+4 tpe
a. Both teams rise to the top of the SHL is quite impressive. Many will look at the expansion draft to challenge cup as the more impressive route, and I agree, but there is a lot to be said about Winnipeg’s transformation and rise to the top of the West. A fullscale breakdown might be harder, depends on the context of the league at the time.
b. I think you have to go after the goal scorers. Targeting the playmaker makes sense, but Winnipeg could likely generate some of those set ups from other linemates. So go after the goal scorers and see if the playmaker is able to make some scoring while the usual goal scorers are tied up with the defense.
C. This question is textbook “keep the coach up at night” material. One might think, just keep firing and the goalie can not save them all. But I think you might run the risk of gravitating to the gambler’s fallacy. It’s possible that the goalie shuts out four games straight, however unlikely the odds of that happening are.
d. Winnipeg had the most impressive regular season with 52 wins. Their goal difference was +133, whereas Philadelphia’s was +109. Based on the regular season, I would go with Winnipeg in this series. The top team in the league, coming from the West. Playoffs can be a different animal so it will be interesting to see how the top regular season team fares.


+3 tpe

We have a Forge and Aurora doing battle, this time not on the ice but actually duking it out mono y mono. I am having a challenging time seeing how the Aurora would pull off the win here. The Forge, if smart, will line of sight the Aurora by hiding inside a factory or something. This gives the Forge a distinct advantage over the Aurora. The Aurora, should it be so brave, could try sneaking into the factory housing the Forge, but I do not think it will play out in the Aurora’s favor. Now, should the Aurora catch the Forge slipping, and the Forge sneaks its head outside the factory to see what’s up, then I have zero doubt the Aurora will rain down some hell onto the Forge. If the fight is outside of the factory, then it is a totally different dynamic. Thus, the location of the battle is the important deciding factor. Like, fighting a shark on land vs. being in the water, e.g.

+3 tpe
Milestones

  +3 tpe
Team Switzerland has been putting in work during practice and training ahead of this upcoming IIHF tournament. There is a lot of talent on this Team Switzerland locker room. I often have the Swiss as dark horse favorites to win the Gold after doing so not too long ago. I feel strongly that all nations have been getting better and better as time passes. Some teams may look like they are getting thin on paper, but the quality of the top stars keep them relevant and mean that any team can win any given matchup. Sure, the Swiss and other top nations are likelier to win the whole tournament than others, but you can not discount all of these other nations. Hopefully my player decides to show up like he has never done so in the IIHF tournament. Only 5 points in the last few tournaments, so hopefully my player doubles his points total in this tournament by increasing the goal scoring.

+3 tpe

The Panther siege engine strikes fear into all the arenas that we are going to be sieging and taking over. Now work with me while you picture a big ol’ wooden box with wheels and then a fiberglass bodied Panther mounted on top. Other teams will see this siege engine and think: oh there isn’t anything to worry about there. Then when we are at the doors, the Panther will open its mouth, as if it were roaring, and then the heat will come. That Panther will spit fire all over the arena. Imagine playing hockey in an arena that is one fire with a Panther at the gates spewing fire. I don’t think that team will have much luck keeping the ice refrigeration going smooth. The Panther siege engine’s strengths are: speed, aggression, ferocity, and tenacity. The simplicity of the siege engine will cause opponents to get caught off guard, this being perhaps the key advantage of Los Angeles’ siege engine.