just gonna take a look at the Cats/Bee's series, we all have no idea as what will happen. I don't even think maggie the monkey can predict how this series will go, two DEEP teams coming in, clashing as it were for a berth in the herder final, the Cee Bee's will be hungry, as will the Cats who have been on top of the league standings since way back in November. To me there pretty much even, in another post I seen a match up line for line Cats vs. Cee Bee's and to me the Cats are a little deeper on D and have a little more speed up front then the Stars, but the Stars have veteran leadership on all lines, vets who have been here or in similar situations in prior years. I'm a Cats fan but honestly I hope this winning way, find a way to win season for the Cats continue into a herder date for them with either Western or C-Ville. I will say Cats in 6, but if the Stars take them out in 6 or 7 well its whoever gets hot, whoever gels and comes together at this moment right now that will walk out of this series.

Cats need to utilize speed, get pucks deep, crash and bang. The D has to continue to be strong in front of AJ clearing pucks out and not giving up odd man rushes (like bad line changes) Stay out of the sin bin and play a full 60, they need all that to beat this team. I have nothing but respect for the Stars, they have had a rough season with the ins and out already discussed but I feel there a dangerous team right now and have to be feared as just that.. dangerous.

The Cats have great PK and a ok PP. Special teams to me will play a big role in this series as well, with the refs being unpredictable at times sometimes they let you play while other times they call everything as we have witnessed. If the Cats can get a full line up, a full squad together and stay healthy I feel they have the depth that can get them back to the herder and try to get the Herder trophy back into the trophy case at the Joe.

My player to watch this series is Luke Gallant, this guy gets better when the chips are down and can turn the team around, remember at the Joe last weekend? he took the puck end to end ripped a bomb and turned that game around... so I feel he will log a lot of minutes and lead this team. JMO

All the best to all teams this playoff season...

[Mr. BoJangles]

My player to watch..............#33 Andrew Piercey