After a disastrous last game that included 3 game expulsions, the Red Liners drew from their deep bench and shuffled the lines to meet up with the always tough Crowns AKA Blades of Steel. The game started out slow but quickly escalated in goals and physicality. It would take the final seconds and a reset game clock to seal the win for the Liners.
An early in the first period, a tripping penalty by the Crowns was a sign of things to come. The Liners were unable to take advantage of the power play. It would take a second power play for the guys in red to score the first goal of the game. Easy E in the near corner passed the puck back and forth between himself and Twank in the near point. Eventually, Twank fired a slapshot through the Crowns’ netminders’ five hole with Tyty and Toto screening.
The second period started with the remaining sevently seconds of a Crowns powerplay. They were able to crash the Liners’ net and stuff the puck under Bigfield’s pads to tie the game. Minutes later, the Liners would have a third powerplay attempt but were unable to convert. Soon afterwards, Dr. Watson started an odd man rush with a quick breakout pass to Big Jimmie would skated deep into the zone. His shot at the Crowns’ net rebounded to a waiting Mixy it easily popped it into the upper net. But the stubborn Crowns would tie the score again just three minutes later after slipping past the Liners D and rushed solo at Bigfield. The back and forth scoring continued with a rapid breakout from Twank who saucered the puck through the slot to a waiting Baby would easily shot it just inside the far post. The Liners would take the lead for good a mean thirty seconds later with the point-getters changing positions. Baby dropped a pass back to Twank at the far point who lobbed a wristshot at the Crowns’ net and right past their goalie. Easy E had a glorious breakaway but couldn’t get his wristshot past the Crowns’ netminder. Dr. Watson had several one time chances but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Frustration and physicality on both teams took hold in the third period. Early in the period, Paulie and soon The Cabeza were serving minor penalties. This left the Liners trying to stop a 5-3 powerplay. With smart play by Twank, Sobo, The Druck, and the Spout, they successfully killed the two penalties. Big Jimmie drew a penalty during the kill which could have cut the Crowns’ man advantage to one (4 on 3), but he also got called for roughing. As time was winding time, the pushing amongst players increased. The Cabeza and Easy E were elbowed in the head repeatedly as they fought to control loose pucks. No penalty calls were made. The heavy action apparently affected the game clock as it froze at 7:34. Play continued with the elapsed time being estimated by the scorekeeper. The high point grabbing Twank also got called for roughing later in the period as he boarded a Crown player in the corner. In fact, Paulie tried to score a shorthanded goal on his own as he managed to cradle the puck while a Crown player grabbed his shoulder. He would eventually get pushed into the Crown net. In the end, the Liners D and Bigfield stepped up and killed the penalty. In the closing minute, MK drew a hooking penalty to ensure a man advantage for the rest of the game. The Crowns would get another roughing call with only thirty seconds left in the game. With the Liners now having a 2 man advantage, Dr. Watson would finally shine off a tic-tac-Toe play. Sobo in the near corner grabbed the loose puck and rifled it to Toto in the near circle who slid it across the slot to Watson who was waiting by the far post. He one timed it into the empty net with three seconds left in the game.
With the win, the Red Liners remain at first place in the the C3 South section. right behind them are the Devils who are three points behind but have two games in hand. Their next game will most likely be their toughest one yet. It will be against the Rusty Blades, the first place team of the C3 North section. These opponents have not lost a game yet (9-0-1) and are outscoring their opponents 2.1 goals to 1 (79 to 37). The Liners are only 1.8 goals to 1 (53 to 30). The Rusty Blades also do not take many penalties. The Red Liners will have to play more discipline hockey. Their philosophy of shorter shifts seems to work. But they must to a better job of getting pucks out of their zone (minimizing blind and soft passes) and backchecking. This matchup is on Sat, Dec. 21 at 1:30pm at JIH East.