Week of January 24 (Game 1) – Everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before That’s a Plus would end their long losing streak; the question was when this would happen? The answer was last week as That’s a Plus received focused, thirty minute efforts from all three aspects of their team, the offense, defense and the goalie, as they broke open a tie game in the third period on the breakout offensive performance of Tony Medeiros, to win going away from Who Needs Superstars by the score of 5 – 2.
This game did not start out in favor of That’s a Plus as Who Needs Superstars carried most of the play in the first period with their fore checking game working as they continuously pressured the defense and prevented any clean break outs by That’s a Plus. This effort paid off late in the period as Sergio Costa snapped home a wrist shot from the high slot off a pass from George Medeiros.
In the second period, Tony “the Portuguese Power” Medeiros awoke from his early season scoring slumber by scoring the next two goals and shift the momentum over to his team. Four minutes into the period, Tony took a breakout pass on the right wing from the defense and used his speed to get by the defense to score. With a minute to play in the period, Tony struck again, this time out front converting a rebound of a point shot from Naz.
In the third period, a minute and a half in, John Mastrocola took advantage of a turnover off some creative passing by Ray Dow and Mike Surette, to swing the momentum back to Who Needs Superstars, tying this game. However, less than a minute later, Tony Medeiros made sure that his team grabbed the lead back, scoring a natural hat trick by converting a goal to the short side off the hustle cycling of Dominic Defrancisco and John Leite. Late in the period, in a span of thirty-five seconds, Dominic hustled his way in scoring two goals, as he was set up by John Leite.
Week of January 24 (Game 2) – Meeting for the first time since their semi-final playoff game during the winter 2014 season that resulted in a runaway victory for Legends Last Stand, FOURget About-it was out to prove that this game would be different. For most of this game it was, however, in the end, Legends Last Stand came back to pull out a very close 4 – 3 win.
In the first period, Legends Last Stand opened the scoring early only a minute and a half in, to grab the lead on a goal by Ray Nickerson who was set up out front by the passing of Matty Iannello and John Colucciello.
In the second period, Tony Mastrocola scored halfway through the period, set up by Umberto Biancardi to tie this game up. A minute later, Derrick Power made his season debut count as he scored his first goal of the season out front by the passing of Mauro Colucciello and Matty giving Legends Last Stand the lead. Late in the period with just under two minutes to play, John “Dez” Desmond converted the rebound of a point shot from Brien Sullivan to once again tie this game back up for FOURget About-it.
Less than three minutes into the third period, Dez found himself the center of attention, being in the right place at the right time, as he put FOURget About-it back in front with his second goal of the game, set up by Mark Stickney. With just over five minutes to play in the game, Mauro Colucciello was set up on the right wing at the top of the circle by Gary Goodwin and Ray Nickerson to tie this game for Legends Last Stand. Not to be outdone, with just under four minutes to play, brother John Colucciello scored from the right point off the passing of Luigi Derenzes and Mauro to give Legends Last Stand the lead which would stand up for the victory, ad sole possession of first place in the standings.
