Late Sunday night games usually bring sluggish players, refs, and crowds. Tonight did not start out any differently. By the end of the game, the CGHA fans were cheering the Red Liners on a great win that pushed their winning streak to an astonishing 5-0.
With the drop of the puck on the opening face off, the shorter bench DVDA, which does not stand for DVD-audio (google it for yourself), seemed to match up evenly with the Red Liners. The guys and gal in red did spend more offensive time in the DVDA’s zone but their net minder easily turned away the few good shots on goal. On the opposite end, Bigfield had a smattering of close shots on net. The first fifteen minutes flew by for the players and the 6 spectators in the stands. As previously mentioned, it was a sluggish start for both sides.
The second period is where the action began to pick up with the first and game winning goal. Toto picked up a pass from one of the D leaders, Queen Steph. He skating through and across the neutral zone to the far side and fired it just wide of the post. The puck went behind the DVDA net and picked up by Jimmie. He telegraphed a pass to Easy E in the near face off circle who lasered a slap shot past the DVDA goalie. The Liners had to defend the first of two penalties which they did successfully.
For the rest of the period, their offense couldn’t find the back of the net even during their only power play of the game.
However, these skaters determined to get the all-important insurance goal. After shouting their trademark CGHA chant, they came out even stronger as more pucks and bodies crashed the DVDA’s net. Early in the period, Tyty just missed a goal as his wrist shot hit the far post. It would be a classic odd man rush that beat their net miner. Don Juan cleared the puck out of his defensive zone to a waiting Baby in the neutral zone. As Dr. Watson cut into the high slot alone, Baby skated by the near face-off circle and drew the lone DVDA defenseman and goalie. With great precision, Baby rifled the puck pass this defenseman and across the slot to a waiting Dr. Watson. He easily fired it into the upper part of the empty net. B-Hole did get called for a tripping penalty which the Liners again successfully killed. Bigfield would come up big again off a pointblank shot that saved his shutout. The Liners even stopped a 6-5 attack after the DVDA pulled their goalie in the last minute. The Liners almost scored a third goal off a Jimmie’s wrist shot to the empty net, but the puck just went wide.
Once again, the Liners came out with a strategy, adjusted it to the current situation, and eventually won the game. With the five game opening win streak, they beat the record for their best start of a season as well as longest winning streak. As for other C3 teams, the 5-0 start is the second best start. The current record is six wins. Their toughest challenged will be against the also undefeated Devils on Saturday, Oct 19 at 12:10pm (JIH East). This game could foreshadow the eventual winner of the C3 South division, and possibly the entire C3 Division.