Week of March 4 (Game 1) – Sometimes in the Over-30 league there are games played where a tie is good as it benefits both teams. Such was the case this week as Sour Grapes and Shark Attack played to a 2 – 2 tie. The valuable point for both teams enabled Shark Attack to stay in the playoff chase, while Sour Grapes moved closer to make a jump in the standings.
Needing to play some desperate and smart hockey, Shark Attack made some pre-game adjustments to their offense which paid off only three minutes into the first period as Joe Carlton took a lead pass from Mike Luise down the left wing, whose bomb of a slap shot beat the goalie far side for the early lead. Two minutes later, Sour Grapes countered with some cycling play by their first line resulting in Gary Goodwin (yes Virginia, Stonehands actually scored a goal) stuffing in a rebound in close, set up by Otak Deluca and Dave Costa.
In the second period, halfway through the period, Niko Vramis was sent down the left wing on a pass from John Colucciello, whose quick release surprised the goalie, giving Shark Attack the lead once again. However, only two minutes later, in a recurring pattern of how Shark Attack’s season has played out with bad bounces resulting in goals, Otak gathered in the rebound of a Dave Costa shot, went behind the net for a wrap around and his stuff shot somehow found an opening underneath the laid out goalie, tying up this game.
In the third period and overtime, Sour Grapes carried the play but could not manage to take advantage, resulting in the game ending in a tie.
Week of March 4 (Game 2) – Needing something to build on after going 1 – 3 in their last four games, 11 Guys, 1 Ball needed a quick start to counter Yellow Submarine’s victory roll in winning five of their first six games played. What resulted was the nightmare scenario that 11 Guys, 1 Ball feared, as Yellow Submarine struck quick and fast early in the first period and held on for a 4 – 3 victory.
In a two minute sequence early in the first period, Yellow Submarine struck in quick succession, scoring three times to seize control of this game. Walter Maslak got things started for his team just over two minutes in with an unassisted goal. Thirty seconds later, it was Matty I increasing the lead to two when he was set up by Ray Nickerson and Tony Bono. Fifty seconds later saw Brian Kehoe provide his team with a comfortable cushion as he benefitted from the passing of Walter. 11 Guys, 1 Ball had no choice but to call a time out to halt this scoring blitzkrieg and settle things down. The move paid off just over three minutes later as Mike Delorey (yes Virginia that Mike Delorey) joined the offense on the wing and buried the rebound of a Brien Sullivan shot after he was set up by Dominic Defrancisco.
However, Matty I put an end to any thoughts of a momentum swing in favor of 11 Guys, 1 Ball, three minutes into the second period, by converting some quick passing between Ray and Umberto Biancardi, once again building up a three goal lead and remain comfortably ahead.
Facing a big deficit and knowing that their two dynamic offensive players (the Portuguese Power duo) had been completely shut down at this point of the game by the stifling defense of Yellow Submarine, 11 Guys, 1 Ball needed to make something happen to get back into this game. That never gives up attitude paid off with four minutes to play as Shawn Wyatt took a breakout pass by his defensemen Brien and Alex Leone, broke down the left wing, cut across the crease and somehow slipped an off-speed shot past the goalie in close. With just over a minute to play, Tony Medeiros took a pass on the right wing and his bomb of a slap shot found the top far corner making this a one goal game. However, the team defense of Yellow Submarine stepped up keeping everything on the perimeter and smartly dumping the ball out of their zone making 11 Guys, 1 Ball chase and re-start from deep in their defensive zone.
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