[Critch]

2036/37 Playoffs Round 2 - Seattle Kraken
It's feels like we play Seattle every year in the playoffs but it's actually only the 4th time, they've missed the playoffs completely 7 out of the last 12 seasons. They're won twice, we swept them once. This season they've been great in the regular season, 118 points beat their old record by 18 points (their old 100 record was set last year). They're on the up.

In the last round I said that Connar Bedard was the best player in the league, Shane Wright of Seattle is 1b on that list. An upturn this year, 111 points as a 33 year old, only the second time he's broken 100 points in a season. Other than Shane Wright they have recently signed Tyler Van Caeyzeele, the star player of the recent back-to-back champ New York Rangers, all star defenseman Milo Eager, and Alaskan Fletcher Spurle. He's not a top player but he always seems to score against Anchorage.

Seattle will have home advantage as they won our division this year.

Game 1 - Anchorage Huskies 0 Seattle Kraken 4
After no injuries in the last series, we have a few problems going into this one. RW Emil Kjellberg is out day-to-day with back problems, David Prudek is doubtful with stomach muscle problems, Enzo Landrey is day-to-day with hip problems too. Prudek and Landrey could be risked, but all three sit to avoid aggravating the injuries. Safety first didnt work, Anchorage are called for 3 minor penalties and one major so Seattle spend half the first period on a power play and score twice. Marc-Antoine Marchant and Milo Eager. Oskar Vuollet took the five minute penalty for boarding, he'll probably be suspended too. There's no more penalties for the rest of the game, but Seattle add two more in the second, one of them as predicted from Fletcher Spurle, and we're 1-0 down in the series.

Game 2 - Anchorage Huskies 6 Seattle Kraken 3
As predicted, Oskar Vuollet has been suspended for his boarding, he's out for three games. Hopefully we're still alive when he returns. At least it wont drag into next season I guess. Kjellberg, Prudek and Landrey are all still out, Vuollet is suspended and Karmiris is also out with a knee problem, we're getting a bit bare bones. So bare bones that Landrey actually isnt out, we'll risk him. It's the top line that carries us though, Martin/Gavin/Svensson all +4. Martin Erben puts Seattle 1-0 in the first, Fletcher Spurle makes it 2-0 40 seconds into the second, and then Anchorage come zooming back. Jeff Martin (1:15), Peter Hrovatin (6:15), Johan Dahlberg (12:13), Jeff Martin again (17:57) and Robin Hansson (18:48) and we're 5-2 up at the end of the second. Seattle pull one back in the third, but a late empty net goal from Borje Svensson and we're back level in the series.

Game 3 - Seattle Kraken 1 Anchorage Huskies 3
David Prudek is back, but Landrey is out again. His injury hasn't been aggravated, but he's too far away from 100% to risk. Jonas Lambert scores at 3:04 in the first, no scoring in the second, Spencer Ecclestone (our rookie center who's only playing because Landrey is out) makes it 2-0 at 2:34 in the third, Urho Mattila (who is playing 2nd line center because Landrey is out) makes it 3-0 at 3:50. Seattle get a late consolation, but we're 2-1 up in the series.

Game 4 - Seattle Kraken 1 Anchorage Huskies 5
Landrey back into the second line, and it's domination from the Huskies. 50 shots in a playoff game, not bad. 2-0 after one (Borje Svensson and Henry Mews), 3-0 after two (Jeff Martin). Peter Hrovatin makes it 4-0 in the third before Seattle pull one back. David Prudek makes it 5-1 and we're back to Seattle with a chance to end it.

Game 5 - Anchorage Huskies 5 Seattle Kraken 4
Enzo Landrey is being rested again, he's back from his injury but not able to play every game and with Oskar Vuollet's suspension ending it's an easy swap to let him recuperate. Before the game I've noticed Seattle's injury list, they have seven players out including Shane Wright. No wonder they're struggling. Spencer Ecclestone makes it 1-0 Anchorage, still in while Enzo Landrey gets back to 100%, Seattle tie is up at 13:27. Jordan Gavin, Robin Hansson and Borje Svensson all score in the first and Anchorage are 4-1 up and cruising against the seriously depleted Kraken. Seattle aren't giving up so easily though, Tyler Van Caeyzeele, Marc-Antoine Marchant and Josh Fluker score in the second and it's back tied going into the third period. It's an unlikely hero for Anchorage in the third, Jonas Lambert scores at 14:53 and Anchorage move onto the conference finals.

So the 4th Western Conference final in 5 years, and it's Atlanta Thrashers in the final just like last year. Atlanta got past Nashville in seven games, they were 2-0 down in the series but came back to win. A bonus for Anchorage is that we've had a week waiting after getting past Seattle so all the injuries and knocks have cleared up.

In the Eastern Conference it's Toronto Maple Leafs v Hartford Whalers.