Very fun playoff series so far!  Really nice comeback for the Rockets too!  Is that the first time a team has come back from 0-3 in a series to win it?

Neptunes/Anchors is really interesting.  I think I want to see the Neptunes win it all too, don't think they've ever won it all before!

It's every year Whales, if your gonna beach yourself in the first round like this, you might as well not even make it. I'll pull for the Rockets I guess.

1976 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS



2 Port Alrene Anchors vs 4 Narva Neptunes
The Neptunes are the second of two of the least decorated teams to ever make the Finals, just behind the 1974 Heralds as only Kris Kotulak was selected as an All-Star alternate. The Anchors, meanwhile, feature lots of hardware between Ferdy Haight, Paul Kauffman and Dimitri Ranko. The Anchors caught a massive break from the upset of the Glaciers by Fort Bevin and are the heavy favorites against a Neptunes squad that though talented on paper has not been flashy and squeaked out a win against Kavalos. Narva does have a deep roster though, with Kotulak headlining a potent top line and the ever-dangerous Brankovic-Gallenbeck pair on the blue line. While Narva is enjoying their first-ever Cup appearance, the Anchors have won three out of six Cup trips and want to break a 4-way tie for most Cups. The Anchors also hold home ice advantage.

Game 1: NAR 0 @ PA 3 – The Neptunes looked nervous in their franchise's first-ever Finals game as Ferdy Haight posted the shutout and Ranko scored twice and assisted on a beauty by Lou D'Angelo.

Game 2: NAR 4 @ PA 3 (OT) – Narva came back with much more aggression and the both teams battled it out along the boards as Kotulak scored three times to send it to overtime. A deflection by D George Gallenbeck won it for the Neptunes to steal a game in Port Alrene.

Game 3: PA 0 @ NAR 3 – It was Port Alrene's turn to get shut out as Ernie Bukowski was brilliant in the net. D Gav Brankovic scored and young Luke “Little Wiz” Wisniewski also found the net.

Game 4: PA 0 @ NAR 1 – In a close-contested battle, both teams skated fast and hit harder. It was a rocket off the stick of Kotulak late in the third period that put the Neptunes ahead which promptly sparked a brawl between the two teams.

Game 5: NAR 5 @ PA 1 – With their backs against the wall and back home at the Harbor Dome, the Anchors prepared to extend the series. Kris Kotulak and Co, however, had other plans, systematically blitzing through Port Alrene's lines of defense into fast break goals. Kotulak again scored twice. Dimitri Ranko found a home for a one-timer to make it 2-1 in the second period, but a continued onslaught by Narva in the third put the game away and sent the Neptunes back to Narva with their first Marcotte Cup in-hand. It is an especially sweet victory after so many years of futility. Kris Kotulak was awarded series MVP.

1976 MARCOTTE CUP CHAMPIONS: Narva Neptunes (1)

Up next: 1977 Offseason: Breaking news shocks the league

I was hoping for the Anchors to win it all, but next year will be their time.

Congrats to the ​Neptunes for winning it all.

Narva always felt like they had a team that was ready to break out of the routine mediocrity. Happy they were able to change the tune of the league.