TASK ONE: Pick either of the teams currently in the finals. Which game of theirs in the playoffs was the most important/crucial in them getting to this point this season? Must be at least 150 words and include either two statistics or some (reasonable) justification of narrative justifying your choice.

For the Winnipeg Jets, the team facing Toronto in the finals right now, their most crucial game of the season taking them to this point of the season is definitely game seven of the Western Conference Finals, in which they were facing the Seattle Riots. The series between the Jets and the Riots is one of the best series in SHL history, each team played the best they can and only a game seven can decide who is the winner.

If the Jets lose this one they are out of the run for the Cup. However Bearss and McZherl responded to this, as Bearss scored three goals for a hat trick, while McZherl assisted two of them. The right actions at the right time lifted the whole team to the Challenge Cup finals. If McZherl and Bearss underperformed in this game the Jets would be eliminated. The game seven therefore is absolutely the most important game of the playoffs for the Jets.


TASK TWO: Who is your choice for the unsung hero of the S37 playoffs up to this point? Must be at least 150 words and include at least two statistics in support.

My choice for the unsung hero of the S37 playoffs up to this point is Karl Hefeweizen, rookie of the Winnipeg Jets. If we look at his points, he only has three points, which is not very impressive, even for a rookie defenseman. However he has a monstrous shot percentage and plus/minus, 20.00% and +16 respectively. So on the face of it, he might not performing well in terms of putting up those points for the team, but he is the unsung hero for the Jets for sure. Let me elaborate a bit more below.

With a twenty percent shot percentage, as a defenseman, Hefeweizen is for sure one of the better shooters on the team. This implies he can send the puck to the blue line no problem. Also a plus/minus of +16 implies that Hefeweizen is a team player, even though not getting on the scoresheet, he is there to create opportunities for his linemates, hence the +16 plus/minus. Hefeweizen is well-deserved to be the unsung hero.


TASK FOUR: Who is the favorite and who is the underdog of this series? Are they almost even, or is there a big skill difference between the two teams? Must be at least 150 words and include at least three statistics in support.

For the Challenge Cup finals, the Winnipeg Jets are no doubt the favourite, as they came in second in the West in the regular season. The Toronto Northstars, on the other hand will be the underdog, as they came in third in the East. One would expect a blowout or an one-sided victory for the Jets, will that be the case? Let's see what statistics say.

We can study Toronto and Winnipeg's statistics for the Conference Finals as a measure.

First, if we look at Toronto's goals against and goals for when facing the Platoons, it's 17 and 10 respectively. Winnipeg's goals against and goals for when facing the Renegades is 23 and 9. Winnipeg has the upperhand here for sure, this tells us that Winnipeg is better at scoring and defending.

Second, we have powerplay goals, Winnipeg has 8 goals, whereas Toronto has 5 in the Conference Finals. Winniepeg once again comes on top.

Third, the penalty kill percentage, Toronto's percentage is 50.00%, Winnipeg's percentage is 62.50%. Winnipeg is the better penalty killing team.

However, while Winnipeg comes on top on all three statistics we chose to look at, the margin isn't immense. Hence the finals could be a tightly matches series.


TASK SIX: Create three questions, one for each of three different players in the Challenge Cup and tag them. Playing in the Challenge Cup? Feel free to answer questions for your task or ask three of your own.

1. <a href='index.php?showuser=184' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-8'>Chris-McZehrl</a> How do you feel when you scored the two assists in the game seven of Conference Finals, which ultimately lef your team to victory?

2. <a href='index.php?showuser=2338' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>CBear</a> As the man who scored a hat trick for the Jets in game seven of Conference Finals, did you expect that?

3. <a href='index.php?showuser=1571' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-62'>damienj10</a> As the leading scorer of the Toronto Northstars, how would you assess Winnipeg Jet's performance in the entire playoffs?