With the first place playoff seed in the balance, the Johnny’s Red Liners put up an impressive fourteen skaters to bolster their chances against an presumably tough second seeded Hyannisport Presidents. Across town, the Screeching Monkeys had just won their last regular season game and was now in first place (ahead of the Red Liners because of tie breakers). Therefore, the captain’s message was loud and clear: Win to win the regular season race. In true Red Liners fashion, they started out slow but then charged at the Presidents in the second. Their four goal lead would end up being insurmountable and would eventually carry them to a 7-5 victory.
While lines were being finalized in the first period, the Hyanny Presies notched their first goal within the first two minutes as the took advantage of five rotating defensive skaters and a stumbling Sobo in borrowed skates, left his pair at Steamworks. The Hanson brothers woke up the rest of the team as they fired puck after puck at the President netminder. finally at the ninth minute, Kaner Jr rifled a wrister past the sprawled goalie. MK found the goalie’s five hole off a backhand from Toe’s pass to the crease. The Voice found the back of the net in the final minute of the period off a wrister from the slot that slipped just inside the far post.
The second period became a back-and-forth affair as both side would tally goals throughout the period. Kaner Jr. deke his way through the traffic and launch the puck into the upper recess of the net early in the period. The Presidents returned the favor minutes later. But The Voice returned the favor himself with an unassisted goal. Kaner Jr. earned his hattrick by somehow placing the puck into the tiny upper corner of the net. With the period over, the Liners held on to a cherished four goal lead.
The third period began with that cherished running clock. Unfortunately, the Liners would squander that advantage early in the period with a goal by the Presidents off a scramble in front of the net. Kaner Jr. regained the running clock after picking up a rebound from the D, Seefy and Sobo, that treated through traffic and just past the Presidents’ goalie. The D continued their attacks with Judge Jimmie, Double D, and Donna all contributing offensive pressure through shots and cycling that mesmerized the Presidents. Unfortunately, they would use rushes at the Liners to score back-to-back goals: one with the net off his pegs and a knuckleball shot just past Biggie’s glove. But the Liners held fast and able to clamp down on the Presidents and run the rest of the clock off.
With that win, the Red Liners official end their first C2 season at 16-2-0-1, the best record in the division. This is quite an accomplishment after having the best record in the C3 division last season though they lost in the semi-finals. The Liners await the winner of the ninth vs tenth seeds and play them on Aug 17th at 8:30pm at JIH East.