S73 Championship Week

S73 Championship Week

Scrufdaddy
IIHF Federation Head
IIHF GM

#232

11-17-2023, 03:00 AM

8/8

Code:
1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.

CW TRIVIA LINK

scruf

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2. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.

a. Two new finalists mark the end of a dynasty in the west and the return of an old heavyweight in the east. Pick either of our finalists, and tell me what about them impresses you the most!

b. The Forge have won a cup with this core, while the Blizzard are sniffing this air for the first time in a while. Who would you rather be - the veteran team that's been here and won it before, or the hungry youngsters taking their first shot at glory?

c. The Blizzard upended a long-time nemesis in the Aurora to get here, while the Forge avenged several previous losses to the Wolfpack as well. Who had the more impressive victory to punch their ticket to the cup final, and why?

d. If it ain't broke don't fix it: Who you got? Who wins? Why?

a. I'm really impressed that Edmonton really has no holes in their roster. Everyone on the team finished the playoffs in the positives on both the scoresheet and corsi. Their top power play unit was entirely different from their top penalty kill which is a neat sign that the whole team pulls the rope instead of just the stars.

b. I think I'd rather be in the position of the veteran team. My first instinct is that the youngsters are taking just their first shot and they will be back again later while the veterans are desparate since their time is more limited. However, it's not granted that you will make it back even for a young roster. Teams can take step backs instead of steps forward. Both teams really have the same thing to lose, one good shot at glory, but the veterans have a mindset of both experience and desperation.

c. It's a tough call to make. Both teams had a 4-1, 4-0, and 4-2 series on their way to the finals. I think Philadelphia edges out the tougher path to the finals based mostly on the matchup against New England. First round match ups cancel out with New Orleans (7th in the West, 13th overall) and Tampa Bay (7th in the East, 15th overall). Second round starts to favor Philadelphia more with Los Angeles (4th in the West, 10th overall) and Atlanta (4th in the East, 6th overall). Third round tips all the way with Winnipeg (2nd place in the West, 5th overall) and New England (1st place in the East, 1st overall). It also seems like earning their spot in the East was also more of a challenge.

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12. Written, 2 TPE - The Procrastinator Special! (100 words min.)

Looks like [TEAM] won Season 73! Who won and why? What could the other team have done differently to change the result? What was your favorite part of the series?

Congratulations for Edmonton for blizzarding their way through the playoffs. After 3 lopsided series to reach the finals, the entire cup came down to a single goal with 2 minutes left in the 3rd period of game 7. From that one game alone, it looks like a matchup of skill vs depth. Edmonton got goals from the 4th line and a top pair D that has been middle of the line offensively. Philadelphia got all their goals from a hat trick by their top line center. However, it's hard to find box score statistics that support that narrative. Both teams have a similar spread of scoring down the lineup over the course of the playoffs.

I think the main difference was controlling the play. Edmonton dominated the corsi along their entire roster while Philadelphia was trying to outscore a weakness at the bottom.