Post by NorthStarsGM on Jun 18, 2021 17:23:58 GMT
Minnesota (AP) – Well we are here – the playoffs. After making major offseason moves to deal away multiple first round picks in the hopes to bring a competitive team to Minnesota in the first season of the T80HL, the risk definitely paid off. Minnesota heads into the playoffs as the #1 team after a Presidents Trophy winning campaign that saw them pick up 116 points (with one final game to be played later today) in a 57 win season which was by far the best in the league. They led the team in goals for and allowed the 2nd least goals against so there’s no doubt the team is looking strong heading into the playoffs. Of course, the playoffs are a different beast and with the sim we all know anything can happen. The Kings will be a hard opponent given how they recently beat the NorthStars the other day and the two teams tied in the 6 game regular season battle they had. Let’s take a closer look at the two teams:
FORWARDS
The NorthStars scored about 70 goals more than the Kings and their strong depth is definitely the reason. The Kings should have trouble shutting down the likes of Hawerchuk (who dominated with 138 points this year), Ciccarelli (54 goals!), Broten (102 points) and Vaive (97 points). This doesn’t even include Brian Bellows as the team’s top left winger who had 45 goals. In all the team had six players hit the 30 goal mark. In LA, they were led from their top centres Nicholls and Carson who had 89 and 79 points respectively. Luc Robitalle led the team with 40 goals while the team had good depth with six players scoring 25 or more goals – although just one who had 30 or more goals. The NorthStars will also have to watch out for RW Foligno who led the team with 11 PPG as he’s become a bit of a PP specialist this season for them. The Kings are blessed with fantastic youth who have had great seasons so it’ll be interesting to see how they do with the more veteran lineup that the NorthStars have – especially up front.
DEFENSE
On defense, the Kings allowed about 50 more goals than the NorthStars did and is led by 23 year old Marty McSorley who will throw his weight around to make things uncomfortable for the Minnesota star players. Rookie Duchense led the way offensively on the blueline for the Kings with 12 goals and 52 points.The club had four defenseman that put up 40 points or more so they definitely know how to move the puck and that’ll be key to ensuring the Kings aren’t penned into their own zone in the series. In Minnesota, they made a trade deadline deal to bolster the blueline with Borje Salming from Toronto to add to an already impressive unit with tremendous depth as the NorthStars #5 and 6 defenders likely would play top four minutes for most other teams in the league. Like the Kings, 4 defenseman scored at least 40 points for the club, and was led by McCrimmon (13 goals) and Hartsburgh (60 points). McCrimmon’s +52 rating was a team high as well as he truly was a dominate force in shutting down the other team’s offensive players.
GOALTENDING
In net, the two teams have similar skill with Barrasso for the Kings and Beaupre for the NorthStars. Both are young and while of course Barrasso’s numbers are not as nice as Beaupre as a product of the team in front of him, theres no doubt he can steal games so he’ll be hungry to do just that against the NorthStars. Both teams also have a capable backup in place in case of any injuries.
Season Series: Tied 3-3 with the Kings edging the NorthStars with a 28 to 24 goal differential.
FORWARDS
The NorthStars scored about 70 goals more than the Kings and their strong depth is definitely the reason. The Kings should have trouble shutting down the likes of Hawerchuk (who dominated with 138 points this year), Ciccarelli (54 goals!), Broten (102 points) and Vaive (97 points). This doesn’t even include Brian Bellows as the team’s top left winger who had 45 goals. In all the team had six players hit the 30 goal mark. In LA, they were led from their top centres Nicholls and Carson who had 89 and 79 points respectively. Luc Robitalle led the team with 40 goals while the team had good depth with six players scoring 25 or more goals – although just one who had 30 or more goals. The NorthStars will also have to watch out for RW Foligno who led the team with 11 PPG as he’s become a bit of a PP specialist this season for them. The Kings are blessed with fantastic youth who have had great seasons so it’ll be interesting to see how they do with the more veteran lineup that the NorthStars have – especially up front.
DEFENSE
On defense, the Kings allowed about 50 more goals than the NorthStars did and is led by 23 year old Marty McSorley who will throw his weight around to make things uncomfortable for the Minnesota star players. Rookie Duchense led the way offensively on the blueline for the Kings with 12 goals and 52 points.The club had four defenseman that put up 40 points or more so they definitely know how to move the puck and that’ll be key to ensuring the Kings aren’t penned into their own zone in the series. In Minnesota, they made a trade deadline deal to bolster the blueline with Borje Salming from Toronto to add to an already impressive unit with tremendous depth as the NorthStars #5 and 6 defenders likely would play top four minutes for most other teams in the league. Like the Kings, 4 defenseman scored at least 40 points for the club, and was led by McCrimmon (13 goals) and Hartsburgh (60 points). McCrimmon’s +52 rating was a team high as well as he truly was a dominate force in shutting down the other team’s offensive players.
GOALTENDING
In net, the two teams have similar skill with Barrasso for the Kings and Beaupre for the NorthStars. Both are young and while of course Barrasso’s numbers are not as nice as Beaupre as a product of the team in front of him, theres no doubt he can steal games so he’ll be hungry to do just that against the NorthStars. Both teams also have a capable backup in place in case of any injuries.
Season Series: Tied 3-3 with the Kings edging the NorthStars with a 28 to 24 goal differential.