WELCOME TO THE ENDGAME
(click for series schedule)
THE STORY SO FAR
The Bostown Bears, unbeaten and unbroken. They cleaned the Leaves off their lawn. They smoked the Blue Wasps out of their garden. They fought off the tropical weather and took no storm damage. Now they look to continue the age of oppression that Bostown has forced on the humble sportsfolk of the city of Saint Loius IX. They hold sway in football, in baseball, and now look to rip the hockey liver out of a humble river town.
The St. Louis Music Forms, back from the dead. During the season they were playing spoons on an abandoned truck camper, with tone-deaf manager Mike Yeo clamoring for more Free Bird. Now, inspired by the feel-good bars of Laura Branigan, they are blowing crispy instruments on the biggest stage in hockey. Will they finally play to a parade? Or will the tubas come out to emphasize their humiliation? Will Bobby Orr haunt them again, or will Barclay Plager raise aloft his fiery sword and defend the team's pride?
On the line is the soul of a franchise, the intertwined narratives of two sports cities, and Brad Marchand's deep yearning to return to the poop sewers beneath the streets.
THINGS TO OBSERVE, MAYBE
Bostown has the best line of the playoffs, with Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pasternak tearing through Eastern Conference defenses. Behind them, Finnish icegod Tuukka Rask has been a forcefield, leading the playoffs in save percentage and GAA. Also, Zdeno "The Executioner" Chara is very tall and very old.
Saint Louis IX has thrived through balanced scoring, with the checking line of Oskar Sundqvist, Alex Steen, and Bangin' Ivan Barbashev controlling the games. Beyond any individual line, however, The whole team draws strength and inspiration from the dynamo of their patented Dual Robb Engine, which harvests the supercharged talent of young Thomas and young Fabbri, The Dumper.
CONCLUSION
Ready your livers and keep your Bayer handy!
