<center>Four Star Cup Final Preview</center>

<div align="center">#6 vs. #2 </div>

The playoffs have been fantastic so far, and as we approach the start of the Four Star Cup Final, we will take a look at both teams and make predictions for how the series is going to turn out.

Colorado Mammoths

How they got here: Colorado defeated the third seeded Prince George Firebirds in 6 games, followed by defeating the first seeded St. Louis Scarecrows in 7, a triple overtime contest.

Regular Season: 23-24-3 (6th place)

Vancouver Whalers

How they got here: Vancouver finished 2nd in the league, earning a first round bye, then easily dispatched Kelowna in a 5 game series.

Regular Season: 32-15-3 (1st place)

By the Numbers:

Offensively: During the regular season, Vancouver averaged 3.26 goals per game, good for first in the league. Colorado averaged 2.96, good for second. Vancouver also averaged 28.12 shots per game, good for first in the league. Colorado averaged 25.34 per game, good for third in the league. No contest here. Advantage - Vancouver

Defensively: Vancouver had the lowest goals against at 2.28 goals against per game, just barely good enough for first in the league. Colorado allowed 2.80 goals against per game, placing them at 5th in the league. Vancouver suppressed shots well, only allowing 23.68 shots per game, putting them at 2nd in the league. Colorado allowed 25.32 shots per game, making them 7th in the league. Vancouver's GA/G average can be deceptive when it comes to evaluating defense, considering the play of Carrick Murray. Overall, these two team's defenses are fairly evenly matched, despite the numbers. Advantage - Push

Goaltending: Carrick Murray was the best goaltender in the regular season, posting a .908 SV% and a 2.13 GAA. Aleksandr Aleksandrov was 5th in the league, posting a .893 SV% and a 2.68 GAA. Despite Aleksandrov getting hotter in the second round, Murray is still the best. Advantage - Vancouver

Special Teams: Colorado posted a 23.30% PP% in the regular season, good for best in the league. Vancouver had a 20.19% PP%, good for third. Colorado had a 80.00% PK%, good for 5th and right at league average. Vancouver had an 84.83% PK%, good for first in the league. Colorado has the slight edge when it comes to special teams, with both teams about even in PIM per game. Advantage - Colorado

Intangibles: Vancouver comes in off an easy stomping of Kelowna, and is considered the heavy favorite by most in the league. Colorado comes in as the scrappy underdog team, the #6 seed that has beaten the regular season champions St. Louis Scarecrows and the third place Prince George Firebirds. Colorado has the underdog advantage. Advantage - Colorado

Prediction: Having not been wrong at all this playoffs (5-0 counting the 1OA series, correct amount of games each time), I have a lot of self-inflicted pressure to be correct about this one. Vancouver is a very, very good team, and defeated Colorado in the regular season series with a record of 5-1-0. On the other hand, Colorado is also a good team that has really turned on in the playoffs. I feel like Colorado will be able to pull this out one more time as underdogs. Mammoths in Six