Task #1: The top line of Nicolaj Muller, Mika Kandinsky, and Nicolas Flemming was by far the most productive line for St. Louis in the playoffs. All three players had a +5 +/- and all 3 were in the teams top four in playoff scoring with Muller leading the charge with 9 points in 5 games. The top line continued it's regular season dominance but wasn't enough to get them past Halifax. The worst line for St. Louis was the 2nd line, were Fork Spoon, Gerald Boone, and Barrett Blackwood all had the team low of -3. The unit was considered to be one of the better second lines in the league coming into the playoffs but their performances fell flat. They put up a combined 7 points between the three over 5 games, which isn't much better then the third line managed to put up. Their offensive numbers also include their power play numbers as the second line is also the second power play unit. 

Task #2: 
Top 5 Playoff Atmosphere's 
1. Halifax
2. Anaheim 
3. Vancouver
4. Colorado
5. St. Louis

(The home team's record in these playoffs have been BAD)

Topic #3: 

1. Detroit - This one kinda goes with out saying, we don't like them and they don't like us. The Detroit-St.Louis rivalry might just be the biggest in the SMJHL, and I would want nothing more then to be the team that beats them for the Four Star Cup

2. Halifax - Plan and simple I want revenge. They knocked us out of the playoffs this and I think the whole team want another chance to show the Raiders what we can really do.

3. Anaheim - To be the best you have to beat the best. The Outlaws won last years Four Star Cup, and are in the finals again this year, which makes them the clear team to beat in the playoffs. 

4. Vancouver - The Whalers showed me a lot of love when I was a free agent, and I would like to show them that they were right to be interested in me. The fact that they are another top team would the series would be a pretty good one for the fans. 

5. Colorado - This one is about one player in general, Bo Kane. Currently Bo Kane is the number 1 rated Center in the upcoming SHL draft while I'm ranked 6th. I know that Kane doesn't play Center on his team or even play on the same line as me, but I'd still love to battle it out and see who's the better player over a seven game series. 

6. Lethbridge - The two teams split the regular season at 3-3, with all games being pretty tight. I think it would continue into the playoffs and would make for a very interesting series.  


7. Anchorage - One of the more up and coming teams, they have a two of the best rookies in the league, and I wonder if Elijah Jones and Jake Primeau would do against my line.

8. Montreal - I don't really know too much about the Militia outside of their incredible rookie Hugh Jazz. Jazz had the best season out any rookie player and it would be fun to compete against him over seven games.  

9. Kelowna - The Knights had some interest in me at the start of the year, but I'm not sure how competitive they would be against us. Like Anchorage they are of a more up and coming team that will be really good when the team develops. They already have some good defenseman and a possible special talent in Raquel Castillo Gutierrez

Task #4: I don't really have a team that I think I could join, and be as good of a fit then here with St. Louis. Although since I have to pick it would probably be Kelowna. They showed interest in my player when he first hit free agency and they have a team full of young talent. While I might still be a third line center with the Knights I feel like I could bring some more fire power over to the Knights, while still helping in the face off circle and on defense. Plus being paired up with some rookies I feel like if we caught fire we could really do some damage to the rest of the teams in the playoffs.  I doubt I would change their fortunes that much atleast in this season, but it would be an interesting to see. 

Task #5: Everyone's doing it because this is the best match up of the season between goalies. Anaheim's Tibuk Soonika vs the Whaler's Kasperi Braulin. Soonika was my goalie of the season and his form has continued into the playoffs. Soonika has an 8-3 record in the playoffs with all 3 losses coming in overtime. He also leads all goalies in the playoffs with an .918 save % and 1.91 goals allowed per game. The 1.91 GAA is absolutely mind boggling, opponents are averaging less then 2 goals a night against Soonika and he's played 11 games so far. Braulin comes in with a 8-4 record with one overtime loss. Braulin has the 3rd best save percentage of goalies that played in more then one series with an 89%. On average Kasperi is allowing 2.57 goals a game which isn't amazing but still not bad. One thing Braullin has over Soonika is puck handling, Braulin does have one assist in the playoffs  and has shown to make good breakout passes when given the chance. The goalie match up is going to play a big role in this finals match up but the way Soonika has been playing I don't see the Whalers being able to take this one.