All of the work from the last three playoff games culminated in an epic battle between the Red Liners and the Rusty Blades. Three periods could not decide on a victor. Another 5 minute overtime could not either. The championship hinged on a shootout. For better or worse, the Blades only needed 1 shootout goal to slip past the Liners, 4-3 and take the championship.
The first period was a preview for the rest of the game. Both teams ended playing to a draw. The Liners used their standard strategy of controlling the puck in from of the net and then charge deep at their opponents with all players. The Blades tried to control the boards and able to send multiple players down the ice to the periphery where they fired pucks. There was one penalty for the Liners who successfully killed it.
Both teams seemed to adjust their strategies as three goals were scored within the first five minutes of the second period. The Blades would get on the board first off a deflected shot at the net at the 80 second mark. But the guys and gal in red regrouped and also got on the board a mere 30 seconds later. Dr. Watson picked up a turn over at the far blue line and lasered a perfect wrist shot into the upper near corner of the net. Several minutes later, the Blades would retake the lead after they picked up a bobbled puck at their blue line and scored on the ensuing breakaway. For the rest of the period, the Liners could not get any strong pressure on the Blades. But in the closing seconds, Baby picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and tried to score. He lost he puck near the far circle where it was picked up by the Druck. He slapped the puck along the ice and into the net.
Momentum seemed to be going the way of the Liners. After just the first minute of the third period, the Liners had to defend another penalty. Twank cleared the puck off the far boards but ended up picking up his own rebound. He skated deep and slip the puck just inside the near goal post. The Liners then went into defensive mode and kept the Blades away from their net as much as possible. They had a power play with nine minutes left to play. However, they quickly drew their own penalty and left both teams at 4-4 for almost 2 minutes. With more ice, the Blades speedy skaters take advantage of a bouncing puck and wristed it at the Liners’ net. Bigfield, the Liners’ goalie, stopped the shot but it still dribble through his pads and into the net. Not waiting to go into overtime, both teams desperately tried to score but could not.
The overtime period (5 minutes of 5 on 5) was also a draw. However, the Liners did have one glorious scoring opportunity early off with a loose but rolling puck just inches from the Blades’ empty net. League rules dictated a shootout to the chagrin of the crowds and players. The Blades scored on their first attempt while the Liners could not score on any attempt. And with that lone goal, the Rusty Blades were declared the champions.
No game in the Johnny’s playoffs for this season and any season as far as back as online records are available had such an evenly matched game. Both teams had the same number of goals for all periods until the shoot out. The only difference was the number of penalties, 5 to the Red Liners and 1 for the Blades. It was a great run for the Red Liners this season. It caps off a very successful season for the organization as a whole. They hope to improve of this outcome for the following season and beyond. As always, they appreciate their many fans and friends locally and around the country and world.