Mr. Momentum (2) vs Optimus Reim (3)

Mr. Momentum

Record: 55-37-7, 117 points

Category Leaders:

G – 25 – Alex Ovechkin

A – 28 – Taylor Hall

PPP – 21 – Alex Ovechkin

GWG – 4 – Ovechkin/Kovalchuk/Staal/Stepan

SOG – 176 – Alex Ovechkin

W – 17 – Braden Holtby

GAA – 2.12 – Sergei Bobrovsky

SV% – .927 – Sergei Bobrovsky

SO – 5 – Pekka Rinne

Optimus Reim

Record: 47-41-11, 105 points

Category Leaders:

G – 18 – James Neal

A – 34 – Nicklas Backstrom

PPP – 20 – Andrei Markov

GWG – 5 – James Neal

SOG – 128 – Neal/Kessel

W – 16 – Tuukka Rask

GAA – 1.53 – Craig Anderson

SV% – .950 – Craig Anderson

SO – 5 – Mike Smith

Season Comparisons

Matchups

Week 12 – Mr. Momentum 5 (A, W, GAA, SV%, SO) vs Optimus Reim (G, PPP, GWG, SOG)

Week 17 – Mr. Momentum 4 (SOG, W, GAA, SV%) vs Optimus Reim 4 (G, A, PPP, GWG)

Week 22 – Mr. Momentum 7 (G, A, PPP, GWG, SOG, W, SV%) vs Optimus Reim 2 (GAA, SO)

Season Totals

G – 225 vs 186 – MM

A – 409 vs 366 – MM

PPP – 210 vs 217 – OR

GWG – 37 vs 34 – MM

SOG – 2212 vs 1849 – MM

W – 45 vs 47 – OR

GAA – 2.53 vs 2.53 – TIE

SV% – .910 vs .908 – MM

SO – 8 vs 7 – MM

*MM (6-2-1); OR (2-6-1)

After a big 7-2 loss in the final week of the regular season, OR gets a chance to exact some revenge against MM in the first week of the playoffs. If you disregard last weeks anomaly MM and OR are as closely matched as two teams can be. Over the past two seasons regardless of which team is higher in the standings, the tight and hard fought matchups between the two have become legendary; dubbed as the battle of the Mazloum’s. On paper MM should have a decided advantage in this matchup as they own a 12 point advantage as well as a 6-2 lead in season long category totals. Despite these stats the 4th matchup of the seasons between these two teams should be tight. Optimus Reim will be buoyed by the return of Craig Anderson and will be thirsty for revenge. Prediction 5-4 MM.

EA Sports Playoff Simulation

Game 1 OR @ MM – 5-1 – Eberle with 2 goals and an assist and 33 saves from Rask lead the way

Game 2 OR @ MM – 0-5 – Ovechkin and Kane with 3 points, Rinne with the 33 save shutout

Game 3 MM @ OR – 1-4 – Kessel scores his first two goals of the playoffs

Game 4 MM @ OR – 3-2OT – 3:54 into OT Jamie Benn saves MM from falling into a big series hole

Game 5 OR @ MM – 1-3 – Benn scores his second straight GWG

Game 6 MM @ OR – 1-2OT – 11:50 into OT Brian Campbell staves off elimination

Game 7 OR @ MM – 2-3OT – Down 2-0 in the third, MM has a huge comeback finished off by Streit’s OT winner

MM 4 – OR 3