In their first rematch since a 9-3 victory, the McFet Red Liners were trying to build off a come-from-behind tie with their previous game. However, the Blacksheep brought up a new goaltender (for at least this game) who clamped down the Liners’ goal scoring. This game would be almost a flipflop from their previous meeting with the Blacksheep winning 8-2.
The first period was all Blacksheep who scored two goals off odd man rushes. The second period also started with the Blacksheep scoring their third goal before the offensive threats by the Liners began to turn up. Rocket almost fired out a one timer from a slot pass by Bleech. It was the closing minutes of this period where Toto would score the only two goals for the Liners. His first was off his slapping at the opponent’s blade with the puck which drifted back into the net. His second goal began with him picking up the puck in the near corner and swung to the slot where B-hole and MK screened the Blacksheep’s goalie. Toto was able to fired the puck into the upper net.
The third period started on a hopeful note. However, multiple breakdowns would lead to 5 unanswered goals. Two goals were off odd man rushes with forwards unable to quickly get back to help hold back the Blacksheep’s rushes. Two goals were from trouble clearing the puck out of the zone as it got stuck in front of the LIners’ netminder, the Music Man, or got picked/blocked off on clearing attempts. One goal was a pretty deke past the defense and goalie. There was one powerplay for the Liners in the closing seconds of the period who were unable to really do anything with it.
The team captain and assistant captains agreed this was a game not to dwell on too long. They stressed two main points to work on over the three week break: better backchecking and smarter/quicker breakout. Multiple goals and many scoring chances originated from odd man rushes. The lack of Liner scoring changes seemed secondary to delayed/blind passes that the opponents picked off or turning over the puck at the blue line. CGHA management hopes the extended vacation will recharge their players mentally and physically as they face another tough opponent, Top Shelf, on Sunday Jan 5th at 10:45pm.