Week of November 2 (Game 1) – Once again, Drama Queens was missing half their team, including two thirds of their first line and two defensemen but somehow pulled off a blue collar win over Snow White by a score of 2 – 1, as fill in goalie Sean Roach repeatedly stymied and frustrated the offense of Snow White who carried the play for most of this game and held the advantage in zone time.
In the first period in a back and forth period, Snow White carried the play with some quality scoring chances but couldn’t solve goalie Sean Roach. With just under three minutes to play in the period, fill-in new player Larry Buttner was perfectly positioned out front to score the game’s first goal unassisted, giving Drama Queens the unexpected lead.
Snow White kept applying pressure during the second period and offensive flurries in close but still couldn’t score. That is until Jason Carrien jumped into the offense and made a difference, as he was set up by the passing of Chris Ducharme and Nick Romano with two and a half minutes to play in the period.
In the third period, for some extended amount of time, Snow White controlled the ball down low but multiple times when they generated a scoring chance, there was a player from Drama Queens getting in the way either blocking or deflecting the scoring chance. The game looked like it was heading to overtime until Tony Bono worked the ball down deep in the right corner, finding Jamie Kehoe who drifted in from the point down the center who’s shot from about thirty feet out was turned aside by the goalie, only to see Tim Hickey be in the right place at the right time gather in the rebound to the right of the net and calmly scored off the rebound, giving his team the game winning goal.
For Snow White, this loss could come back to haunt them as they clearly outplayed and out chanced their opponent but ran into a hot goalie. For Drama Queens, the win could provide a significant confidence boost as they won without three of their top players out of the lineup and continue to play this season without a full team.
Week of November 2 (Game 2) – Heading into this game, Olive Pits had only lost one game in regulation, while putting up the lowest amount of goals against, thanks to the play of their stingy defense. However, that all changed as Jake-O-Lanterns had their biggest offensive output to date while playing some solid team defense, as they defeated Olive Pits by a 7 – 4 score.
The game started out in Olive Pits favor and looked like it could turn into a runaway as they scored two goals within six seconds halfway through the first period. Mauro Colucciello converted off the cycling passing of Pat Pirone and Rick Cassano at six minutes six seconds. This was followed right off the ensuing faceoff six seconds later as Rick scored off the passing of Mauro and Pat. Not panicking, just over thirty seconds later Jake-O-Lanterns got on the board as Nick Doherty used his speed to get open set up by a brilliant no look between the legs pass from Carlos Machado. Twenty-four seconds thereafter, Nick scored again, set up by Cappy and Steve Medeiros. With time running out in the first period, Cappy unleashed a bomb from the left point with five seconds left.
Jake-O-Lanterns continued their onslaught and momentum in the second period with two more goals to take a commanding lead. Five minutes in saw Sergio convert out front off the passing of Matty Iannello and Nick. Less than a minute later, Carlos intercepted a defensive turnover off the fore checking of Sergio and Nick. With just over a minute to play in the period, Dave Costa made a brilliant individual rush and turned Naz into a pylon in the process.
In the third period, the scoring happened late. With three minutes to play, Mauro scored, set up by Rick and Alex Leone. However any momentum quickly disappeared with just over a minute to play as Sergio scored a power play goal set up by George Medeiros and Nick, which was followed by Nick scoring set up by Steve with less than thirty seconds to play.
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