Not knowing their opponents, the Red Liners had a difficult time creating a strategy before the start of the game. It was made more difficult with the return of TyKy from the KHL. This was the first time playing hockey back in the States. The Screeching Monkeys is a name known to them but the guys in red hit a wall with a goalie with a hot glove hand. But it would take the OT shootout to decide the eventual winner.
The Liners got off quickly form the very start of the first period. They scrambled around the Monkeys’ net and fired shots toward the net. Unfortunately, many of them went wide of the net. Of the few that got through, the Monkeys goalie easily snagged them or had his defensemen tie up any Liner forwards. The Liners brought up their second backup goalie, Brenny, from the AHL to fill in for Bigfield who had to do Bachelor things. Brenny setup a solid wall against the Monkeys, but game the Liners a scare early on when he played the puck ABOVE the defensive face off circles. The Monkeys did manage to get a shot at the empty net which was blocked by Dana, who is an eligible bachelor and half inch taller because of his skates. The Monkeys would net the first goal off a break away to their speediest skater who ran NHL 2008’s classic skate wide, then cut across the slot, then backhand the puck into the upper net move.
The second period continued the Red Liners domination on puck possession and shots on goal. However the Monkeys goalie dominated the net. But the Liners would eventually crack him during a powerplay as Kaner Jr. rifled a wrister at the five hole. The puck was mostly stopped but dribble through and just past the goal line. Donna Miller was also there to ensure the puck went all the way into the net. The third period would remain scoreless for both sides even as the Liners again dominated puck possession. Pucks at the doorstop could not get past the goalie. Even during a one minute five on three session, many pucks went at the net but couldn’t get through. With a tie, the game would go on to the three man shootout. None of the three Liners would find the back of the net. Only the last shooter for the Monkeys deked Brenny slipped the puck just around him.
While it was an OT loss, the Liners still earned one point and were happy with their offensive pressure. They feel more goals could have been scored with a more “average” goalie. They also hope the other goalies in the C2 are not as strong as this one. Only time will tell. Upper management also feels TyKy will fit nicely into the current offensive structure after several more games under his belt. The smaller NHL sized rinks (instead of Olympic) should be an advantage for him. Their next game will be against the Chicago Stingers at 9:50pm on Monday, May 4th.