🏆 MIGHTY PUCKS (defending champions) vs. SLAMMIN’ SALMONS: D LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN

by JEAN PAUL ST GERMAINE

The Mighty Pucks and Slammin’ Salmons meet Sunday with the D League championship on the line, and if their previous meeting tells us anything, this one could go right down to the final shift.

These teams have met once this season.

The result?

Mighty Pucks 4 — Slammin’ Salmons 3.

One goal separated them then. Now they meet again with everything on the line.

🏒 MIGHTY PUCKS: SCORING THROUGHOUT THE LINEUP

The Mighty Pucks don’t enter this game relying on one player to carry the offense. Their production has come from several different places.

Greyson Prest has 5 goals and 6 points in five games, while Jon Mellas has produced an identical six points with 3 goals and 3 assists.

Then there’s Nick Edwards, who has scored 5 goals in five games, giving TMP another legitimate finishing threat.

The numbers also show how quickly this team can get production from different players. That makes them difficult to defend because shutting down one scorer doesn’t necessarily shut down the Mighty Pucks.

And they’ve already proven they can put four past the Salmons.

For Sunday’s championship, Steve Imas gets the assignment in goal.

🐟 SLAMMIN’ SALMONS: RYAN SHIPP LEADS THE ATTACK

The Salmons have a pretty significant weapon of their own.

Ryan Shipp has been outstanding.

In only four games, Shipp has scored 6 goals and added 2 assists for 8 points, averaging 2.0 points per game.

He’s joined by Dylan Tomasino, who has scored 5 times in four games, giving the Salmons two players who can turn a game quickly.

Behind them, Cody Bettinger and Jonathan Greenwald have each contributed four points.

That’s an important part of this matchup. The Salmons aren’t simply chasing the Mighty Pucks with one scorer—they have multiple players capable of finishing.

In net, Tanner Tomasino enters the championship having gone 2–1 with one overtime loss and a 3.55 GAA in four appearances.

ONE GOAL SEPARATED THEM THE FIRST TIME

The previous meeting deserves attention.

Mighty Pucks 4 — Slammin’ Salmons 3.

That’s the entire season series.

So unlike the C4 and DC championship matchups, there isn’t a long history between these teams to lean on. They got one look at each other, and the Mighty Pucks came away with a one-goal victory.

For TMP, that’s confidence.

For the Salmons, it’s proof that the difference between these teams may be a single bounce, save or mistake.

And the Salmons will have one additional advantage entering the championship: no subs.

The roster submitted for Sunday is entirely their own group. In a championship game, that familiarity can matter.

🏆 ONE GAME FOR THE D LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The formula is pretty simple.

The Mighty Pucks bring scoring depth and already own a victory over the Salmons.

The Salmons counter with some of the division’s hottest individual scorers and a goaltender who has been tested throughout the season.

TMP knows it can beat them.

The Salmons know they were only one goal away.

Now there are no more regular-season games and no next week.

Mighty Pucks vs. Slammin’ Salmons.
5:50 PM. Rink 1. Skate Zone.
D League Championship.

Before the championship, Tropic Thunder and the Ice Crushers meet for third place at 4:40 PM on Rink 3, while the Red Hot Chili Pickers and Seal Team Sticks meet in the consolation game at 4:30 PM on Rink 1.

Then it’s time to decide the championship.

One previous meeting. One-goal difference. One game left