Two weeks ago, the Heartland Red Liners met up with one of the past season’s best teams, Jokerit, in their first match of the season. Unfortunately, the whole team seemed to be flat. There was minimal offensive pressure and threats against the opponents’ very talented goalie. The Liners D also seemed to have trouble chaperoning pucks out of their zone. Jokerit also seemed to strength their team this season but definitive lineups were not available. In the end, Jokerit would ring off 4 goals while the Liners would fail to find the back of the net.
Last sunday, these Red Liners charged at the Ice Hawks who also seemed to have improved the overall skill level of their team. Unfortunately it was a penalty filled game with newcomer, Bleech, being on the receiving end for many of the penalties which upset the flow of lines throughout the game. The first goal in the game went to the Liners off Evan’s mid-slot slammer of a rebound and into the five hole. But the Hawks would come roaring back with two unanswered goals to take the lead. The Liners would tie it up from a goal by Sneppy. He launched a snap shot over the Hawk’s goalie’s leg pad as Morty tied up the D man. Both sides duked it out in the third but it was the Hawks who would score the only and eventual game winning goal.
While the Heartland Red Liners remain 2-2-0, they have remained competitive in the games. The team is still trying to get comfortable with new players and line combinations. They hope to stay above .500 when they meet up with the Yeti’s on May 5th.