Playoff Series Preview: L. Fire vs Leaf Ray 7

by Anthony Flynn

The Rocky Mountain North Division Semifinals continue on March 7, as the second-seeded Littleton Fire take on the third-seeded Des Moines Leaf Ray 7 in a best-of-three series. The winner will advance to the Division Final on March 9, where they will face the winner of Mile High Blizzard vs. Black Forest Thunder.

This series is expected to be highly competitive, as three of their four regular-season matchups were decided by two goals or fewer. While Littleton comes in as the favorite, Des Moines boasts one of the league’s top scorers in Drew Downey, who could be a game-changer.

Regular Season Head-to-Head

The season series was tight, with Littleton winning three of four matchups, but never fully dominating.

  • Dec 7:Fire 3, Leaf Ray 2
  • Dec 7:Fire 5, Leaf Ray 1
  • Nov 9:Leaf Ray 6, Fire 4
  • Nov 9:Fire 4, Leaf Ray 3

In three of these games, the teams were separated by just one or two goals, showing how evenly matched they are. Littleton’s lone dominant win (5-1) was an outlier, but they still enter the series with the slight edge.

Littleton Fire (2nd Seed) – The Balanced Contender

The Fire finished second in the division with a well-rounded attack and strong goaltending. While they don’t have the explosive offense of Mile High, they make up for it with structured play and a deep roster.

Key Players

  • Shawn Valdez (#21, F) – The Fire’s leading scorer, Valdez put up 23 points (13G, 10A) in 20 games. His ability to produce in close games makes him their go-to player in tight situations.
  • Graeme Ferguson (#12, F) – Another consistent offensive force, Ferguson finished with 22 points (12G, 10A), proving to be one of the team’s best playmakers.
  • Shawn Lapp (#4, D) – A two-way defenseman, Lapp contributed 12 goals and 5 assists, showing he can generate offense from the blue line while also playing strong defense.

Goaltending Advantage

  • Don Post (#33, G) – The Fire hold a clear edge in net, thanks to Post’s strong 10-3 record, 2.39 GAA, and .849 SV%. Compared to Des Moines’ struggles in goal, Post’s consistency could be the deciding factor in a close series.

With reliable scoring, solid defensive structure, and better goaltending, Littleton is positioned well to win this series.

Des Moines Leaf Ray 7 (3rd Seed) – The Offensive Wildcard

The Leaf Ray enter as the underdogs, but they have a dangerous offense, led by one of the league’s top scorers. If they can break through Littleton’s defense, they could turn this into a high-scoring battle.

Key Players

  • Drew Downey (#1, F) – One of the league’s most dangerous scorers, Downey led the team with 34 points (25G, 9A) in just 18 games. He has the firepower to take over a series, and stopping him will be Littleton’s biggest challenge.
  • Spencer Coltrain (#65, D) – A productive defenseman, Coltrain had 17 points (12G, 5A) and will need to play a strong two-way game to help Des Moines compete.
  • Brendan Uher (#66, F) – Another consistent contributor, Uher put up 16 points (11G, 5A), giving Des Moines a secondary scoring option behind Downey.

Goaltending Struggles

The Leaf Ray’s biggest weakness is in net, where both goalies rank among the lowest in the division.

  • Blaine Barker (#29, G) – 5-6 record, 5.33 GAA, .751 SV%
  • Scott Wilcox (#33, G) – 1-6 record, 5.51 GAA, .722 SV%

For Des Moines to win, they will need at least one of their goaltenders to step up in a big way.

Series Breakdown & X-Factors

Keys to Victory – Littleton Fire

✅ Control the Pace – The Fire thrive in low-scoring, structured games. If they can slow down Downey and force Des Moines to play disciplined hockey, they have the edge.

✅ Lean on Don Post – With a significant goaltending advantage, Post will be the X-factor in shutting down Des Moines’ offensive weapons.

✅ Score First – In their three wins over Des Moines, Littleton scored first every time. Playing with the lead will allow them to dictate the tempo.

Keys to Victory – Des Moines Leaf Ray 7

⚡ Unleash Drew Downey – He’s the most dangerous player in this series. If he can generate offense early and often, Des Moines will have a chance.

⚡ Get Better Goaltending – Neither Barker nor Wilcox has been reliable, but one of them must step up for Des Moines to stay competitive.

⚡ Special Teams Must Deliver – The Leaf Ray’s power play will need to be a factor, especially against Littleton’s stingy defense.