Task #1 - Pick a player from an eliminated team and slot them into a finals lineup. Who do they replace, why, how do their playoff stats look?

Nolan Sawchuck replaces Rainbow Dash

Even though the Kelowna Knights suffered a complete collapse in the playoffs, Nolan Sawchuck's regular season scoring prowess cannot be understated. The regular season leader in goals is an offensive dynamo, and would easily slot into the first line of the St. Louis Scarecrows in place of two-way forward Rainbow Dash. Both players are shoot-first wingers, but Sawchuck's higher scoring, defense, passing, and puck handling versus Dash's higher checking, skating, and strength makes Sawchuck a better match for the first line. I'm sure if Sawchuck had Hoover and Fleming as his line mates in the playoffs, he would be the current playoffs goal leader and would have made the final series a stomp for St. Louis.


Task #2 - With the SHL draft looming in the shadow of playoffs, tell us how you're going to distinguish yourself to SHL GMs during your cup run.

Apparently the plan for distinguishing himself during the cup run was to just not show up offensively whatsoever. Guy Zheng seemingly did absolutely nothing in the playoffs, notching 0 points in his 4 games against St. Louis. However, this seems to have worked wonders for Zheng (or maybe his regular season performance and bulging bank account helped), as he has become quite popular within the SHL GM circle. Perhaps more interesting for the SHL GMs is Zheng's involvement in the upcoming WJC tournament, where Zheng is slated to be a top 4 defender for Team British Isles. His upcoming medal run raises some serious questions: is Zheng just a product of the strong Knights team? How well will he adapt to a completely new environment? Is he finally going to prove that he isn't a defensive liability? These questions (and more) will surely be answered in the coming days at the tournament. As for his now unsuccessful cup run, Zheng hoped to solidify his place as one of the elite offensive defensemen in the league but alas, it was not meant to be.


Task #3 - Create a program cover for one of the games in any playoff series.




Task #4 -  Pick a round 1 series. What was the turning point in the series that eventually led to victory for the winning team? Could the opposing team have done anything to turn it around?

Matchup:   vs

The Anaheim Outlaws were the Raiders' best matchup in the regular season, ending with a 4-1 head to head record. However, the tables quickly turned when the Outlaws slogged out a victory in a brutal first game that went to double overtime. The Raiders had a long hard look at their failing to find their regular season form, and the stage was set to prove that the first game was just a fluke.

Right from the start of the second game, Halifax came out swinging. Playing with newfound vigour and intensity, star rookie Perry Morgan scored the first goal of the game for the Raiders. What followed was an even, hard-fought battle with the deciding goal going to Halifax. This was the turning point of the series.

The Raiders would then go on to show their superiority over the next 3 games. In an absolute slaughter of a game that somehow still looked close on the scoreboard, Halifax outshot the Outlaws by 33-19. The next game showed remarkable resilience and goaltending from the Raiders, where despite being outshot 37-22, Halifax managed to drag it to overtime where they eventually sealed the deal. Game 4 was almost just a formality for Halifax at this point, as we all knew that they had already mentally won the series. The Raiders would then go on to win the game 5-3, and the series 4-1.


Task #5 - Come up with 3 yearbook style superlatives for 3 different players around the league (players don't have to be from your team). Example: Most Likely to Retire Early, etc. OR make a yearbook style photo of any player from the league and include a player quote and superlative.