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PremierBromanov · 11-13-2019, 12:55 PM

extended title: Sweet Terry Guy: The Gloria of the Carolina Kraken: A look into the repeat cup win: The Movie: The Book: The SMJHL Article that will make me some money: Part 1 of 1.

Grading begins after this, obviously

2028 words ready for grading

While the St. Louis Blues are famous for holding onto Gloria midway through their Stanley cup winning season -- a point in that season where the blues were dead last -- The Kraken have created their own piece of history for themselves. If you're a Carolina Kraken, you've become more familiar with Terry Bradshaw lately than you ever thought you would. If you're not a Carolina Kraken, you might be a little confused as to what Terry Bradshaw has to do with the cup win. But before we dive into that, we need to take a look at the series that brought us here.

Going into the finals, the Kraken were considered a bit of an underdog. They had proven themselves capable of winning in the past season, but they were without a few of the key pieces that brought that success. Gaspard Boone, one of the leagues top centers, had aged out. Mike Hunt, who had carried the team through the playoffs when they were outshot, had retired. The Militia, now Kraken, were a team of 12 rookies. Now, in their second season, many wondered if they could carry the torch and repeat. But more than that, the Colorado Raptors seemed pretty stacked.

Purely looking at defense, the Raptors have 2 players above 80 and 11 players at 80. The Kraken had 3 players above 80, but only 5 at or near 80. The Raptors also have 5 centers with great face off abilities, which allowed them to control the puck drop. Yet despite appearances, it may have been more equal than it first appeared. Defense is a great stat to be strong in, but it seems the Kraken's true strength was in Scoring: 7 players at 80 scoring versus the Raptors 5. A small edge perhaps, but maybe one that mattered a lot. The Raptors also had the edge in goaltending with Emiko Spector.

Yet despite expectations, the Carolina took the series lead very quickly with 3 wins in a row to begin the series.

Game 1

The series began with a bang for the Kraken, with Ricky Bobby scoring just 200 seconds into the first period. The first period was thankfully quiet for the Raptors after that, despite killing two penalties. Spector held the Kraken at 1 goal through 15 shots. The Raptors, just 6. Unfortunately, period 2 would be a stinger for Spector. At 5:40 in the second, Ravyn wins a face-off in the Colorado zone and Bobby Lane takes a shot shortly after that finds it's way into the net. The puck is dropped at center ice, Ravyn takes it again, being fresh from last shift, and gives it to Claude. Claude moves it into the Colorado Zone, takes a shot, and scores just 8 seconds later. The second ended with another flurry of shots from the Kraken and just 6, again, for the Raptors. The 3rd period was fairly quiet, but the Kraken scored early again. The Raptors got on the board with under a minute left in the third to deny the shutout, but it was too late. 6 more shots that period, totaling just 18 in the game versus the Kraken's 37.

Game 2
Game 2 began in a familiar way, with Ricky Bobby scoring 3 minutes into the first period. The Raptors, this time, responded in kind with Bo Kane putting up his 2nd of the series in as many games. A double minor for roughing was assessed to Carolina's Ruschkoff, but shortly after killing that penalty a tripping minor to Colorado's Siecker saw another puck in the back of their net. 2-1 Kraken. The second period was scoreless but not without incident. The Raptors pelted the Kraken with 17 shots in one period, pushing McMahon to his limit. Only 2 power plays for the Raptors factored into this, the rest was all natural shots on goal. The Kraken had 1 power play to make their mark but was entirely uneventful. This was no unfair second period, it was the Raptors who willed themselves into so many scoring chances. But they were all denied. Once again, the 3rd period began with an early Carolina goal, just 28 seconds in from Ravyn Tedisko. Thats a goal and two assists for Ravyn in two games. It's 3 to 1 Carolina now, and the Raptors are trying to push back. The shots for the period are more even, but midway through the 3rd the Raptors pull within one goal thanks to Osterman. They had just 9 more minutes to tie it up. With 2 minutes left, Claude is assessed a penalty, giving hope to the Raptors. But, it would take 90 seconds to pull their own goalie, giving them just 30 seconds of 6 on 4 hockey, but the kraken denied them. This game was stolen by McMahon. 35 shots for the Raptors, 21 from the Kraken

Game 3
Game 3 was a repeat of game 1, with early scoring from the Kraken. Two goals in the first period, both from power plays. A fight broke out early in the period as tensions rose. The Raptors were playing with an edge in order to will themselves back into contention. But it seemed the refs wouldn't let them play, they were assessed 4 more penalties in the second period resulting in one more power play goal for the Kraken. The Kraken stayed out of the box. The third began early with a Colorado penalty, which resulted in another carolina power play goal. The Kraken had zero even strength goals, and the score was 4 to 0. Despite the uneven reffing, the raptors were shot for shot with the Kraken for the most part. They made excellent use of their even strength time, but again McMahon denied them. Osterman put the Raptors on the board late into the 3rd, but again it was too late. This would be a game Raptors fans would talk about for years to come.

Game 4
Game four, Raptors face elimination. For the fourth game in a row, the Kraken are on the board early, this time from Bobby Lane 30 seconds into the first period. The crowd goes silent. This is not a game they want to repeat for a fourth time. 20 long minutes go by without a Raptors goal. Finally, 5 minutes into the second, the Raptors are on the board. The game is tied for the 2nd time this series. Despite 2 more penalties to the raptors, they hold strong. Again, another tense 15 minutes go by without a goal. Then, another 20 without a goal, even with two power play opportunities for the Raptors. Overtime. The crowd is on their feet, attempting to jump start the Raptors into holding on for just one more game. The kraken are a goal away from the Four Star Cup. They can taste it, and they've been playing out of their minds, but the Raptors are right there with them. This would be a battle of wills. Crudelli would be their savior 2 and a half minutes into overtime, Raptors pouring off the bench in celebration. The Kraken return home with their first loss, though perhaps it hadn't sunk in enough for them.

Game 5
Game five allowed the Raptors to sow doubt into the Kraken. This time, the Raptors began the game with an early goal from Urawa, the first shot in the game. The second Colorado shot came 20 seconds later and saw the back of the net from Bo Kane. The Kraken were fired up after being down and a flurry of shots eclipsed the next 5 minutes. But to no avail. A third Raptors shot came finally in minute 7, another goal from Bo Kane. Three shots, zero saves for McMahon. 25 GAA, if you do the math. McMahon goes out, rookie goaltender Mike Hroch comes in for his first start in the series, unrelated to Mike Hunt. The first period ends 3-1, and the Raptors can taste blood. The Kraken are desperate, picking up 4 penalties in the second period, allowing another Raptor goal. The Raptors defeated the Kraken early, and you can tell by the way they play that this game is already won. the third period goes by with another Raptor goal, ending the game 5-1. Could this be a reverse sweep? Are they really doing it? the series could go either way now.

Said captain Phineas Gold

Quote:The team was really down after game 5. There was an issue with the venue and we weren't as ready as we expected to be. Morale was at a low, but we didn't want to show it. I think we really forced game 6 and we didn't let game 5 hold us back. And I think that really marks how this series went. The team put each game on their backs without worrying about the score or the result. We went out there to win and we proved just that.

Game 6
The Kraken are antsy, theyve tasted the cup for two games but cant quite get there. The Raptors open the scoring on the power play 14 minutes into the game. More doubt sown. They're frustrated, as the Raptors draw 4 penalties.But it doesn't matter. Michael Fitted took the spotlight in the Carolina Locker room during the first intermission, and he said the words that would turn to legend.

"Fuck the penaltys terry bradshaws ghost will lead us to da promised land". And it was this moment that the Kraken believed they could close out the series.

A motivated Bobby Lane tied it late in the second, seemingly powered by the spirit of Terry alone. But it was Michael Fitted, our new leader, who took a shot minutes later. The game thread was full of Kraken teammates willing the puck into the net. And it went! You should have seen the locker room. Fitted has long been the heart and soul of the team, and now he has an important goal in the final game of the series. But it was not yet known. The raptors respond during a Carolina penalty shortly after, but a late goal by Rykov saw the kraken maintain the lead into the 3rd period. Sarantez padded the lead early in the 3rd period. 4 to 2 in the third. It was at this moment that the Kraken team believed they could win the whole thing. Somewhere in the game thread, someone cheered "Sweeeeet Carooolliineee" followed by a dozen "BUM BUM BUM" posts. Kuster put the Raptors within 1, the Raptors desperately looking to deny the win. But Tedisko, the denier of happiness for the Raptors, added a 5th goal (her 7th) with just 3 minutes remaining. The thread exploded with Carolina cheers. They knew they had won. The game closed out without any more goals, and the kraken had taken their first cup in their first year, the team's technical back to back.

Michael Fitted:

Quote:They thought we got to cozy thought we were gonna blow it but the only things we blow are bubble after our champange and victory
I knew as soon as terrys ghost contacted me they were toast terry guy heard sweet caroline play and well it was curtains

The Carolina voice channel was full of cheers and congratulations. Fitted had stolen the show, he had willed the team to victory with his inspirational words. Sweet Caroline played from a bot in the voice channel. "Bum bum bum" filled the general chat as we sang and typed along. Once again, Fitted showed his true worth with the words "SWEEETTT TEERRRY GUUUYYY". Laughter and cheers again filled the voice chat. God damn, how does he come up with this stuff? But we knew, Sweet Terry Guy would be our victory chant for seasons to come. Terry Bradshaw had become legend for the Kraken, and it was all thanks to Michael Fitted.

Tampa Bay knew this, and attempted to bring that magic to game 7 with the Fitted callup, but Terry was apparently a Carolina homer and he denied them a championship, proving to everyone that he was a Carolina Legend and belonged to no one else.