Welcome everyone to the final round of VGNHL’s 24th season. We have made it to the final week of the season, and we are down to 2 remaining teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs dethroned the first seeded Buffalo Sabres in a SWEEP, while the Nashville Predators put an end to the console war, and eliminated the last Xbox team remaining in the Edmonton Oilers. The Toronto Maple Leafs are on an insane playoff winning streak, after winning game 3-6 against the Islanders in round 2, and following that up with a sweep of the Atlantic winning, Conference winning and Presidents winning Buffalo Sabres. But yet, it is the Leafs who are the last Eastern team standing. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators exploded with a 3-1 series lead over the Oilers in the Conference finals, scoring 4 goals in every single game up to that point. After dropping game 5 in a tough 6-5 defeat, the Predators went back with what was working, which was scoring exactly 4 goals again, and officially sending the last Xbox team remaining packing with a 4-2 score and series victory. These two teams are playing with a ton of confidence, and have earned their way here. I doubt many expected this to be the finals matchup, but here we are. So, without further ado, let’s get into the preview.

Toronto Maple Leafs (38-18-4) vs Nashville Predators (37-17-6)

Goals for per game: 4.33 vs 4.58

Advantage: Nashville

Goals against per game: 2.93 vs 3.23

Advantage: Toronto

Head to Head:

Toronto 1 - 3 Nashville

Season Series: 1-0 in favor of Nashville

Match up

In the only season game played, Nashville won the game 1-3 in a non dominant fashion. Nashville grinded up the win regardless of them only having 5:25 time on attack compared to Toronto's 10:16 TOA. Toronto went 0/2 on powerplays while Nashville went 0/4. Given, Toronto didnt have their best possible line considering they had an ECU left wing, and had back up/Owner xBudz87 on defense with NowYoDead who doesnt currently play for them. Chokey led Nashvile with 2 goals and 1 assist, EasyMoney had 1 goal with an assist, and A2 SNAKE_-_PLISSKIN who played center that game got 2 apples. Defensive pairing Dturp and bubba_cheeks each put up an assist. As for Toronto, Captain Hypey got the only goal fo the team with aid coming from Jags and Budz.

Toronto averages 7:25 TOA compared to 6.52 from Nashville. Toronto has the upper hand when it comes to the powerplays and penalty kills. Leafs have  a 36.7% PP and a 70.4 penalty kill, while Preds have a 31.8 PP with a 69.9(nice) PK. A major difference between these two teams is hits. Toronto who has the least in league in the season only had 475 total hits. Nashville basically doubled them with 924.

Toronto's prayers were answered last week when they discored that Buffalo's best player, CapitalsFan_08 was only available the first two games, and second highest salary player NateJones-_- was on terrible connection away from home could only muster up 1 game. Game 1, Leafs upset the Sabres who were home 5-2. Leafs basically doubled Buffalos TOA with 7:10 TOA compared to 3:47 from Buffalo. Leafs also basically doubled shots with 24 shots and Buffalo only shooting 11. Jags put the team on his back by being involved in every goal, he had 3 goals and 2 apples. Hypey had 1G, 2A, CharlesBawsMTL had 2 assist. Defense men ehCrowe had 1G and a assist. Konzy had a 0.818 SV%. Game 2 was a closer game with Toronto grinding a 2-1 win in overtime. Jags put up a goal, and Dradavich was the overtime hero. Konzy was solid by saving 15 out of 16 shots and had a 0.938 SV%. Game 3 was dominated once again by Toronto 3-1, Leafs tripled Buffalos TOA. Hypey had 1G,1A, xkiviranta, had an apple and jags 1G,2A. Crowe had a goal and an assist. To close out the sweep, Toronta won a close game 2-1. Defensemen bxnana had 2 apples with hypey and jags putting up a goal each.

Nashville suprised a lot of people by taking down the last XBOX team, Edmonton Oilers. Nashville won the series 4-2, with all games either having a 1 or 2 goal differential. Game 1 Nashville won 4-2 with 2 more minutes TOA. Chokey and Easymoney each had 2 goals and 1 assist, and Mondo with 2 apples. Game 2 Nashville lost to Edmonton 4-5 in a close game. Similar TOA, similar amount of shots. Mondo got 4 assists, Chokey and easy each had 2G, 1A, and Chxvy had 1 assist. Nashville bounced back Game 3 by winning 4-2. Cree got 1G,2A, Mondo carried that game with 3 goals and an apple. Willis had 2 assist and Owner dturp also had an assist. Nashville then stepped it up a notch by winning a close 4-3, giving them a 3-1 lead. Cree had 2 assist, Mondo had 3 goals and Willis had one of each. Newly acquired goalie GAB_NHL saved 15 of 18 shots and had a 0.833 SV%. Nashville then once fell short in Game 5, losing 5-6 in a bad way. They got dominated in shots, out doubled TOA, and let a breakaway goal. Cree had a solid game with 1 goal and 4 apples. Mondo had one of each, and Willis carried with 3 goals and 2 apples. Wasnt the best game for GAB as he had an 0.727 SV%. Nashville stayed strong as they won their final game 4-2. Mondo and Chokey each had a pair of each, easy had 2 apples, cree had an assist on defense and goalie pemm finished of with a strong 0.846 saving 11 of 13 shots.

Shaynes Prediction: 4-2 Toronto

Prods Prediction: 4-3 Predators

This will be an interesting final, both teams were not projected to make it there. Both teams were expected by most to lose in the conference finals, and both owners looking for their first management chip. Rookie owner Dturp vs one of the oldest VG member/manager Budz. Hopefully both of the player on the team will prioritize VG this week to have the best possible lines at the best possible time. These games will be streamed live either by VG Host Itskinglyme or via VG Gamecentre https://vghl.myvirtualgaming.com/mvgtv/vgnhl-gamecentre.

Thanks all for the reading, and good luck to these two final teams.

Written by Prod and Shayne