As the second weekend of the MLS Cup Playoffs creeps closer, the media continues to speculate about influential factors and potential outcomes. USA Today’s Beau Dure asserts that because only nine points separated Supporters Shield winner Columbus from final wild card Salt Lake this season, higher-seeded teams shouldn’t feel too comfortable going into the second legs of the Conference Semifinal Series. The Goal.com staff do their share of prognosticating in this week’s edition of Editors’ Roundtable, and general consenus has the Revs with the advantage going into Saturday’s matchup. Also on Goal.com, Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis talks strategy in Kyle McCarthy’s weekly Musings.

In other news, Ridge Mahoney names Matt Reis as the top MLS goalkeeper in his piece for Soccer America. Reis compiled a 0.96 goals-against average during the 2009 season and made more than 100 saves.