Mike Is Auditioning To Play Larry

#8 Happy Little Elves (9-5-0-3) at #3 Fresh Kills (11-4-0-2)
Location: Tompkins West, 3:30 PM
All-Time Series: Happy Little Elves lead 2-1
2010 Result: Did Not Play
Game Notes: The Elves enter the quarterfinals despite having mixed success in their round of 16 win over La Famiglia.  The offense looked nearly unstoppable, racking up six first half goals and dominating the game’s tempo.  Even team anchor Rich Glanzer joined the party with his first goal of the season.  However, the tide shifted dramatically in the second half.  The Elves Team Defense Initiative crumbled, giving way to three La Famiglia goals and a tense final few minutes until an empty netter sealed the 7-4 victory.  Fresh Kills, on the other hand, had a much more relaxing round of 16 contest.  In his playoff debut, goaltender Patrick Barch turned aside every Poutine Machine shot to lead his team to a 4-0 win.  Ariel Imas scored twice, while each Sokolyansky brother also tallied a goal.  With Fresh Kills expected to bring a similar effort into this quarterfinal matchup, the outcome may hinge on whether the Happy Little Elves’ defense shows up.
Eli’s Pick: Fresh Kills. At some point, the Elves’ defensive lapses will catch up with them.
Derek’s Pick: Happy Little Elves.  Last week, Trevor Beauclair proclaimed, “Any team that I am on will not lose.”  I don’t see any possible way that this statement will come back to bite him in the ass.
Watchability: 4 Nakaharas

Who Will Be Smiling After This Game?

#6 Filthy Gorgeous (11-5-0-1) at #5 Corlears Hookers (12-4)
Location: Tompkins East, 3:30 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 7-0
2010 Result: Week 5 – Corlears Hookers 3, Filthy Gorgeous 2; Week 14 – Corlears Hookers 2, Filthy Gorgeous 0
Game Notes: For the third consecutive season, Filthy Gorgeous and the Corlears Hookers will meet in the playoffs.  Thus far, the Hookers have dominated this series, winning all seven matchups, although none of their victories has been by more than a two-goal margin.  As a result of these struggles, the Filthies have been busy finding any way possible to reverse this trend.  “Gentleman” James Pereira, who has not scored against the Hookers since 2007, has undergone an extensive hypno-therapy treatment to help him forget his scoring deficiencies in this rivalry.  Dana Kravis has secretly filmed several Hookers team practices in hopes of uncovering their game plan, which as near as she can tell only involves Jason Eitel not passing.  In one of the more extreme measures taken, Dan “D.O.” Owens has crafted a voodoo doll of counterpart Dustin “Fake Dutch’s Brother” Olson, which he will impale on game day.  Finally, in what may just be a coincidence, Matt Workman has brought several members of the Hookers in front of the disciplinary committee this week, including Brendan “Dutch” Kearney, Jackie Spiegel, Peter “Purple Rain” Putka, Jock Paul, Dan Thompson, Noelle “Slapshot” Safar, Tiffany Hagge, Josh “Doc” Sadlier-Brown, Reilly “Fake Dutch” Olson, and Danilo Biagioni.  Oddly, he did not seem concerned with the play of Albert “Al” Huang.
Eli’s Pick: Filthy Gorgeous.  They have to beat the Hookers at some point, right?
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers.  No.
Watchability: 5 Essocks