Playoff Series Preview: Legends Gold vs Blazers

Empire State Legends Gold vs. Rink Rat Long Island Blazers
Best‑of‑Three Series — Saturday, January 31, 2026 • Rapid Fire Arena
Winner advances to face 1st seed Suffolk Sting in the Metropolitan semifinals on Saturday, February 7th.

📅 Game Schedule:
🕘 Game 1: January 31, 2026 – 1:30 PM
🕘 Game 2: January 31, 2026 – 2:15 PM
🕘 Game 3 (If Necessary): January 31, 2026 – 3:00 PM

🔵 Empire State Legends Gold (4th Seed)

Regular Season Record:

Empire State Legends Gold finished 6‑13‑1 in Metropolitan play, earning the 4th seed and a home quarterfinal spot.

Key Players & Stats:

While exact league leaderboards aren’t publicly detailed here, Gold boasts a balanced roster and improved defensive structure down the stretch. The team registered a 4‑0 victory over the Blazers on Nov. 15 and followed with a 1‑0 win Dec. 6, giving them a 2‑0 edge in the season series.

• Strong defensive outings: Gold has shown the ability to shut down Long Island’s offense, including a shutout performance in their second meeting.

• Goaltending impact: Anthony Manginelli was sharp in the shutout win, stopping all 25 shots he faced in their recent league contest.

✨ Season Highlights:

• Beat Rink Rat Long Island Blazers 4‑0 (Nov. 15)

• Edged Long Island Blazers 1‑0 (Dec. 6)
  Both wins underscore Gold’s ability to execute disciplined defense and tight gap control.

🗝 Key to Victory

Controlling pace through systematic defense and minimizing high‑danger chances. If Gold can clog the neutral zone and bottle up Long Island’s transition game, they’ll force low‑scoring, structure‑driven hockey that plays to their strengths.

⚠️ Vulnerabilities

Offense has been inconsistent at times. Without a high volume of scoring, Gold will need contributions beyond their top line to sustain pressure and finish opportunities against a hungry Blazers squad.

🔴 Rink Rat Long Island Blazers (5th Seed)

Regular Season Record:

The Blazers closed the regular season at 6‑12‑2, narrowly securing the 5th seed in the Metropolitan Division.

Key Players & Stats:

Long Island features several potent scorers and a transition‑oriented attack.

• Zachary LoCascio: One of the Blazers’ leading forwards and a key source of primary offense.

• Justin Pileggi: Adds scoring punch and net‑front presence.
  (Team stat details accessible via team stats link)

Against Empire State this season, however, the Blazers were blanked twice — including the 4‑0 loss and 1‑0 defeat referenced above.

✨ Season Highlights:

• Solid mid‑season wins against competitive division foes like Empire State Black and Connecticut Coasters.

• Competitive performances in tight games — a sign of potential resilience. (Inference from schedules)

🗝 Key to Victory

Strike first and early. The Blazers must convert their run‑and‑gun tendencies into first‑period offense to force Empire State out of its defensive comfort zone. Sustained pressure and net‑front presence could tilt possession and disrupt Gold’s rhythm.

⚠️ Vulnerabilities

Defensive inconsistency has cost the Blazers in tight matchups. Without tightening coverage and limiting time in their end, they risk leaving shooters open and giving up grade‑A chances.

🆚 Regular Season Head‑to‑Head

Empire State Legends Gold 4–0 Rink Rat Long Island Blazers – Nov. 15
Empire State Legends Gold 1–0 Rink Rat Long Island Blazers – Dec. 6

Empire State dominated both regular season meetings, including a shutout, though both results came without the high offensive output Long Island is capable of generating.

🔚 Series Outlook

This quarterfinal matchup brings together structured defense and high‑tempo offense. Empire State’s ability to suppress goals dovetails with their season series success. Meanwhile, the Blazers possess the scoring upside to flip this narrative — if they break through early and force chaos, the complexion of this short series could shift dramatically.

Expect disciplined forechecking, smart defensive zone transitions, and goaltending to play pivotal roles. Turnovers and special teams execution may well decide close games in this quarterfinal, where every goal carries significant weight.

Winner advances to the Metropolitan Division semifinals against the 1st seed Suffolk Sting on Saturday, February 7th.