I am still bummed about Worlds getting cancelled. What would have happened? We will never know...
So, what to do? I compiled a "best of" score (by element) for our top 3 Russian girls, based on the scores they received internationally this season.
Here is how they scored the best in the free program aka 'Dream Scores'
Kostornaia:
(assuming she would have the same program as in the European Championships)
3A+2T - 12.27 (Europeans)
3A - 10.74 (Grand Prix Final)
2A - 4.43 (Europeans)
3L - 6.51 (Grand Prix Final)
FCCoSp - 4.85 (NHK Trophy)
StSq - 5.40 (Internationaux de France)
3F+3T(x) - 12.87 (Europeans)
3F+1Eu+3S(x) - 12.93 (Grand Prix Final)
3Lz(x) - 8.34 (Grand Prix Final)
CCoSp - 4.90 (Finlandia Trophy)
ChSq - 4.75 (Finlandia Trophy)
LSp - 3.74 (Grand Prix Final)
PCS - 73.27 (Grand Prix Final)
Total Free Program Score - 165.00
Best Short Program Score - 85.45 (Grand Prix Final)
Total Score - 250.45
Trusova:
(program based on the 5 quad runthrough we saw before Worlds)
4F - 14.30 (Grand Prix Final)
4S - 11.22 (Japan Open)
4Lz - 15.28 (Grand Prix Final)
2A+3T - 8.70 (Grand Prix Final)
CCoSp - 4.55 (Nepela Memorial)
ChSq - 4.71 (Rostelecom Cup)
4T+1Eu+3S(x) - 18.44 (Grand Prix Final)
4T(x) - 13.30 (Note: we never did see Sasha do a single 4T in the second half, this is a clean 4T with GOE+3)
3Lz+3T(x) - 12.80 (Grand Prix Final)
FCSp - 4.02 (Grand Prix Final)
StSq - 4.96 (Rostelecom Cup)
FCCoSp - 4.55 (Grand Prix Final)
PCS - 67.42 (Skate Canada)
Total Free Program Score - 184.25
Best Short Program Score - 74.95 (Europeans)
Total Score - 259.20
Shcherbakova:
(assuming she would have the same program as in the European Championships)
4Lz+3T - 19.31 (Europeans)
4F - 14.30 (Note: we never did see Anna do a clean 4F, this is a clean 4F with GOE+3)
ChSq - 4.50 (Europeans)
2A - 4.29 (Grand Prix Final)
4Lz - 14.79 (Skate America)
FCSp - 4.25 (Skate America)
3Lz+3L(x) - 12.72 (Grand Prix Final)
3F+1Eu+3S(x) - 12.40 (Grand Prix Final)
3Lz(x) - 8.34 (Europeans)
FCCoSp - 4.70 (Europeans)
StSq - 5.18 (Grand Prix Final)
CCoSp - 5.05 (Grand Prix Final)
PCS - 71.19 (Europeans)
Total Free Program Score - 181.02
Best Short Program Score - 78.27 (Grand Prix Final)
Total Score - 259.29
Final standings:
1. Shcherbakova 259.29
2. Trusova 259.20
3. Kostornaia 250.45
Not much in it!! If Shcherbakova/Trusova weren't perfect on all their quads, Kostornaia would have been right on their heels (and that is exactly what happened throughout the season).
Questions:
Would Anna and Alyona go for the same free program as in the European Championships? Or were they planning to beaf it up even more...?
Would Sasha really go for that 5 quad program? Would she have tried the 3A in the short?
It is interesting that Sasha's 5 quad program is only worth 3 more points than Anna's 3 quad program. Sasha's strategy to go for all the quads clearly didn't work this season as her PCS suffered a bit. Her best PCS was at Skate Canada and then it got worse, which is very unusual as PCS usually goes up during the season. In comparison, Anna scored better PCS scores in every competition and had her highest at the Europeans.