The Anchorage Wolverines

[GoldenJet]

Good luck against the Canucks OBG, I know you can do it.

[Axeshun]

Good luck in the Conference finals, if I don't manage to pull something out of my *** against Pittsburgh, the Wolverines are our only hope! Lmao.

[Bure10Beezer34]

Nice job OBG! What an exciting series! I'm not sure I've ever gone to a game seven but that has got to be one of the coolest feelings ever to come out on top! It's nice that the Wolverines don't have to travel to far but Luongo is a stud and will be hard to beat. Gonna need that grit and determination that your team plays with for sure!

[onlybygrace]

Gomez Injured; Might Miss Remainder Of Playoffs


Scott Gomez suffered a 'lower body injury' in the 2nd period of Anchorages Game Seven win against the Flames. The Wolverines, despite Gomez's slow post season production, will miss the wingers speed and puck retrieval while playing the point on the power play. Gomez has just 2 goals and 3 assists in 11 playoff games this season.

Turning It Around On The Road

Perhaps the Wolverines biggest challenge throughout the regular season was winning games with any regularity on the road. The Wolves, going back into the last week of the regular season have won 5 of their last 7 road games. A turn around that many see as putting the Wolverines over the top as far as Cup contention is concerned.

Will it continue??? Games One and Two against the Canucks should tell.

[onlybygrace]

The Battle Of the Great Northwest

Jason Labarbera leads the Wolverines into the Western Conference Finals with a league leading GAA of 1.81 and a save percentage of .927.

By Stephen Holley
Anchorage Daily News

Its safe to say that the collective mass of Alaska is having a difficult time sleeping with all the excitement the Anchorage Wolverines have brought this spring.

The Wolverines, after a 93 point season, have marched in convincing fashion right into the Western Conference Finals where they will face the Vancouver Canucks...the closest NHL team to the Wolverines in the Great Northwest.

The Wolverines, having won 5 of their last 7 games on the road, come into the series as the favorites over the Canucks as they have won 8 of their 11 post season games after sweeping the Blue Jackets and handling the Flames in seven.

Vancouver comes into the Western Conference Finals with an 8-5 post season record having just defeated the Wolverines most hated rivals, the San Jose Sharks.

Many fans would have picked the Sharks to duke it out with the Wolves, but considering the dominance the Sharks had over Anchorage this season, its safe to say the Wolves got the more favorable matchup in the Canucks.

Wolverines Offensive Leaders
G---A---Pts (11 Games)
4----7----11-Prucha
6----4----10-Malkin
1----6-----7--Jovanovski
5----2-----7--Forsberg
2----5-----7--Pollock
4----3-----7--Doan
2----4-----6--Lombardi
2----4-----6--Upshall

The Wolves offense has not been as potent this post season. The charge has been led by Petr Prucha with 11 points in 11 games.

Rocket Richard Winner Evgeni Malkin's goal production has dropped from .68 goals per game to .55 goals per game while he has also averaged less than a point per game after reached 95 in 82 regular season games.

The Wolves will be without forward Scott Gomez who despite his low production, is one of the fastest Wolverines skaters and will be missed on the PK and PP, where he mans the point.

Canucks Offense (13 Games)
G----A----Pts
6-----5-----11--Sundin
1----10----11--Sedin
3-----7-----10--Demitra
2-----7------9--Salo
2-----4------6--Bieksa
3-----3------6--Raymond

Vancouver has the 3rd best PP in the post season at 24.1% while Mats Sundin has led the offensive attack with 11 points along with Daniel Sedin.

The Canucks are a fast team who can explode up the middle of the ice and beat tired d-men to rebounds. The Wolves will need to contain this fast group of forwards.

Team Playoff Stat Comparison
(6) AKW vs. CAL (4)
8-3 Rec. 8-5
2.64 (6th) GPG (12th) 2.46
1.91 (1st) GAA (3rd) 2.31
21.7% (6th) PP (3rd) 24.1%
83.9% (7th) PK (3rd) 86.2%

Players To Watch

Coming into the series Anchorage goaltender Jason Labarbera, who's earned the nickname "The Barber" here in Anchorage, leads the NHL with a GAA of just 1.81 and is second in save percentage to only Roberto Luongo of Vancouver.

Who outshines the other will probably determine the Western Conference's Stanley Cup Finals representative.

Keys To Victory

*Anchorage needs to slow down the speedy Canuck forwards. Mason Raymond is fast as all get out and will need to be contained.

*Get traffic in front of Luongo. Like Kiprusoff, Luongo will stop just about everything he sees.

*Keep up Road Success. The Wolverines, while winning on the road, are probably the favorited team heading into the Conference Finals.

[onlybygrace]

Quote: Originally Posted by bthomp05

What a game 7 and on the road no less. I know this wasn't the stanley cup final but man you should be proud. Forsy 2 goals, what a story book ending to a great series. Now the question is, after 420 minutes of play do the Wolverines have enough left in the tank to take on the Twins and Lou?. I hope so.

For sure...Its awesome to see Forsberg come up large. I'd like to have good reason to keep him around for next year, and so far I like what I'm seeing.

Quote: Originally Posted by psymin1

Awesome, awesome win. I am really pulling for you man. We are entering the conference finals now, correct? Good luck, and Go Wolverines!

Yup. Conference Finals, and thanks for your well wishes.

Quote: Originally Posted by GoldenJet

Good luck against the Canucks OBG, I know you can do it.

You've followed every chise I've ever done, GJ. Thanks, man.

Quote: Originally Posted by Axeshun

Good luck in the Conference finals, if I don't manage to pull something out of my *** against Pittsburgh, the Wolverines are our only hope! Lmao.

Yeah, your Caps seem screwed. I hope I'm wrong. You can do it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bure10Beezer34

Nice job OBG! What an exciting series! I'm not sure I've ever gone to a game seven but that has got to be one of the coolest feelings ever to come out on top! It's nice that the Wolverines don't have to travel to far but Luongo is a stud and will be hard to beat. Gonna need that grit and determination that your team plays with for sure!

Yes, Game Seven's are fun. Whenever they start, I always want to win in double OT or something, but I'll take a 4-1 win also.

Thanks for the comment...and get Bure to 30 goals please.

[psymin1]

Another excellent write-up. I'm pumped, and am headed into the playoffs in my offline BaGM as well. Good luck to us both!

[bthomp05]

Nice write up as always. To bad about Gomez, hope it doesn't hurt to much.

Go Wolverines Go.