The Chicago Chiefs AKA Snatchers decided that changing their name (and adding a few more players) would improve their play. And it did as evident by their 7-2 record coming into this game. So, the Red Liners brought out their full team for this rematch. And with a more balanced approach to the game, it would be the Liners who would be on top at the buzzer.
At the start of the first period, pressure was highest on Stengy as Stengy’s mom was watching from the stands. And he did not disappoint as he scored on his first shot on net, minutes into the period. His slapshot from the point bounced its way just past the Chiefs’ goalie. The bigger bodied Chiefs, noticing the Liners were more nimble, turned up the physicality per standard Chief operating procedures. The Liners would go on a powerplay late in the period but would fail to capitalize it.
The second period started out with the Liners continuing the offensive pressure. They did a better job controlling the flow up the puck. The guys in red would go up two goals after Jezza London slammed in the rebound off MK’s slapshot from the top of the circle. But the Chiefs quickly returned the favor on their own powerplay. They fired multiple shots on net and eventually popped one past Rocket, the Liners’ goaltender. The pushing and shoving continued to grow and peaked with Maroony tussling with one of the Chiefs’ forwards and eventually throwing him to the ice. The period would end with the LIners still on the penalty kill.
The Liners killed the remaining Chief’s powerplay at the start of the third period. But the Chiefs continued to come at the Liners. They would pull within one after one of their forwards wristed the puck through the netminder’s five hole. The Liners’ opponents smelled blood and really turned up the offensive pressure. But the guys responded with offensive threats of their own. Ty would knock in his second goal of the season (also the eventual game winner) off a one timer from Toe near at the near circle. Smashin’ Cashin would off more insurance goals on a speedy breakaway and beating the Chief’s goalie with a wicked wrister. The Chiefs would find the back of the net one last time after a scramble in the slot and pull within one goal. Javi would get the insurance goal. Tobe’s picked up MK’s wraparound clearing pass, deked the Chiefs, and fed a perfect cross ice pass a waiting Javi by the far post. With a less than two minutes left to play, the Chief did pull their goalie. Toe did have one final change to shoot on the empty net but was stymied by the Chief’s ginormous defenseman. The final buzzer would shortly sound off.
The win improves the Red Liners record to 4-6 and in 5th place for the playoffs. They face the undefeated Jokerit on Sunday, 9pm.