Coming into this semi-final playoff, the Red Liners and Pirates were as close as it could be on the surface. Team records and GAA stats were almost identical. But beneath the surface, two distinct differences appeared would guide the outcome of the playoff game in favor of the Pirates: Red Liners’ offensive charges with the D holding back the frequent counterattacks vs. the Pirates’ solid D with occasional breakaways.
The Pirates used their top scorer to get on the scoreboard on the first shift. This rattled the Red Liners who were desperate to keep that shooter off the stats. Upper management tried to create plans to keep him covered. The second goal by the Pirates later in the period was off a laser wrist shot into the upper net. The Liners did manage to snag a powerplay but were unable to stuff the puck behind the Pirate goalie. They continued to swarm around the net but the Pirate goalie formed an affective wall.
The second period was a penalty filled affair that lead to changing line combinations as upper management tried to use preplanned penalty-killing and power-play lines that were different from the even strength lines. The single power play continued to their scoreless drought. The PK lines did successfully kill an almost 2 minute 5-3 at the end of the period to keep the score 2-0.
Upper management used power lines for the third period to increase the scoring and put more physical pressure on the Pirates. The eventual game winning goal came off a breakaway from a Pirate who skated pass both defensemen and shot the puck through the five hole. But the Red Liners didn’t give up. The continues to swarm the net with Jimmie eventually popping in a loose rebound with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. He eventually drew a questionable tripping call with less than two minutes left and having an empty net. Twank took advantage of a lax Pirate defense and beat the Pirate goalie with seconds left in the game. However, the guys in red could not get that last miracle goal within the remaining fifteen seconds. The season was over.
A fairly successful season ended one game too short for the Red Liners. Upper management will take the offseason to further refine their lines and strategies. They will see if the “crash the net” or the “shadow & block opponents” is the better fit for the team. The next season will start in October 2014.