June 20, 2024
By Sam Weiger
Madison Radicals at Minnesota Wind Chill | Game of the Week
Saturday, June 22 - 7:00 PM/ET - Watch link
The Central Division, a hotbed of chaos, puts its top two teams on the field for a matchup that could ultimately determine who reigns supreme. Buckle up, this one's gonna be intense.
Minnesota currently holds the throne, but Madison will take over with a win on Saturday.
This game isn't just about the division crown. It has major postseason ramifications, as both teams fight for a playoff berth with hungry contenders lurking nearby.
The playoff race in the Central is a five-horse race. The head-scratcher is figuring out which three will ultimately advance - every contender has lost to two other contenders in the mix, except for Minnesota.
The 5-1 Wind Chill are surprisingly not coasting towards playoffs with two-thirds of the season played. But a win on Saturday practically guarantees their place. They're projected to win their two remaining games against the Mechanix, and considering the division's close battles, it's hard to imagine a Wind Chill team with at least eight wins missing the postseason party.
Madison’s path to the postseason is much trickier. All of their remaining games are against teams in the five-horse playoff race, making last weekend's win over Colorado even more valuable.
The Radicals extended their double-digit block streak to seven games against Colorado.
This streak isn't a one-man show. It's a combined effort from familiar defensive standouts (Luke Marks, Jake Carrico, Sterling Knoche) and exciting new contributors who've emerged as blocking threats (Anthony Gutowsky, Pieran Robert, Mac Weber). The Radicals are not expected to have Weber for this game.
But Robert, who has taken his game to another level with more playing time recently, will be active. Over the past two games, he's averaged a staggering plus/minus of 8.5 and notched 13 goals! There's a good chance he'll play over 20 points again on Saturday, making him a must-watch player.
While Robert and the Radicals looked sharp against Colorado, it's worth noting that Minnesota also had a strong showing against the Summit last weekend.
The Wind Chill's success all season has involved shutting down the opposing D-line offense, a tactic that worked again against Colorado. But Madison boasts a strong D-line offense, so stopping Madison's O-line attack could be the key to their success.
In both of Madison’s losses, it’s been O-line miscues that have let them down. The O-line handlers struggled to find open teammates and complete passes, especially towards the end. With their inconsistent play throughout the season, their ability to overcome this late-game hurdle will be something to watch.
Minnesota's biggest hurdle this weekend could be the absence of key players Matthew Rehder, Quinn Snider, and Brandon Matis. While the depth of their defensive line lessens the impact of losing Matis, the offense's inconsistency makes the absence of Rehder and Snider particularly worrisome for the Wind Chill.
Rehder shares the team lead in goals (14) and Snider has been targeted heavily against the Radicals lately (averaging 4.33 goals per game in the last three games), so the Wind Chill might need other O-liners to step up. Look out for threats like Bryan Vohnoutka, Jordan Taylor, Greg Cousins, and Gordon Larson to keep Minnesota’s 20+ goal streak alive.
It’s worth noting that Minnesota has excelled in wet games this season. Storms are a possibility at Sea Foam Stadium this weekend, so Mother Nature could be an X-factor in this game.
Rain or shine, the Radicals face a mental test. The Radicals need to break free from the psychological block of past defeats to the Wind Chill. Their recent record against the Wind Chill is bleak - four straight losses and nine defeats in 10 meetings. Can they rewrite their narrative?
One Big Number:
7 - Madison is the only team with seven players who have recorded at least six blocks this season.
3 - Minnesota couldn't crack 20 goals in their opening three games, but they've now rattled off three consecutive games with at least 20 goals.
Carolina Flyers at Atlanta Hustle
Saturday, June 22 - 7:30 PM/ET - Watch link
The bitter rivalry between Carolina and Atlanta heats up with two crucial meetings remaining this season, but this matchup potentially holds the most significance.
Carolina can practically lock up the South Division with a win against Atlanta. After this game, the Flyers have just two matchups against top teams for the rest of the season. If they defeat the Hustle on Saturday, they could lose those two games and still win the division with wins over Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Dallas.
Carolina's 2-0 season series lead over Atlanta paints them as the favorite. But we shouldn’t overlook Atlanta's home-field advantage. Silverbacks Park has been a nightmare for opponents, with the Hustle securing three convincing wins there. They earned a historic five-goal win over New York, a statement win over Austin, and a 14-goal shellacking of the Havoc.
The Hustle have struggled to get breaks against Carolina this season, but their last three games against strong teams (Indianapolis, Colorado, and Austin) offer a glimpse of progress. Their huck percentage has also improved during this stretch.
Atlanta will have big name Adam Miller and 2024 Callahan winner Aidan Downey active for this matchup, two important players who missed the first two meetings against Carolina this year.
The Hustle, wielding a healthy roster and seeking revenge, might bring their A-game this weekend. The big question: will the undefeated Flyers respect the threat or approach this game with complacency?
With a comfortable lead in the South, Carolina's unwavering intensity becomes even more critical. Their never-say-die attitude showcased throughout the year, along with the fierce rivalry, points towards a full-throttle performance at Silverbacks Park.
Their relentless pursuit of disrupting plays and scoring goals sets them apart. They have brought the same energy regardless of the competition or the score.
Anders Juengst has shown that relentlessness all year; he’s having his best season since his rookie year in 2021. Though he sat out against the Havoc, he's still a major player in the MVP conversation. Big games like these are his chance to shine. His offensive efficiency, high volume of plays, and elite completion percentage all contribute to his MVP candidacy.
Carolina's passing game has been on fire against Atlanta this year. The Flyers achieved their highest completion percentage of the season in both games. They were money in the red zone, converting nearly every opportunity, and they consistently connected on deep passes against the Hustle.
Atlanta's defense, which is allowing just 14.67 goals per game at home this season, gets another chance to slow down Carolina's potent offense.
Atlanta’s path to victory against Carolina could hinge on disrupting deep throws. They'll need to pressure Flyers’ gunslingers Allan Laviolette and Alexander Wilcox, while also keeping pace with swift cutters Jacob Fairfax and Terrence Mitchell. While everyone knows Justin Burnett is a defensive force for the Hustle, watch out for Mike Kobyra and Dean Ramsey who've been defensive gems lately.
One Big Number:
35 - Atlanta scored on 35 percent of their D-line points against Indy, Colorado, and Austin. In their two games against Carolina, they only scored on 16 percent of them.
74.03 - The Flyers lead the league with a remarkable huck completion rate of 74.03 percent.