Rob Knows His Team Has Two Wins To Go

#8 Happy Little Elves (10-5-0-3) at #7 Sky Fighters (11-6-0-1)
Location: Tompkins East, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Tied 2-2
2010 Result: Week 16 – Happy Little Elves 3, Sky Fighters 2; Week 18 – Sky Fighters 6, Happy Little Elves 1
Game Notes: After splitting their first two games, these Hackett Division rivals will play their rubber match in the semifinals.  In their first game, the Happy Little Elves unveiled their new “Elves Team Defense Initiative,” designed to improve what was then the worst defense in the league.  The strategy worked, as the Elves held the Sky Fighters to just two goals and won the game 3-2.  League scoring co-champion Trevor Beauclair scored twice for the Elves in the victory.  Beauclair also had a goal in these teams’ Week 18 contest, but alas, that was the only offense for the Elves that day.  The Sky Fighters blitzed the porous Elves defense for six goals, including a hat trick by defender Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka, who did not play in the first matchup.  In spite of this setback, the Elves’ defense has been a little more passable during the playoffs.  After nearly blowing a big lead against La Famiglia in the round of 16, the Elves stiffened up against Donohue Division champion Fresh Kills with a solid 3-2 overtime victory.  The Sky Fighters have been even more impressive in their two playoff wins, a 2-1 victory over the Fairy Tale Cup champion Dark Rainbows and a 4-0 shutout against the MacNeil Division champion Tompkins Square Riots.  As the defending champions strive to win their seventh straight playoff game en route to a second title, the Elves’ defense will need their best effort of the season to advance to the championship game.
Keys To The Game For The Sky Fighters:
1. Because of his team’s tremendous offensive depth, goaltender James Stein is often overlooked.  However, he has allowed just one goal in two playoff games and contributed to the Sky Fighters’ third ranked defense in the regular season.
2. The Sky Fighters were proud to welcome Robert Kucera back into their lineup last week after he missed several games with an unspecified upper body injury.  His presence was felt immediately, as he tallied two goals in their quarterfinal win.
3. Forward David Cernan does not like to play defense (how very Elf-like of him!), sometimes to the extent that he will refuse to cross mid-court into the Sky Fighters’ defensive zone.  Regardless, this gambit paid off last week, as he notched his first goal of the playoffs.
Keys To The Game For The Happy Little Elves:
1. Believe it or not, the Elves actually owe much of their success to the gameplanning abilities of co-captain Rich Glanzer.  Although he is often a tad sluggish on defense, his strategies, including opportunistic water breaks and timeouts, have led to several of the team’s biggest moments.  However, there has yet to be a strategy that has been as successful and effective as that of Martin “Ocho Cinco” Cejka.
2. In addition to being the team’s (and the league’s) leading scorer, rookie all-star Trevor Beauclair has also been one of the Elves’ most clutch performers.  His game-winning goal in overtime against Fresh Kills sent the Elves to the semifinals.
3. Although Beauclair steals most of the spotlight, the Elves’ brunette rookie Ryan Nakahara has also been integral to the team’s success.  He scored seven goals during the regular season, and his game-tying heroics forced overtime in last week’s quarterfinal.
Eli’s Pick: Happy Little Elves.  I’m hoping to pick their game incorrectly for the third straight week.
Derek’s Pick: Sky Fighters.  I’m hoping to pick the Elves’ game correctly for the third straight week.
Watchability: 4.5 Long Island Loudmouths