In the past 3 seasons, the Johnny’s Red Liners were easily beaten by the Rats (7-1, 8-1, and 6-2). Even with a late night game, these Red Liners were hoping to take their winning momentum through this tough rival. In the end, the game would be a tig
ht affair, but the Liners would fall one goal short.
Both teams were feeling each other out in the beginning of the first period. Both had explosive offensive jabs into enemy territory but the defenses were able to halt these charges and quickly create break outs in the other direction. It would be the Rats who would get on the scoreboard first. The Red Liners were on a power play but an errant clearing pass was deflected by a lone Rat. The puck would squeeze just behind the Liner’s goaltender and get accidentally knocked in. But the Liners would quickly come back with a goal of their own. Baby took skating with the puck behind the Rats’ net and threw the puck across the slot. A waiting B-Hole by the far post popped in the orphaned puck behind the Rat netminder.
The second period was all Rats off two lucky bouncing pucks. Their Rats’ second goal came after a great save from Dr. Nick as he came out of the net to stop a breakaway. But the Red Liners had trouble corralling the
puck. It would be an opponent who fired it into the empty net. The Rats’ third goal who again come of a pointblank save by Dr. Nick but a waiting Rat was able to fire the puck at the backdoor. Scuba Joe did have a few breakaways at the Rats’ net but the crowd of defensemen easily deflected the pucks. Pauly and Mixy had to deal with inconsistent ice during their breakaways that made puck handling difficult for them.
The third period would be mainly all Red Liners as they tried to make up the 2 goal deficit. The Druck and Three Wine Stefanski tried to get into the scoring by skating into the offensive zone. But it would be Baby who’d score the second goal for the Red Liners. Don Juan took control of the puck behind the Rats net while Baby waited in the slot. Don Juan passed it to Baby who one timed it just inside the far post. In the closing minutes, the Queen blocked a shot with her left forearm which took her out of the game. After pulling their goalie with about a minute left, the Red Liners tried to stuff a tying goal. Toto and Teddy could not thread a puck through the pile of players standing in
front of the Rats’ net.
Though it was the fourth loss to the Rats, the Red Liners made the score much closer than the previous 3 match-ups. There is no doubt that the Red Liners will still need to work on passing, breakouts, and defending against cherrypickers and the backdoor score. But the Red Liners can take solace in a better performance against their rivals. They await the Buffet Boys who remain in last place of the over C3 division.