For our first Playoff Preview, we start with the Continental Division Preview between the Blue Ridge Bobcats and the Baton Rouge Zydeco.

Both teams are in their first ever playoff appearances, in both their second season.

The FPHL play-in will be a singular win or go home game, this one to be played from the Hitachi Energy Arena in Wytheville, VA.

We’ll take a look at both teams, then look at Head-To-Head and then give predictions.

#4 Seed Blue Ridge Bobcats (29-21-4-2)

Key Players:

Hunter Godmere (16GP, 17G, 10A)

Danny Martin (39 GP, 12G, 35A)

Nick McHugh (45GP, 14G, 24A)

Daniel Klinecky (56GP, 10G, 26A,

G: Greg Hussey (700MP, 2.58 GAA, 7-4-1, .938SV PCT)

The Scoop: An impressive year for the Bobcats finds them hosting a Play-In game. This is a team that has some really good wins. A sweep of Danbury, a weekend series win over Athens, wins in Columbus, almost splitting the season series with Carolina, and ending Binghamton’s 19 game win streak. With that though, has come some head scratching losses to the Venom, among other teams.

Playoff experience wise, this team has Danny Martin, and Greg Hussey. Both reached Game 5 of the finals two years ago for Carolina. Hussey also has a cup with Watertown from the year prior, which also featured current teammate Mike Mercurio. Hussey has come on as the team’s #1 since Hunter Virostek was called up to the SPHL.

Offensively, the addition of Hunter Godmere has been a godsend to this team since joining in February.

The core group is bought into Vojtech Zemlicka’s culture.

#5 Seed Baton Rouge Zydeco (31-19-0-6)

Key Players:

Elijah Wilson (48GP, 29G, 27A)

Scott Shorrock (56GP, 17G, 31A)

Tyler Larwood (55GP, 19G, 21A)

Dmitry Kuznetsov (50GP, 16G, 23A)

G: Bailey Stephens (2.82GA 1320MIN, 13-6-3, .903 PCT)

The Scoop: After getting off to a really hot start, the Zydeco struggled once they hit the road for their annual three month road trip, and haven’t looked the same from early in the year. The Zydeco made some moves subtracting players like Brodie Thornton and Kevin Szbad, but they got back Sammy Bernard in goal for Thornton, and Kim Miettinen from the Dashers and Ross Bartlett from Mississippi after they parted ways.

The Zydeco have six players with over 15 goals, led by Elijah Wilson, who scored 29 despite spending a month in the SPHL. When it comes to playoff experience, this team might have less than Blue Ridge. Dmitry Kuznetsov has three straight playoff runs under his belt in both Danbury and Mississippi, topped off by a title in the Hat City. That’s 13 games played. The rest of the team? 11 games (McGuire, Ciolek, Bartlett and Lindberg).

In goal, Everett Thompson has an interesting decision, go with his hot hand in Bailey Stephens? Or go to the veteran in Sammy Bernard.

It’s been an interesting season for the Zydeco, and we’ll see what they can do in a win-or-go home situation.

Head-To-Head

Seven meetings, Baton Rouge won the series 5-2

Predictions:

Christian: I got the Bobcats taking this one. I think the difference comes to defense, I think Blue Ridge is much more structured defensively even though I think Baton Rouge has a better offense. Greg Hussey will be on top of his game.

Mat: Blue Ridge in a tight game.