This is it, what every team has worked towards, and only two teams get a shot at; the chance to hold the Anze Cup high above their heads, and celebrate a crowning achievement. For most, winning the Anze Cup is considered the greatest day of their lives.
Before we look at the final match, lets do a quick recap of the the Anze Cup semifinal matches.
1. Everett Silvertips over 6. Bizzarohawks
It was a great run for the Bizzarohawks, but in the end, the team went cold at the worst time. GM Scott Freeland even went to Phoenix, by himself, to cheer on his goaltender, insert generic name here, but it wouldn’t be enough. Still, it was a great run of this upstart and has to be a positive note for a team that historically struggles in this league.
5. Flowers in the Cage over 2. Kanucks
Wow, what an upset. I mean seriously, wow. Despite the bad goaltending that was predicted, Flowers in the Cage had a mammoth week offensively, and it was enough to hold off another great performance by the Kanucks. It looked like it was going to be Kanucks year, and GM Dave Kitchen would be able to hold his head high without name dropping Ryan Blair (who the fuck cares?) or perfecting the humblebrag. When you say “not bragging, just saying” bragging is exactly what you are doing. It is kinda like me saying I don’t mean to be an asshole, but I reported your Facebook account as spam. I actually mean to be an asshole, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
Here we are, but before we get to the final, a vignette of past Anze Cup winners and what it means to them:
1. Everett Silvertips vs. 5. Flowers In The Cage (Season series 17-12 for Everett Silvertips)
This is a Anze Cup of firsts. It is the first time two of the original three teams have competed in the finals. It is also the first time GM Cole Ballard has taken a team to the finals as his teams have always fallen short have finished third a record three times. You have a team in Everett Silvertips that is struggling offensively and a team in Flowers in the Cage with awful goaltending. I expect this matchup to be close. Flowers in the Cage has more games to be played, but relies on fewer NHL teams to do so; a slow week for either team could hurt them. On the other hand, Everett Silvertips decided to start 3 players from one of the lowest goal scoring teams in the league. In deciding who wins, really the only thing to fall back on is the empirical data. Both team’s offensive units have to turn around at some point, which would give the upper hand to the Silvertips. Hell, it is the Anze Cup playoffs, and either team could win easily or scratch and claw one out. That is why I love this game.
Prediction: Everett Silvertips becomes the first President’s Trophy winner to hoist the Anze Cup since 2005, winning 7-5-4.
Good luck to both teams. Glory awaits.
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