Fitted Hockey Network (FHN)

TAMPA BAY - July 8, 2024

It’s time for games 1 and 2 of the SHL playoffs and the hockey world is buzzing with excitement. RIP THUNDERDOME 2013-2023 and the Tampa Bay Barracuda are gearing up for another hard-fought series against division rival Atlanta Inferno. Both of these teams took games off of each other in the regular season, and put up great records despite being in the very competitive Atlantic Division.

As the game approached, tensions rose and fans got loud. The puck dropped for game 1, and round 1 of the SHL playoffs was finally under way. Nothing could possibly take away from the excitement and impact of these first two games, surely.

Tampa Bay scores early and then gives themselves a 2-0 lead in Game 1, which is eventually cut down to a 2-1 lead before Tampa scores an empty netter to cap off a 3-1 victory in Game 1 after a strong defensive effort and great goaltending performance from goalie Tibuk Soonika.

Seeing as the defensive tactics seemed to work great, Tampa Bay’s coaching staff elected to not change a thing going into Game 2, and try to have a repeat of game 1.

Atlanta would not go down easily however, as they had much more to give. When the puck dropped for Game 2, the Inferno came out firing (pun intended), and shocked the Barracuda with their high-flying offense. The Atlanta faithful in the crowd cheered as their hometown team looked like they were going to take an easy W in Game 2 to even up the series.

When all was said and done, the Inferno came out on top in Game 2 with a rather convincing 4-1 W.

Both teams left the stadium to get on their team busses so they could head to the airport for the short flight from Atlanta to Tampa Bay for Games 3 and 4.

However, on the bus ride to the airport, something unexplainable happened. Something that should truly be impossible. Suddenly, all players were instantly transported back to their locker rooms and were in full uniform. How did this happen? Nobody knows. But now it seemed as if the two teams would have to replay their games, and without any room for tactical change in between matches.

This time around, the Atlanta Inferno were able to score in Game 1, pushing the game to overtime where they would eventually win 5-4 to reverse their fate from the original timeline. Since the defensive strategy did not work this time around, the Tampa Bay coaching staff aimed to make some adjustments to make their back end more sound. However, representatives from the league stepped in and ensured that no such adjustments could be made.

Both teams were forced to immediately play Game 2 without making adjustments. This resulted in another Atlanta Inferno win where they scored another 5 goals to defeat the Barracuda 5-2.

Now, instead of being tied in the series, the Inferno hold a commanding 2-0 lead.

Players from around the league corroborate this strange experience of being somehow transported back in time to replay games that had already been played. Sources from New Orleans say that the Specters have too been disadvantaged by this bizarre phenomenon. Coaching staffs from around the league are displeased with the events that occurred and are looking for answers from the league itself, as are players and fans.

FHN will continue to report on this story we gain more information.

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