The Red Liners came into the last game with high hopes of ending the season on a positive note. The playoff standings were not finalized. The results of the last game for several teams would impact the bracket positions. A slow start would pu
t the CGHA in too big of a goal deficit and lead to an eventual loss, 5-3.
The Buffet Boys would get on the scoreboard after 11 seconds with a lobbed puck into the net. They would rack up two more goals (one
being a shorthanded score) while the Red Liners floundered at sustaining any pressure into the offensive zone. They could not take advantage of 2 power plays.
The second period would start out just as tough for the boys in red as the Buffet Boys had a 4th unanswered goal after 5 minutes. However the Red Liners would take advantage of a power play half way through the period to get their first goal. T-Bone Tyler found a sprinting Big Pauly who carried the puck into the Buffet zone with a trailing Teddy. After a cross ice pass, Teddy easily fired the puck past the sprawled Buffet goalie. For most of the second period, Dr. Nick found inner calm as he easily deflected wrist shots, pounced on pucks in the slot, and confidently grab pucks in the air with his glove.
The third period was similar to the second period except for more penalties on both sides. Early in the period, Ty-man break out into the Buffet zone and tried to fire any shot at the net. In the scramble of the loose puck, B-Hole picked up the puck and dished it off to Toto who slipped it just inside the far post. Being only 2 goals down now, the Red Liners kicked it up a notch but just could not get the black biscuit past the Buffet goalie. To make matters worse, the Buffet Boys scored their 5th goal half way into the period. The 3 goal lead was just too much to overcome. This period was highlighted with several questionable penalty calls related to when whistles were blown to stop the play. Big Pauly was kicked out of the game as he voiced his frustration against one of the refs.
End game analysis found trouble with the Red Liner passing game. Their passes were getting picked off especially in their own defensive zone. Break out passes were going to no one. Finally, short passes resulted in the puck being behind the intended target. The Red Liners will have to wait for Saturdays results to see if they will be playing on the 16th against Jones Day Hockey or the 18th against the Screaming Zambonies. Either game will be a tough one. The CGHA hopes to go deeper into the playoff than previous years.