Metal Can Muppets take the series 2-1 over the Flamingos in a hard-fought three-game set. The matchup opened with a dominant 7-3 statement win by the Muppets, but the momentum shifted instantly in Game 2 when the Flamingos tightened their defensive rotation to secure a 3-1 victory. The series came down to a 4-3 nail-biter in the finale, where the Muppets managed to weather a late Flamingo surge to claim the series victory.
Zuuuuuub was the undisputed offensive catalyst for the Muppets, racking up 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) over the 3 games. He was perfectly complemented by sc2009crosby, who provided 9 points and dominated the middle of the ice with 31 faceoff wins. For the Flamingos, xDemon12x was a constant threat, totaling 7 points and netting the game-winner in their lone victory. Philliesgreat08 also deserves a nod for his performance in the crease; although the shot volume was heavy throughout the series, his 21-save performance in Game 2 was the only reason the Flamingos forced a deciding third game.
The deciding factor in this series was the Muppets' ability to maintain possession and win the battle at the dot. MCM controlled the flow of play for the majority of the series, led by sc2009crosby’s 57% faceoff win rate, which allowed them to start 22 more possessions from the circle than their opponents. While the Flamingos were incredibly efficient on the counter-attack—notably shooting 17.6% in their Game 2 win—their 105 total turnovers across the series eventually caught up to them. In a series where the teams were separated by just 1 goal in the clincher, the Muppets' ability to sustain 1,573 seconds of time on attack across the three games proved to be the difference-maker.
