Written option 2:

With so few players actually winning the championship, the odds are high that Spaceman Spiff and the Ottawa Highlanders are eliminated at some point. In the same train of thought, their opponents are also highly likely to be eliminated sooner rather than later. So why not now? There is a 50/50 chance it's the other team's time to lose. This actually takes the pressure off him to a certain extent. There still is pressure but in Spiff's mind the pressure is on the other team and he can go out, play his game to the best of his ability and make it happen. When it turns out that it is Spiff's team's turn to be eliminated, he takes a moment to let the sting of the loss settle in and then shake it off. Next season is around the corner, and next season has better odds than the recent loss. Remember the loss, learn from it, and make sure it's the other team next season.