The Red Liners hoped to extend their winning streak to 3 games which they have not done since April 2011. Teammates had heavy hearts as their top goaltender was placed on the injured reserve list secondary to a virus while CGHA president Sobo was
absent because of other personal obligations. Backup goalie Bigfield was placed between the
pipes. The Zambonies typically play tough against the Red Liners. Tonight was no different. It took a full team effort to topple the Zambonies.
Things looked grim for the Red Liners as the Zambonies lit up the scoreboard first with almost-laser-accurate slapshot into the far upper corner of the Red Liners net after 3:22. But the guys and gal in red took a deep breath and came back charging even harder. Doc picked up a dumped puck from just beyond the Zambonies’ net and chipped it to The Castle, waiting near the back corner of the goal. He passed it to an open Don Juan in the slot who easily one-timed it into the back of the net. Not satisfied, the Red Liners lit up the scoreboard after just 30 seconds. In the offensive zone, Knuckles O’Rourke fired a pass to a speeding Baby who skate behind the Zambonies’ net and shuttle a pass across the slot to a waiting Mixy at the backdoor. He easily one-timed it behind the Zambonies’ netminder. Building off the momentum, Toto would dish off a quick pass to a breaking Baby just 4 minutes later who fired a wrist shot from the far circle and into the net. In the closing 2 minutes, Toto would take advantage of the shocked Zambonies as it stole the puck on a Zamboni breakout pass and scored off his patented skate-wide-skate-across-the-slot-shoot-just-inside-the-post move. This had to be one of the most offensively explosive periods in CGHA history.
The second period would be a much quieter affair. As both teams began to feel the effects of the fast paced game, more mistakes and missed chances were being made on both sides. The Zambonies would score their second goal during a power play. Bigfield made a great first save of a rocket slapshot from the slot. Unfortunately, the rebound dribble near a waiting Zamboni player who shot it in the upper part of the net. Baby would notch his second goal during a Red Liners powerplay off another cross-slot pass from Toto. B-hole and Petey would try to score but the bouncing puck would not allow that.
Early in the third period, the Screaming Zambonies pulled within 2 goals again off a breakaway and slipping
the puck in the backdoor of the Red Liners’ net. But the Red Liners regained the 3 goal lead with another patented Toto move after receiving a pass from Baby. The Mean Queen with The Drucker, Bleech with Knuckes, and Davey with Big Head clamped down on the Zambonies as they started to loose steam. Even Ty would get into the act by flinging pucks to clear the zone.
Partisan analysis indicates this was one of the most complete and impressive team efforts by the Red Liners. They met the speed of the Screaming Zambonies head on and beat them to the puck. The Red Liners used their superior tic-tac-toe passing to get the Zambonies’ netminder out of position. They will now meet up with the 1-4 Black Sheep who also beat the Screaming Zambonies for their only win and hope to match the CGHA’s current winning streak record of 4 games.