Week of April 8 (Game 1) – It became official at 6:00 pm ET on April 8 as Sour Grapes punched their ticket into the playoffs by clinching that final playoff spot. Sour Grapes left no doubt, scoring early and often in the first period, pulling away with a convincing 6 – 3 win over Shark Attack. With the loss, Shark Attack became the 4th team in Over-30 history to miss the playoff in consecutive seasons.
With no room for error, Shark Attack needed a quick start and needed to score the first goal. In the first period, just the opposite happened as Big Mike Surette’s wrist shot from the point, set up by Dave Costa, beat the goalie low short side only two minutes in. Halfway through the period, Shark Attack’s Jim Barber (yes Jim Barber) scored as he was set up by the hustle of Mark Stickney and Ron Aquino. However, in a scoring burst of thirty seconds, Sour Grapes took control of this game as a minute and a half later, Gary Goodwin (yes Gary Goodwin) scored out front on the rebound of a Rick Cassano shot set up by Dave. Only thirty seconds later, Rick scored from the right circle, set up by Gary and Dave.
Only a minute into the second period, Sour Grapes left no doubt they would clinch today as Sergio Costa was set up by Angelo Deluca on the wing, who buried his scoring chance, giving his team a commanding three goal lead. With just over a minute to play in the period, Mark was set up by Niko Vramis out front, scoring to keep Shark Attack’s playoff hopes alive.
In a back and forth third period, Shark Attack was pressing for a goal making this a one goal game when a defensive turnover put the ball right on Dave’s stick on the right wing, who didn’t miss with four minutes to play. With under two minutes to play, too little too late, Cooch was set up by Niko in the slot and scored. However, still needing to score three goals in regulation, Shark Attack lost the ensuing faceoff and Rick scored his second goal of the game, sealing the win for Sour Grapes. The demise of Shark Attack’s Captain Quint became official!
Week of April 8 (Game 2) – With first place in the standings on the line, both Yellow Submarine and 11 Guys, 1 Ball played a very slow-paced conservative game, as both teams were missing some key players. There is an old saying that the Great Ones have a habit of reminding everyone why they are great! Yellow Submarine’s Great One scored a late third period goal to edge 11 Guys, 1 Ball by the final score of 3 – 2. With a game in hand and now sitting in first place, Yellow Submarine is positioned to finish as the top seed in the playoffs.
As previously mentioned, the first period was played in a very conservative pace as Yellow Submarine sat back clogging up the middle of the rink. 11 Guys, 1 Ball tried upping up the running fore check, but, were unable to get through the layers of defensive players.
In the second period, Yellow Submarine struck first as Brien Kehoe found his running legs, using them to his advantage to score off the rebound on some quick passing between Matty Iannello and Ray Nickerson two minutes into the period. Pressing for the equalizer, 11 Guys, 1 Ball tied this game up and Ray Dow was set up at the point by Dominic Defrancisco and Carlos Machado at the four minute mark. As the period was winding down, Matty scored the go ahead momentum swinging goal with a minute to play, as he converted off the passing of John Carey and Bob Snyder.
Needing a momentum swinging play, 11 Guys, 1 Ball got it two minutes into the third period as defenseman Alex Leone made a heads up play (looking like the former Darcels East Boston tournament player) by jumping into the offense setting up in front of the net in the dirty area. The move paid off as Alex converted a pass from Shawn Wyatt from the left wing, tying the game while paying the price. As the game was winding down and heading to overtime, the Great One stepped up and struck with just over a minute to play as Matty took a pass from Ray, then cut across the slot, to bury his chance and score the game winning goal. Great One’s always remind others why they are great!
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