Cherry Cup Finals 2023

 

Who Gives a Puck are the Cherry Cup Champions for the third time defeating the Greek Empire!

This game was close.  In fact it ended as a 3-3 tie and with the home/higher seeded team, The Puck, winning the game in a tie breaker.  This was the third round in a row that a team had to go to the tie breaker to win a playoff game.  Second time in a row for the Puck.

It was the goal tending that did it for the Puck.  As predicted, they would need to win both of those categories and then try to steal another.  Their netminders didn't disappoint as Korpisalo and Oettinger combined for 4 total wins and a SV% of .951!  And they both posted a shutout during the week!  

Oettinger was key to a Puck Cup

Hits is where I thought the Puck might be able to steal a skater category, with Tom Wilson and Brady Tkachuk but the Greek Empire beat them 34-28 in hits behind 6 hits from Darnell Nurse and 5 from Pettersson and Meier.  Tom Wilson did have 8 but the Puck got a disappointing 5 hits from Brady Tkachuk.  Maybe he wanted to take it easy on his big brother Matthew.  

Nurse unloading on a Puck player during finals

However, Brady would lead the team in assists with 3 helping the Puck to take Assists by only one and the game!  

Brady Tkachuk for the Puck

Brent Burns, the Greek Empire owner Mark Boehme look a like, had 4 goals from the blue line in the loss.   A disappointing end to a great run by the Greek Empire who had to win it's final match up to make the playoffs and then play the Number 1 and 2 teams in the league to make it to the Cup Finals.

This is the Who Gives a Puck's third Cherry Cup.  Second only to the Checkers' 5.  Goaltending was key to the Puck's run with Jake Oettinger having 37 saves on the year and then the late season acquisition of Korpisalo, who came up big in the finals.

His play in net was key for the Puck!

So congratulations to Chad Weiland and the Who Gives a Puck on another Cherry Cup Championship!

Tom Wilson hoist the Cherry Cup high for the Puck!

CFHL Playoffs and Cup Preview

 Well the stage is set.  The 2023 Cherry Cup begins today.  But first let's take a look at the semi-final games that took place this past week...

California Raisins 3  Who Gives a Puck 3 - Turn about is fair game I guess as this time the Raisins were at the wrong end of the tie breaker.  Last week the Raisins skated to a 3-3 tie and won being the home/higher seeded team.  This week the tie went to the Puck.  Goalies for the Raisins held up their end of the deal getting 3 wins and a SV% of .967.  Sorokin had 2 wins and .983!  However they couldn't match offensively with the Puck who beat them in goals, assists and PPP.  Dawson "Creek" Mercer led the Puck with 3 goals while Zibanejad had 6 assists!  The Puck will try for their 3rd Cherry Cup.

Mercer for the Puck

Greek Empire 4  Checkers 2 - Down go the Checkers.  Their quest for their 6th Cherry Cup came to an end as they ran into a team that is on a mission, the Greek Empire.  The Empire destroyed the number 2 team Goon Crew last week and then had very little problem with the top team in the league.  They beat the Checkers by 4 goals, 4 assists and 6 PPP!  The Empire really got scoring all around from their team.  Every player except Nurse had at least 1 assist, with Matthew Tkachuk  getting 4 helpers to go along with his 2 goals.  Timo Meier had a great week too with 3 goals and 3 PPP for the Empire.  They go to their first ever Cherry Cup Finals.

Matthew Tkachuk  for Empire

Cherry Cup Finals:  Greek Empire at Who Gives a Puck

This year's Cherry Cup Finals is a game between experience versus inexperience.  The Puck will be going for their 3rd Cherry Cup and this is the Empires first trip.  On paper this appears to be a close match up.  It will be a quick final as the end of the regular season is Friday which only has 2 game.  

Skaters - The edge has to go to the Empire right now.  Leon Draisaitl is one of the top scorers in the league.  Boldy has been scoring a lot too.  Plus with Matthew Tkachuk, who can score and hit but will be playing against his brother Brady for the Puck.  Puck will likely win the hits with Brady Tkachuk and Tom Wilson on their team.  

Boldy has found his scoring touch

Blue Line - These group are a little closer but I still think the Empire edge them in defenseman.  Burns, Doughty, Fox and Nurse are a hell of a line up.  Shayne Gostisbehere is the best D-man for the Puck.

Burns actually looks a little like Empire owner Mark..

Goalies - Here is where the Puck can make it a game.  With the emergence of Korpisalo and the great play this year by Oettinger they may be able to sweep the goalie categories.  Juuse Saros for the Empire and Jarry  are solid.  

Korpisalo hopes he can win a cup for the Puck

Outlook - I think this Greek Empire is on a mission.  Taking down the two best teams and now are ready to win the Cup.  If the Puck can win both goalie categories, they only need to grab one more for the win as they would hold the tie breaker if the final is 3-3.

Prediction:  Greek Empire 4-2

CFHL Playoffs Round 1

 In the first round of the playoffs, one team who snuck in on the final night took full advantage of their opportunity dismantling their opponent.  In the other game it went down to the wire in a close match up.  Here is what happened:

Greek Empire 5  Goon Crew 1 - The Goon Crew had second most points in the league.  Were the odds on favorite to make it to the finals.  Well that's why they play the games!  The Empire, who as of the last day of the regular season, had not made the playoffs but eventually snuck in when the regular season closed took full advantage and hammered the Crew.  They beat them 22-11 in goals and 13-8 in PPP.  Much of the week they led 6-0.  Leon Draisaitl was the Number One star of this game netting 5 goals, including a hat trick, 3 assists, 3 PPP and 5 hits.  Goalie Juuse Saros finished the week with 2 wins and an incredible SV% of .961.  What a week for the Empire.

California Raisins 3  Space Monkey Mafia 3 - With ties going to the home team, the Raisins advanced in the playoffs.  Goaltending was the difference in this game.  The California Raisins finished with 4 wins and SV% of .930.  Both goalies (Hellebuyck and Sorokin) had 2 wins.  Raisins were also punishing on the boards racking up 50 hits.  J.T. Miller had 13 and Orlov had 10 hits.  The teams combined for a total of 13 goals...The Greek Empire had 22 alone.  Let that sink in.

Round 2 (Semifinal) Round:

Greek Empire at Cherry's Checkers - The Checkers have been the top team pretty much all year.  However the Greek Empire could be peaking at the right time.  The Checkers will certainly have their hands full.  They have typically relied on goaltending and hits.  They will have to again if the Empire lights the lamp like they did last week.  

Prediction:  Greek Empire in a stunning upset 3-2-1

California Raisins at Who Gives a Puck - The Puck won their division, but certainly wasn't one of the best teams in the league.  This game will come down to who will win the goalie categories.  They both come into this game with stellar goalies.  The Raisins with Hellebuyck and Sorokin versus the Puck's Korpisalo and Oettinger.  This should be another close one for the Raisins.

Prediction:  Raisins win 3-2-1 and owner Brandon Cherry tries to make it a sweep in the Cherry Fantasy Leagues.