The NHL, their minor league affiliates, and developmental leagues do have reorganization on their minds constantly. But the changes are sometimes decided upon earlier than expected from an outsider’s perspective. Movement from this upper brass has trickled down to the CGHA Red Liners. Their flagship team was moved up from the lowest level, C3 division, to the C2 division even before the playoffs began in the prior season. Even though they lost in the semi-finals, their superior league record earned them the right to play in at a higher level. With that, they faced their first opponents, the Feeny Flyers. This last season’s C2 division finalist would be a a frying-pan-into-the-fire test for the boys in red. But the Liners would eek out a tough fought win in the end.
The original 14 player lineup shrunk to 11 because of a medical emergency, a cooking disaster, and an impromptu American Idol audition. Even in warm-ups, the Liners could easily tell the skill level would be higher than they previously experienced. Both sides got off quickly as neither team could gain an offensive advantage. Both sides charged quickly through the neutral zone trying to score. The Flyers would score first halfway through the period on a shot from the point through traffic. But the Liners quickly responded a minute later after Bleecher’s point shot off MK’s behind-the-net poke bounced to the Junior Kaner who popped it past the Flyer netminder.
The second period continued this back and forth affair. The Flyers would regain the lead off a laser slapshot from the far point minutes before the end of the third period. Once again, the Liners would answer with their own goal less than a minute later. During the only powerplay of the game, Vicki Slimms, camped out in front of the net, wristed in a loose rebound in the slot to tie up the game.
Neither team seemed to be able to hold the momentum. That changed in the third period. Both teams with their somewhat short benches began to show fatigue as the skating slowed down and passes were a more erratic. But Baby still had wheels. Halfway through this final period, he barreled through the neutral zone and slip through the Flyer defense (resulting in one defenseman going down), and backhanding it past the sprawled netminder. Junior Kaner would get the eventual game winner with a blistering wrister from Bigfield wrap around clearing pass and Teeth Lilek’s breakout pass. The Flyers seemed to have ample tie for a come back as the rink clock was acting frenetically. It would randomly stop and take seconds to restart. Confusion reigned from both teams and the refs as to the true amount of remaining time. IN the end, the Flyers did come within 1 goal with a late period score but could not get the tying goal even after pulling their goalie.
So how did the Liners do against this inaugural match-up? Pretty good. This past season finalist had their star goalie (1.95 GAA) and 7 of their top 10 scores (including their top 4 scorers). With this smaller but strong bench was beaten by the guys in Red. Hopefully, this will bode well for the Red Liners to be competitive in their new division. Their next game is against the Screeching Monkeys, at Wed, April 29th at 8:30pm JIH East.