As Written by Beau on FA:

Congratulations to the Maple and Oak Conference Champions! These two teams are just a step away from winning the Furry Hockey League Cup! This will be the Thunder Bay Puffins record 3rd straight appearance in the Cup Finals (formerly as the Portland Roses). The defending champions will be the underdog against a Salt Lake City Killer Bees squad making its FHL Cup debut. The Puffins may be the first #3 seed to reach the finals, but history favors the Bees. The winners of the regular season's "Commissioner's Cup" trophy have never failed to take home the cup.

Will the Puffins beat the odds and defend their title? Will the Bees be parading the Cup through Salt Lake City? Vote in the FHL Cup Finals poll below!

http://strawpoll.me/1695332/

1 Salt Lake City Killer Bees (28-8-6, 62 pts) VS #3 Thunder Bay Puffins (28-11-3, 59 pts)

SLC Can Win If: they can neutralize and outmuscle the Puffin's top line. Depth, power, and aggression have been critical to the team's playoff success. Against the offense-oriented Bridgeport Bandicoots, the Bees relied on their defensive strength and goaltending to suffocate BPB in 6. In the Conference Finals, the Bees showed their adaptability, out-maneuvering and overwhelming the methodical Jacksonville Gators in a 4 game sweep. In 10 playoff games, the Bees have amassed a record of 8-1-1, outscoring their opponents 36-19.

Against TBP, the Bees will be facing a team with a strikingly similar style of play. Both squads rely on unpredictability, improvisation, and individual talent to frustrate more conventional opponents. SLC's key advantages over TBP will be their size and strength. If Skyler Ward (11 pts, 12 pm's, and +10 in 10 games) and the Bees "D" can win the battles along the boards, keep shots to the outside, and force turnovers in the neutral zone, they may be able to gradually wear down their opponents over the course of the series. Brute Belonzyk (13 goals, 22 pts in 10 games) has been a force to be reckoned with, but the Bees cannot continue to rely on the Yoshi as their sole offensive threat.

Ultimately, this series could come down to a showdown between two of FHL's most legendary goaltenders. SLC has one advantage over TBP's competition thus far: an MVP-calibre netminder in Raz Yoshi (8-1-1, 2 SO, 1.73 GAA, .939 SV%). If he can continue to outperform his rival across the rink, he could be lifting the Cup!

TBP Can Win If: they can use their superior speed and offensive capabilities to keep SLC on their heels. The Puffins wielded their potent arsenal with deadly effect against the Hamilton Wanderers, dispatching HMW in 5. Clutch performances and a dynamite PP proved the difference against their favored opponents, as their experience and depth proved just enough to eke by the St. Louis Spirits in an epic 7 game Conference Finals. In 12 playoff games, the Puffins have earned an 8-3-1 record, outscoring their opponents 37-27.

Unlike their one-note opponents, the Puffins boast one of the most offensively-gifted top lines in FHL history. With a roster of snipers, playmakers, and puck-moving defensemen like Paul Shepherd (14 pts, +13 in 12 games) and Wingdog (17 pts, +13, 12 pm's in 12 games), there's no limit to the ways the Puffins can strike. Ty Sandstrom (14 assists, 16 pts in 12 games) is one of the quickest and most agile skaters in the FHL, and could very well be a thorn in SLC's side throughout the series. If TBP's bench can pitch in to keep this a high-scoring series, the Puffins could have a significant advantage. Their powerplay, too, has the ability make the Bees pay for sloppy and unnecessary penalties.

All eyes, of course, will be on Hari Pehltonen (8-3-1, 2.57 GAA, .933 SV%), who will need to elevate his game if the Puffins have any hope of an upset. Many veteran Puffins like Pehltonen have been here before, and their Cup experience could prove the difference between victory and defeat.