Quote:1. CW TRIVIA, 3 TPE max - 1.5 TPE for participation, 0.5 TPE for each correct answer. This is completed through a Google form linked below. Make sure to spell your answers correctly or you will not get credit. Post your verification word in your CW post.

trivial
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Quote:2. Written, up to 4 TPE - Grab Bag: Pick up to 4 Challenge Cup related topics to write about! Each topic is worth 1 TPE. Each answer must be 50+ words.
a. During the Conference Finals Panthers had no players who had multi goal game, yet they beat the Texas in 5 games. Can New England shut down a team with such depth, how could they do it?

When a team has the amount of depth that the Panthers are presenting, there's really no way to shut them down in the traditional sense of the word. All they could hope for would be to slow them down a bit. Focusing on covering a couple of key players on each line, and hope for the best.
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Quote:b. On New England side Ivan Lacksamus is back on MVP form, scoring 15 goals and 38 points in 19 games, including the 15 points scored in Conference Finals. Should Los Angeles try to find a way to stop him or hope that their stars kick in the next gear to meet the challenge head on?

The Panthers have to stop Lacksamus. There's no way they win this series if they let him be, and hope their own stars step up. Because even if the Panthers' heroes show themselves, Lacksamus would record another 15 point series. This man has been the core piece for the Wolfpack since his early days. And still is.
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Quote:3. Written, 3 TPE, Been there, Done that (150 words min.)
It has been 10 seasons since Panthers last won the cup and Yannick Svoboda is only player left from that team. While for the New England this is 4th finals appearance since S70 and multiple players have been there for all of them, including the two cup wins. Will that experience triumph over excitement or will it make them overconfident? Will the nerves of Panthers get better of them now when the stakes are the highest? Which team has the mental advantage over the other and how big of an impact you think it will have on the match up?

When it comes to the playoffs, and especially the championship series, experience usually if not always beat excitement. No matter how many years you've practiced trying to get this far, actually playing in the finals in the very best league in the world is an experience you can't truly prepare for. Your usual nerves of steel will be reset, turning into wet noodles. Your usual endurance will get shot as you experience what it's like to play with and against the best in the world who now will turn it up to 200%. It's a drastic difference from the regular season games.

But all is not lost for the Panthers. Even though they're likely to lose game one, and maybe even game two, because of the above reason. It doesn't take long to get used to the finals pressure, and get their heads into the game fully. After the first two games I'll say it'll be anyone's series.
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