Before the start of the game, the Red Liners were trying to retain their first place position in the C3 South division against the Nutty Squirrels and Devils. While the Grip Pro Bullfrogs were a midlevel team in the C3 North division, they were taken seriously. The main strategy was to keep shifts short and have full offensive attacks. The plan initially worked. But several missteps and lulls in offensive threats allowed the Frogs to get back into the game. It would be the Red Liners who fought to regain the lead and end up losing it after the shootout.
The guys and gal in red jumped at the Frogs at full force since the start of the first period. Dr. Watson would go on a solo break out after a drop pass by MK. He easily deked the Frog netminder for the first goal of the game. About thirty seconds later, Baby, Toto, and Jimmie cycled around the Frog net until rebounded shot found its way to Toto who easily popped it into the net. But the Frogs got back into the game in the closing minutes of the period. The goals were score on two odd man rushes within a 12 second spans. The only powerplay of the period was awarded to the Frogs who could not capitalize. The stunned Red Liners tried to regroup for the second period.
But neither team could establish any sustained offensive in the second period. Both sides could only muster up short lived offensive attacks. However, the Frogs did successfully crash the net in the latter minutes of this period to score the only goal of the period. Both teams had a powerplay but again neither team could score.
The Liners were now down 3-2 and desperately tried to increase their scoring changes but dumping pucks deeper into the offensive zone. They would notch the tying goal after MK snapped Dr. Watson’s deflected pass from the corner off the arm of the Frog’s goalie. They continued the pressure against the Frogs especially during the only powerplay of the period. Tyty was able to wrestle the puck in the near corner and dump it back to Bleech. He fired it toward the upper part of the net. Don Juan deflected into the net. With the lead, the Liners tried to keep the Frogs at bay. But these opponents would find the back of the Liners’ net just two minutes later. At the end of the buzzer, both teams were tied. The Frogs went first during the shootout and scored on their first and third attempts. The Liners could not score on their first two attempts.
Though the Liners did earn one point, this was a win that definitely got away. They jumped out in a two goal lead but allowed the Frogs to get back into the game and regain the lead. But the Liners had the determination to regain the lead only to lose it again. Upper management will continue to have the Liners work on backchecking harder (against opponents with quick breakouts that have resulted in odd man rushes) and simplifying the shooting (fewer blind passes, less “cute” plays, and more use of defensemen). Their next game is against the Theory (8-5-1-1) on Feb 4, 10:30pm at JIH East.