Wolves VS Checkers Primer Superman and Luthor, Batman and Joker, Rocky and Drago - Chicago Wolves and Charlotte Checkers. What do these all have in common? You've guessed it, fierce rivalry - arch nemesis. What don't they have in common? The first three are fake. Fictional instances of long standing battle between two parties. As for the fourth, this Sunday night in Chicago we get to witness first hand just how real this rivalry is. When it comes to hockey, they simply do not get much better than this one. Two teams - divisional rivals, both of whom have been toward the top of the standings all year. Now find themselves nose to nose, in a win or go home playoff, each team trying to end the season of the other. You look at these two teams and they are toward the top of the league in almost every statistical team category there is. You start to look for glaring advantages for either team and you quickly realize there are virtually none. You look at the season series and you see the results, three wins a piece. You look to play-off success, nothing. Both teams easily dispatching their first round opponent in four game series sweeps. Offense? nothing - Defense? nothing - Goaltending? nothing - Speacial Teams? nothing. And right when you've picked apart almost every team stat and are about to throw in the towel. You find it. Faceoffs? Faceoffs! Literally the only stat where either team has a real significant advantage is face-offs. Edge? Checkers. The Checkers have been the cream of the crop all year in the dot. The playoffs have been no different. Winning a league best 70.8% of their draws to the Wolves 53.5%. The only real glaring statistical edge between these two fierce rivals. We all know the importance of face-offs. Starting with the puck can often be a huge tactical advantage in hockey warfare. But will that be enough in this series to give the Checkers the advantage and series victory? I'm not sure, but I guess at this point we have to say they have the slight advantage going in. Sunday night as the sweat begins to pour and blood drips from the brow of these two fierce combatants, excuse them if they don't seem "polite". Apply whatever figure of speech you choose. "No love lost" - "War on ice" - "No holds barred". But in plain English let's just call it how we see it. These two teams do not like each other. Come the off season, I don't suspect that either team will be up for a round of gentlemen's golf with one another. Not for a while anyway. When the smoke settles and the battlefield is surveyed, as the fresh smell of war is sensed, as the casualties lie where the flow of battle has placed them. Only one will emerge victorious. Here we have two teams, One VS Four - only by a technicality. Virtually deadlocked in all areas where one may usually find an advantage. Two teams who split the season series and were separated by a few measly points. Both of whom have been equally as successful during these playoffs. Set to do battle. And as the tones of war are heard this Sunday night at 930, we will have the privilege of witnessing a story unfurl. But for who will it be a story of sweet victory? And for who a story of honorable defeat? We find out this Sunday as we get a glimpse into battle, from a safe distance of course.
Great write up vibez! I'm looking forward to getting the series going tonight. It should be a good battle!