Before the start of the game, the hype was palpable. The two teams could hardly be more similar. Both were 9-1-1-0. Goals for were 60 to 59 (Red Liners to Fireballs). Goals against were 27 to 29. PIM were the same at 44. Last 5 games were 5-0-0-0 vs. 4-0-1-0. With those stats, a stalemate was expected. The Fireballs’ goalie had a 2.8 goals against average and gave up more than 4 goals once in 11 games. But an early scoring breakout by the Red Liners and the loss of two of the Fireballs’ top scorers had the Liners pulling out the unexpectedly easy win.
The speed and offensive pressure that would be on display all game appeared right from the first face off. The Druck would get the first goal after only 2 minutes off Dr. Watson’s back pass to him. The remaining offensive lines and defense at times kept up the pressure one of the elite C3 goalies. The scoring chances by the Fireballs were few and far between. The were typically blocked by the three defensive pairs. Toto would cap the scoring in the first period by finding the empty net on the near side off a cross-slot pass from Jimmie.
The second period had no let up for the Fireballs. The Liners were still on a powerplay from a late first period penalty. Off the first face off, Baby barreled his way straight at the goalie but couldn’t corral the puck enough to find the back of the net. The Liners got another penalty that awarded them 80 seconds of a 5-on-3 powerplay. But they could not capitalize on it. However, the shots kept on coming. But the goal of the game was the only one scored in this period. Toto picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone and passed it to Jimmie. Crossing into the Fireball zone, he timed a perfect cross slot pass from the point to the opposite post where Dr. Watson popped a one-time backhand shot into the upper net that wowed both benches and the fans.
The third period scoring was ignited by the third line. MK backhanded a loose puck from the near corner, behind the Fireball net, and to Mixy. He rifled it across the slot where a waiting Pauley popped it into the near side empty net. The Fireballs would score their only goal of the game about half way through the third period. But the Liners would respond in time in the closing minutes with their fifth and final goal as Dirky’s slapshot from the blue line was deflected by one of the opponents and into the Fireball net.
With the convincing win over a top C3 South team, the Red Liners remain in second place with the Pirates at the top C3 North position. Both teams have the same record (10-1-1-) but the Pirates beat the Red Lines 3-1. With Uncle Puck (10-2-0-0), these are the elite C3 North teams as the remaining 7 teams only have 0.500 records or worse. The C3 South has two elite teams, the Fireballs and Devils (11-1-0-0). Fans, players, and management alike are waiting to see how the playoffs will settle out this year with just a core of exceptional teams. Next game is Saturday, July 12 at 1:50pm JIH East against the Rats.