Hey there fans at home and in the area. It's great to be here. Well, actually... I gotta say something. Is it great to be here? We are here for the Simulation Hockey League finals, I guess, but it just feels like even those who are tuning in, and playing tonight, aren't really here. Are any of us even "here"? Nah, man, we're not. No one is here, and I gotta wonder about those who actually think they are. I mean, the freakin' gall of that line of thought, you know? Like, hey, I'm so fucking here I'm going to be a dick wad to everyone else around because this is all the real deal, and I'm going to keep pounding you like the never ending surf because it's a big fuckin' deal. It's a bit of a bummer, to be honest. Like, let's admit that none of it is real, and move forward, and we can all just hang out and have some fun, and realize, hey, those people I thought sucked, maybe they're not so bad after all, because after all, we're all here for the same thing, right? I get it, it's a pipe dream, and it's never happening. But fuck if it isn't nice to consider, ya know? Alright, I've said enough, I'd better stand down now... stumbles off set and collapses into a puddle of his own piss

Looking over the post season performance so far, in context of how much credit players receive related to that success, Terrance Nova stands out to me as an unsung hero on the Minnesota squad. A center's primary task is to generate possession for his squad from the dot, and Nova has done that with a high level of success. His 53% face off win is good enough for is 5th in the playoffs. We all know C's take on a lot of defensive responsibility in today's SHL, and Nova stands strong again, ranked at second in post season play for this season. His physicality has been part of that, 30 hits put him squarely at 10 in the post season. While it's his strong 2 way play that really places him in "unsung hero" territory for me, he hasn't been a slouch offensively, either, notching 10 points in 13 games. Nova has been a big part of the Chief's success this season, and despite the fact that he may never receive the most attention, those who know the game know he's earned respect in this run up to the cup.

Done.

Richard C. Hocolate and Olli O’Koivu have both been absolutely instrumental in getting their respective teams in a position to claim a berth in the finals. While the line between the two is hasn't been large, both in the regular season and in the post season, but I'd say there is a pretty clear delineation between the two. From where I'm standing, it's Hocolate who has been the better player (although that's not to discredit O’Koivu in anyway). A 2.40 GAA is fantastic, the best in the post season, and to boot, Hocolate's save percentage has been off the charts, at 0.928. O’Koivu’s GAA isn't lagging too far behind at 2.45, but with a save percentage of 0.914, it's plain to see that's a result of more support in front of him, rather than a hotter hand. The fact that Hocolate's 403 shots against, greater than O’Koivu's 382, supports that theory- O"Koivu has the better protection. O'Koivu will keep his team in it with his play, but Hocolate is going to elevate his team to glory in the end.

Done.

Terrance Nova, unsung hero extraordinaire.