In their third matchup in the new C2 division, the Johnny’s Red Liners were finally adjusting to the higher skilled opponents in this league. Each game seemed to be a repeat of their previous tough game. Their opponents, the Chicago Stingers, were coming off a two game winning streak and scoring 13 goals to their opponents’ four. Upper management was able to bring in a full complement of players for this matchup. After a slow start, the guys in red slowly and methodically kept attacking the Stingers until the tide began to turn. In the end, it would be the Liners who would eventually own the scoreboard and take the win.
In the first period, the Stingers got off to a quick start with scoring back to back goals within the first three minutes of the period that Borgy, the Liners’ goalie, admitted could have been played better. But the team regroup and clamped down on any further quality scoring chances by the Stingers.
The Liners came out charging hard in the second period. Coaches decided on having more shots on goal. At the starts, forwards were crashing and crowding the net as the puck was thrown multiple times at the net. But it would be Seef’s rainbow shot from the far circle, through traffic, and into the upper net that would start the come back rally. The Liners would tie it up early on a power play as Pauley popped in a rebound just past the sprawling Stinger goaltender. Unfortunately and seconds later, the Stingers would regain the lead after picking off an errant breakout pass and scoring on a breakaway.
The Stingers tried to hold on to their one goal lead through the third period. But the Red Liners could not get that tying goal past the hot Stingers goalie. Half way through the final period, Toe deflected Pauley’s wrister from the far circle and aiming it into the back of the net. The Liners then stunned the Stingers as they took the lead for the first time in the game a mere 18 seconds later off Kaner Jr’s unassisted wrister past the Stinger netminder. In the final minutes, the Stinger had an all out offensive thrust which was held by the Liners. After the Stinger goalie was pulled for the extra skater, Donna Miller just missed on an empty netter. Mixy englished his slow wrist shot at the empty net as everyone looked on. It hooked just enough to go into the net for the final score.
With the win, the Red Liners remain without a regulation loss. At 2-0-1, then are in second place in the C2 South division, and third overall out of 20 teams. Not bad for a new team from the C3 division. Their next meetup is a Mother’s Day Special on Sunday, May 10th at 7:20pm. It will be against another challenging team, Hawkauto.com, who are currently in first place in the C2 South with a GF-GA of 22-11. Scouts are having a difficult time gauging their skills as they have only plated against the bottom 4 teams so far and only average 7-8 skaters a game. It should be an interesting game.