The last season for the Red Liners ended on a down note with a tough shoot-out loss in the C3 Championship game. But the team vowed to do better this season, and this game was the first step in that direction. After a slow start, the Liners finally dominated the Crowns for a 3-2 victory.
Things did not look good initially for the Liners after a turnover in the first shift resulted in the Crowns’ first goal. The guys in red seemed to need a few minutes to get the rust off. It would be Queen B-Hole who’d break the ice five minutes later. He popped in a rebound in front of the net after Watson’s shot on the Crown’s net. For the remaining 10 minutes, neither team seemed to be gaining the offensive advantage.
The second period was devoid of scoring or penalties. The Liners did turn up the the offensive pressure with multiple shots on goal. The rebounds off the Crowns’ goalie typically ended bouncing the air that was difficult to hit back at the net. But the scoring would resume again for the Liners with MK’s hitting the rebound off Easy E’s wrist shot. The puck slid on the ice and just inside the near post. Queen B-hole would get his second goal just three minutes later off. Tyty sprinted after a loose puck behind the Crown goalie but fell after losing an edge. While on the ice, he managed to backhand the puck toward the front of the net wear Toe shot it at the net. The rebound bounced to a waiting B-hole who easily popped it in the empty net.
Things became more interesting as the Crowns drew within a goal by scoring their second goal with five minutes left in the game. Tempers began to flare too as offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties were called with four minutes left to play (one on Easy E). Less than a minute later, Jimmie the Cheesehead got into a scuffle after being pushed by a Crown player (who apparently was upset that Jimmie gloved the puck). Both were ejected. With less than minute in the game, the Crown pulled their goalie. Mixy almost scored in the empty net but his slow hooking wrist shot hit the post and stopped just inside the goal line. The buzzer would sound seconds later.
The Liners’ first victory of the season was not one of their prettiest. Not playing for 2 weeks was definitely apparent in the way the lines initially played. But a few goals settled the team down and carried them to a victory. The Liners know they will have to tighten things up and calm things down over the season if they want to grab the championship. Their next game is against the Buffet Boys on Wed, April 23 at 7:10pm at JIH East.