With a full compliment on both sides, the Howard Red Liners played their first game against the Blacksheep who recently changed goaltenders. It started as a close affair but the Sheep’s goalie gradually succumbed to the peppering by the Liners. Similar to the effort by their sister Liners team last week, this Liners team would also score 7 goals in victory.
The first period scoring began quickly with the Blacksheep hitting the back of the net off a first minute scramble. But the guys and gal in regrouped and began to generate offensive reacts themselves. Point blank saves by Dr. Nick also kept the pressure off the Liners defense. With three minutes left today, a 3-on-1 rush at the Liners’ net ended with a loose puck in front of the net and a goal. But Tow would come to the rescue with 26seconds left to play off a breakaway. He froze the Sheep goalie and found the empty net just inside the near post to get the Liners closer.
The second period continued as a back and forth affair. Even with the game’s first power play, the Liners couldn’t tie it up. But they kept on charging. Andee’s slapshot from the point bounced a waiting B-hole in the slot who easy popped it through the goalie’s five hole. And the scoring continued a minute later as Toe went on his second breakaway and again froze the Sheep goalie. Toe easily slipped the puck just inside the far post. The rest of the period continued with the oscillating shooting. But the period would end with the Liners ahead, 3-2. It also ending with Suthy resting on the bench because of a muscle pull.
The scoring for the Liners rolled on with a cross slot, one timer by Chucky clanging the near post. Dirky joined the fray with a slapshot from the neat point. The scrambling continued with Toe getting a hat trick off a cross ice, near goal line pass that slipped just inside the five hole. With six minutes left to play, CSJ was called for roughing. The Sheep could not organize sustained offensive threat. Dirky took advantage by scoring a shorty. With a commanding lead, the Liners clamped down with their D and shut down any further Sheep scoring chances. This was further expedited by a running clock.
After their tough loss last week, the Howard Red Liners bounced back against the one of their perpetual pesky opponents, the Blacksheep, for their second win of the season. They used a variety of scoring attacks to confuse and overwhelm the Sheep. They hope to carry this winning momentum against Goose Island on April 23 at 11pm.