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The Week 7 Weather Report
This week was most notable for the cross divisional play we hadn’t seen since Week 3. While last time neither the East nor West came out on top, this time we have a winner. The West took 4 games, and will be the crossover champion for this season. Honorable mention to the Florida Laersharks for overcoming the odds and snapping the Psyclones’ record setting 6 game win streak in support of the West’s victory. Now lets take a loot at where all the teams stand, starting with our Western winners.
Echo Club Kansas City and the Denver Raptors are atop the division with records of 5-2. One will almost certainly prevail into the playoffs as they play each other in what is sure to be one of the hottest matches of the season next week, determining who’s on top. Both teams are rocking at least a two game win streak, but the loser next week will be on the hot seat and want to win out to maintain their postseason dreams.
The next contenders, the Florida Lasersharks and Saint Louis Hustle are in a similar situation, but with higher immediate stakes. They both rest on the cusp of missing playoffs at 4-3 and the loser will be iced out of the playoff picture for the time being after their matchup next week. They’ve got a near identical point differential so it should likewise be an excellent matchup to watch.
The LA destroyers are still within reach of the playoffs, but given the swath of solid records and play above them, they’ll need to win every game to unseat the other contenders. Their opponents are the Austin Burners, who have continued to slide as we’ve ventured deeper into winter. The Burners have talent but haven’t been able to secure crucial wins, so at this point they’re mostly in the business of shaking up where others land in the rankings.
Off in the East, the big news was the conclusion of the record six game win streak of the Orlando Psyclones at the hands of the Lasersharks. Coming in at 3-3, it shows a team’s record doesn’t say everything about its ability to overpower a force of nature. What’s almost certain to be a bounce-back game next week, the Psyclones are a safe bet against the winless Legends.
The Dallas Knights and New York Kings hold the next two spots at 4-3 and 5-2, respectively. Both have flipped the script on a slow start and have generated three game winning streaks to get them within striking distance of the playoffs. Dallas managed to snag the win in the first in-state matchup against the Austin Burners. A win for the Kings would all but assure it, but an upset by Knights would leave both teams at risk of a cold snap from the Montreal Freeze just below them.
Once again we observe a moment of silence for the Nashville Legends who did not receive a win for Christmas. Unlike the Montreal Freeze who still have a remote chance at conjuring up some winter magic on their higher ranked opponents, the Legends are looking to next season for postseason dreams after a grueling 0-7 campaign so far. A matchup with the Psyclones next week doesn’t likely offer any relief, but they could play a part in the Freeze sneaking up into the playoff picture.
No teams for certain secured their playoff spots, although you can guess the likely bye week locks. Next week will have a major impact on the bracket so stay tuned! Also check out the new LateNight VR makeover!
