ROUND 3: #6 PRESTIGE WORLDWIDE vs #4 RED ARMY

Sunday 8:00pm @ the Plex

#4 Red Army 10-3-1 21 points
#6 Prestige Worldwide 9-5-0 18 points

Season Series: 1-1
8-7 (OT) Prestige Worldwide
4-3 Red Army

OTHER IMPORTANT STATS:
60-69 point scorers: Red Army 1, Prestige Worldwide 0
50-59 point scorers: Red Army 0, Prestige Worldwide 1
40-49 point scorers: Red Army 0, Prestige Worldwide 0
30-39 point scorers: Red Army 0, Prestige Worldwide 1
20-29 point scorers: Red Army 2, Prestige Worldwide 3
10-19 point scorers: Red Army 5, Prestige Worldwide 2
0-9 point scorers: Red Army 0, Prestige Worldwide 3

Goals For: Red Army 107, Prestige Worldwide 113
Goals Against: Red Army 70, Prestige Worldwide 63
Goals For Per Game Average: Red Army 7.64, Prestige Worldwide 8.07
Goals Against Per Game Average: Red Army 5.00, Prestige Worldwide 4.5

Ah, who didn't see this one coming? With this match-up there is always a lot to cover, so let's delve into the stats and see if there is anything telling.

It looks like PW has the edge offensively. PW has two big guns, while the Soviets have one. It looks like PW's secondary scorers produce more than the Soviets' secondary scorers. They also have two more players according to these statistics, and that's just not fair.

Defensively it's harder to break down, but again, I'd give the edge to the Prestigious Ones. They give up fewer goals. When you are difficult to score on, not only can you be a frustrating prom date but you can be a difficult opponent in the playoffs as well.

But enough about depressing statistics, let's talk x-factors... and there are three of them.

1: Adjustments. These teams know each other pretty well and tend to be involved in seesaw affairs (note: seesaw affairs would be a great band name). When one team gets hot and scores a few unanswered goals the other team mixes it up. Whichever team can recognize what is working and what isn't earliest, before giving up a slew of goals, will be victorious.

2: Goaltending. Always important in the playoffs. With PW's goalie, the Comrades know it is a tough task to beat him. They have their work cut out for them. With Mother Russia's Favorite Son Andy Schram, it's a mystery. The two last games he's played have covered both ends of the spectrum. His performance on Thursday was instrumental in the Red Army's post season advancement, now can he play an encore?

3: Down to one Hendricks. With the twins back at Blacksburg, the Soviets are down to their last son of Laura Jeanne and Peter Sr. It's no secret that PW is going to do everything in their power to make sure #18 doesn't get many opportunities. At the same time, #18 is going to do everything in his power to make sure he does get many opportunities. Thus the x-factor.

So, what you got? Is this a repeat of last season's playoffs, where the boys clad in red again fall short to the one's who's prestige encompasses the globe? Or is there an alternate ending up the sleeves of the Soviets and they can take the franchise to a new height and play in their first ever championship series?

My prediction: 6-3 Red Army

Let's do the damn thing, Comrades.