Photo Courtesy of JustSports Photography

The Wolves pushed their way past the Motor City Rockers, and will face off with the Binghamton Black Bears for the third straight year in the first round.

#4 Seed Watertown Wolves (28-23-1-3)

Key Players:

Trevor Lord (52GP, 38G, 47A)

Trevor Grasby (55GP, 9G, 66A)

Davide Gaeta (51GP, 38G, 46A)

Tate Leeson (15GP, 7G, 17A)

G: Breandan Colgan (528MP as Wolve, 3.98 GAA, 3-5, .903 PCT)

The Scoop: The Wolves have gotten a lot of pieces back, and in the Play-In they did a really nice job of limiting damage with Motor City, who was trying to make a late push up two men. Junior Harris is still playing at a really high level, with a goal and two assists last time out.

Breandan Colgan got the start in game one, despite Borodkin returning to the roster, but I think it’s the right choice, Colgan has been there done that in this league, and it’s gonna be on him to try to steal a game from the league’s best offense.

Justin Coachman has moved Trevor Grasby up the lineup to forward, and that decision has helped this team big time.

It won’t be easy, but the Wolves have the tools to potentially steal a game.

#1 Seed Binghamton Black Bears (49-6-1)

Key Players:

Tyson Kirkby (46GP, 37G, 60A)

Austin Thompson (55GP, 39G, 38A)

CJ Stubbs (43GP, 23G, 43A)

Dakota Bohn (50GP, 17G, 47A)

G: Connor McAnanama (2018MP, 2.08GAA, 30-3-1, .922SV PCT)

The Scoop: This team is probably one of, if not the best team that this league has ever seen. They are so deep, and most of this roster was there for last year’s run. There’s no doubt they are the favorites, and Brant Sherwood has them ready.

There’s more names that I didn’t mention who are key, like Oliveri, Mott, Anderson, Clark, Tosto coming back. They have kept most of the same roster from the start of the year, not many moves. The only major move that has done something was bringing CJ Stubbs over earlier in the year.

In goal, McAnanama will be back between the pipes, coming off of a 7-0 playoff run last year. He’s one of the favorites to win goalie of the year alongside Mario Cavaliere.

Head-to-Head

Binghamton won season series 7-1.

Predictions:

Christian: Binghamton in 2, however I wouldn’t be surprised if Watertown takes one. Binghamton is way too powerful, especially after seeing them play in person.

Mat: Binghamton in 3. If Watertown can find a way to limit Tyson Kirkby and CJ Stubbs they can push this series to its maximum.

However this Black Bears team is loaded with skill like Austin Thompson and Gavin Yates. No shift can be an off shift in their own end.

On the flip side, Trevor Grasby and Trevor Lord can turn this series on its head if they are allotted space and time.

The last unknown is goaltending, both teams have had great performances by their netminders, which clubs goaltender can take their play to a whole new level? That’s the ultimate difference maker.