With some of their players back from their Olympic Playoffs, the 95th went right back to righting their ship after a loss at their first game. A pumped up twelve players charged out of the ice against the shorter seven player Blacksheep. The scoring started early and fast in the first period. Twank let it off with a high wrist shot goal within the first 20 seconds. By the time the first period was over, the Red Liners would have notched 6 goals. Sam I am popped a goal from the near post while MK wristed a knucklepuck that just got inside the near post. Twank popped in a loose puck in the five hole as well as another wrist shot. The Sheep began their scoring by popping in a loose puck during a scramble in front of the net. Reinforcements (in the form of one Sobo) came out before the end of the first period. He scored quickly with a blistering one-timer from the upper slot to bring the Sheep within 4 goals.
Their scoring continued into the second period with two more goals off blue line turnovers or quick breakouts past the unsuspected Liners D. The Liners was able to come up with one goal of their own off a pinballing puck in front of the the Sheep’s net. A second reinforcement arrived for the Sheep before the end of the second period. They were now only 3 goals behind.
The third period was all Blacksheep. With these reinforcements the pressure and shots on the Dr. Funk, the Liners’ netminder, increased dramatically. They would score two more goals to pull within one goal with minutes left to play. With 14 seconds left, the Sheep pulled their goalie and went with 6 on 4 that included their reinforcements. It would be this second reinforcement that schooled the Liners and skated unhindered and scored the tying goal. A shootout was discussed and was decided to played. Sam I Am and Rocket both skated but could not score. The Sheep were able to score on their two chances.
The swing in the momentum in the game was no doubt brought on my additional players added during the game. with that in mind, the shootout was played in protest as the 95th felt playing these reinforcements should constitute a forfeit by the Blacksheep. This was agreed before the shootout but the 95th will await the final results from the official score sheet to see if that is the case. Their next game is again at 9:15pm on April 13 against Top Shelf.