In a game that was possibly a preview for a championship matchup in April 2014, it definitely did not disappoint. An almost full-benched, second place Red Liners faced off with the full-benched, first placed Rusty Blades in a game full of action, penalties, and oddities. But the Rusty Blades were the team to grind out the 4-3 win.
The first period started out with a spark as the Red Liners scored the quickest goal of the season, a mere twelve seconds in. Baby speared his way deep into the Blades’ zone and eventually passed it to Easy E who spied Mixy in top of the slot. He saucered the puck to Mixy who wrist shot it through the five-hole of the Blades’ netminder. The early goal, no doubt, shocked the Rusty Blades who quickly turned up the offensive attacks. Their aggressiveness earned them a penalty just a minute later which the Liners were unable to capitalize. Half way through the period, both teams would get a minor penalty but could not score on them. These early penalties were a sign of more physicality and penalties to come. A four man defensive core with Bigfield in net held the odd-man rushes by the Blades at bay.
The second period included six penalties, three on both sides. After a minute in this period, Davey would get called for hooking. However, the Blades would get called for tripping about a minute later. This had the teams at 4-on-4. Unfortunately, the Druck got called for hooking 19 seconds later which had the Liners down a man, 4-on-3. The D held back the Blades for 30 seconds until Davey’s penalty was over. But in the more open 4-on-4, the Blades got speed at the Liners’ D and fired a close-up wrister into the net. Both teams continued to go back and forth through the middle of the second period. After having one ref call these multiple penalty and overturn his own good-goal call (Baby who was in front of the net saw the Liners’ shot hit the back pipe and come back out.), worried rumbles could heard about potential inconsistencies on calls. The Liners continued with aggressive physicality that resulted in offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The boys in red did get one last power play second later but could not capitalize.
If the fans in the stands thought the second period was odd, the third period was even more so. Things got started by the Blades with their second goal after two minutes of play. But they would also get called for hooking at the 5:40 mark. Team captains decided to use more of there D for this power play. Twank, playing right D, grabbed the loose puck at the near boards and skated quickly behind the Blades’ net. He passed it to a Sobo at the top of the far circle who hit a slapshot in the net. Grabbing this momentum, the Liners crashed the net for the next shift. Baby battled for the loose puck in the far corner. He passed it to MK just behind the Blades net who quickly backhanded it Pauley skating across and toward the slot. He easily backhanded it past the Blades’ goalie. With half a period left in the game, the Rusty Blades were in a unique situation: having to make a comeback with half a period left in the game. And the refs penalty calling would make it either stranger.
Sobo’s holding penalty at a minute later was killed successfully by the Red Liners. With only 4 1/2 minutes left to play, the Liners drew a double-minor penalty followed by another minor penalty 30 seconds later. With the superior 5-on-3, up one goal, and essentially on the power play for the rest of the game, things were looking good. They did create good offensive pressure on the Blades. Unfortunately, Toto got called for crosschecking when trying to get control of the puck. This is where the Red Liners would let the game get away from them. With the matchup at a 4-on-3, the Blades used the open ice to attack again. On one Blades’ breakaway, Jimmie backchecked, tripped, and flipped over a Blades’ player. While not intentional, he was still called for tripping and brought the teams onto a 3-on-3. With even more open ice, the Blades use their speed to their advantage. Fifteen seconds later, the Blades tied up the game, 3-3. The previously mentioned ref had one last mistake to make. With about two minutes left in game, the Liners regained control of the puck and quickly tried to attack the Blades. But the ref blew the whistle during that rush as he thought the Blades’ had too many men on the ice (did not realize that their penalty had expired). With the loss of offensive momentum by the Liners, the Blades attacked again. Their quick skating left the Liners’ D out of position and allowed them to poke the puck into the empty far side of the net. The Liners tried one more desperate attack by pulling their goalie with 15 seconds left to play but to no avail.
Liner players were obviously disappointed with giving up the win in the last half of the third period. They had difficulty organizing forwards for the long stretches of being down one or two players. But the Liners seemed to find a successful strategy against the toughest team in the division: play physical (which drew penalties), skate offensively and quickly (catch the Blades’ defense off guard), and don’t give the Blades a chance to pick up speed (clog up the middle). In the end, those two minutes of open ice (being 3-on-3 and 4-on-3) swung the advantage to the speedier Blades’ offensive over the the Liners’ defense. While saddened, the Red Liners also remarked on it being an exciting and fun game. They eagerly await a rematch, possibly in the C3 division championship game.