The Red Liners returned from their New Years hangovers to continue their hockey seasons in the new year and hoped to wash off the tough loss of their last game. Their first opponent would be the Grip Pro Bullfrogs, a tough playing familiar foe with an almost .500 record. Hoping to not making the same mistake as the last game, they planned to come out strong offensively and spend more time in their opponents zone. In the end, strong back checking and goal scoring unexpected players easily pushed the Red Liners past the Bullfrogs, 8-4.
From the start of the first face-off, the game was fast paced on both sides with offensive rushes on both sides. The puck did spend more of its time in the Bullfrogs' zone. It would be Doc who would score the games first goal. He grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and passed it back to Davy at the blue line who shot it back at the net. The shot was blocked but Doc slammed the rebound right through the netminder's five hole. The Bullfrogs would come back with a goal of their own by firing a rebound into Liners' empty net. Only 25 seconds later, Big D would push the Liners back up one goal. The Druck passed the puck from the point to just wide of the far post to Mixy who fired a wrist shot. As Big D skated across the slot, he picked up the loose rebound and tossed it into the empty net on the near side of the Frog's net.
The team captain rallied the Liners to turn up the scoring even more and avoid another energy collapse as seen in the last game. This time, the guys and gal responded big time. First, it would be Jimmy the Great with two goals in quick succession. His first goal was a wrist shot off a rebounded puck from Baby's initial scoring attempt. But just seconds later, Jimmy the Great would go on a breakaway and fired a slapshot after cross the blue line that easily beat the Frog's goalie. The Bullfrogs did answer just 30 seconds later with their second goal of the game, but then Tyty turned on the magic wi
th two power play goals of his own. His first goal began with Queen Steph passing the puck across the ice to Baby would tried to get a wrist shot just inside the far post. The Bullfrog netminder initially blocked the shot but Tyty easily one timed the rebound into the net. His second power play goal came a few minutes later after a faceoff win from Teddy who dumped it behind him to a waiting Tyty who hit a slapshot also up and inside the far post of the Frogs' net. The final goal of the period would be incredibly another power play goal. This time Baby would be the scorer. Toto stick handled his way through the Bullfrog defense and dished the puck back to Davy who fired a slapshot at the Frog net. With the rebounded puck just lying to the side of the net, Baby roofed the puck past the Frog goalie. The Liners pushed their lead with this period's 5 goal explosion.
The third
period began with a running clock because of the 5 goal lead. But it would be the Bullfrogs who would do the scoring this time. They came within 3 goals with
3 minutes left to play and also stopped the running clock. But their offensive push came to late. With less than a minute in the period, they also pulled their goalie. This gave Toto an easy chance to an empty net goal which he did with 1 second left to play in the period.
The goal explosion seen in this game was a welcomed surprised for the Red Liners who are know to have trouble getting points on the board. Along with a solid defense and more targeted one-on-one coverage, the Liners continue to mature as a team as the players also continue to evolve. The 5 goal explosion in the second period was the second time for the Liners. The previous time was against the Devils in the May 2012. However, that 5 goal explosion also included an empty net goal. The Liners did score 6 goals in a crazy 10-8 win against Uncle Puck in March 2012. Their next game will be on Jan 22nd at 10:10pm against the 4-9 Theory who have also lost 5 out of their last 6 games.