Double play-off time

by **BuffonIdol** Thu May 23, 2013 11:08 pm

For the first time in franchise history both teams are going to feel the buzz of a play-off series.

The Portsmouth Pirates are making their fourth appearance in five season since GMS Buff arrived. A monumental 113 points saw the team secure the 3rd seed where they will match up against division winners the Garden Red Roses who finished a distant 16 points back. The Pirates will not take their opponents lightly however as home ice advantage has proved vital time and time again in the play-offs. If league leading Matt Moulson (71G - 55A - 126P) continues to terrorise opponents the Pirates will be confident of setting up a potentially mouth-watering conference final with the Bedwell Baby Beefs.

The Chatham Victory will make their second successive play-off appearance. But this time they have silverware to back up their credentials - a Prego division and Nandos conference title - the first in franchise history. Chatham boast 3 of the top 7 goalscorers, 3 of the top 8 assist getters, 2 top 5 centres, a top 4 left wing, 2 top 5 right wings, 2 top 4 dmen, 3 top 6 PPM, the top face-off %, 4 top 10 +/-, were 1st in goals for, 5th goals against, 3rd in goal ratio and 2nd in shot differential.

But all these individual and team accolades mean nothing to their opponents. The regular season series was split evenly with the Fumblesauraus Rex, each taking 3 regulation wins and an overtime win. The Rex outscored the Victory marginally, 33-30. The Rex also won special teams battle outscoring Victory by a mammoth 8-3 on the PP and blunting the prized Victory power-play. They also had one of the best face-off %s, another key strength of the Victory the Rex are able to blunt. The Rex therefore look like extremely dangerous opponents. One of the few encouraging stats for Chatham, the home team won every game of the series.

Both the Pirates and Victory had lethargic ends to the regular season. The Pirates lost 9 of 15 games down the stretch (.400) before finishing with a win. The Victory lost 4 of their last 7 games (.429) for an equally unchampion-like finish to the season. To prepare team tactics for the upcoming play-off series GMS Buff has arranged a morale lifting trip to Dublin from Friday to Monday. He will reveal his lines late Monday night.