Coming off a stinging loss to the Helmet Heads, the Red Liners vowed to change course by correcting some missteps in the last game. And they did not disappoint their fans in their nail-biting 5-4 win against Ogilvy. The Redliners concentrated on thr
owing pucks at the net while trying to force the pressure back into their opponents zone. This was balanced by better breaking out in their zone. Their success was evidence in the score. The game also marked the return of the “Six Dollar Bionic Man”, Justin O and the first game for Nicky.
The first period began in an ominous manner with a slashing penalty in Nicky’s first shift. But the Red Liners did not back down in the penalty kill. Mixy gained control of the puck and passed it behind the net to Jimmie who backhanded the puck into the upper corner of the Ogilvy net. The two teams would trade goals in the middle of the first period. Druck-man broke through the blue line and passed the puck to a speeding Don Juan who shot it passed the sprawled Ogilvy netminder. The Red Liners defense did have trouble clearing the puck as Ogilvy crashed the Liners’ net with a massive number of players. These opponents did hit back to back goals after Doc cleared a loose puck right to a waiting Ogilvy forward who easily popped it over the sprawled Liners’ net minder, Dr. Nick. The Red Liners would come out ahead in the first period with their third goal off a powerplay. Don Juan picked up the loose puck near the back boards and threw it back to The Bleech who smashed a slapshot at the net. The pucked bounced around in front of the net where a waiting Druck-man popped it into the open Ogilvy net.
The Red Liners were able to carry this momentum into the second period. Jimmy was able to pick up a loose back in the slot of the Ogilvy zone. He passed it to Mixy, waiting by the far goal post. Spotting a free Toto, he quickly passed it across the slot to a waiting Toto who easily knocked it into the empty net. Ogilvy would counteract just 7 minutes later after an odd man rush followed by a wrap around goal. Jimmie was robbed off his empty net wrist shot by a fabulous save made by
the Ogilvy goalie. Heads were shaking in amazement.
With a one goal lead, the Red Liners turned up the pressure on both ends of the ice as they did not want a repeat of their previous game. Finally, Toto showed his true colors with his second goal of the game by stickhandling Viaga sales in canida his way pasted the Ogilvy defense after capturing a pass from Jimmie. Ogilvy moved within 1 goal of tying the game after knock in a powerplay goal with half the period remaining. The Red Liners were able to shutdown Ogilvy for the rest of the period. Dr. Nick made a key save off a point blank slapshot while Justino threw his body in front of the puck and opponents sitting in the corner. Baby along with Davy and Big Pauly kept the puck out of the Red Liners zone and hardly allowed Ogilvy a chance to have a 6th player attacking the net.
The boys in red knew the game would be tough. The opponents came out charged but the RedLiners’ offensive pressure helped minimize the threats that Ogilvy had on the Red Liners defense and goalie. The shots on goal were definitely in favor of the Red Liners. Without some excellent saves by the Ogilvy netminder, the score would likely been more lopsided. Some of the team will be heading for a short trip to Toronto to compete in the Eastern Canada Cup against 3 other Canadian-based teams. This game was a good warmup for that tournament.
Next game will be against the Devils on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 4:10pm at JIH East.