Week of October 3 (Game 1) – With the playoffs on the line, and the final head to head match-up of the season taking place, it was fitting that Drama Queens and Jake-O-Lanterns would play each other this late in the season. In a winner take all game, it was Drama Queens breaking a close game open by scoring three unanswered goals in the second period in a span of one minute and thirty seconds, to defeat the Jake-O-Lanterns by a score of 4 – 2.
Needing a good start, both teams knew what was at stake by scoring the game’s first goal to set the pace. In a wide-open plenty of offense period that saw a combined 26 shots thrown on net by both teams, it was Jake-O-Lanterns who scored first. With just over a minute to play in the first period, George Medeiros crashed the net to score off the rebound of shots by Angelo Deluca and Matty Iannello. However, just under forty-five seconds later, Shawn Miville answered right back as he stayed with the ball while covered to somehow get off a knuckleball shot off the passing of Umberto Biancardi and Jamie Kehoe.
In the second period, Drama Queens took over this game breaking it wide open, all on long shot goals. Just over four minutes into the period saw Ray Dow throw an off-speed shot from the point for an unassisted goal. That was followed just under a minute late by Shawn taking passes from Umberto and Jamie and throw a wrist shot from the left wing boards just over the blue line top corner far side (a perfectly placed shot that still could have been stopped). Forty-three seconds later saw Don Maccini walk across the blue line and throw a shot on net that somehow went in. Three long shot goals in a minute and a half simply stunned Jake-O-Lanterns from which they never recovered. Angelo was set up out front by Matty and Naz with less than a minute to play in the period, but the psychological damage was done.
With the win, Drama Queens locked up the 4th playoff seed, while Jake-O-Lanterns, after an impressive two game start, never got on track this season with team chemistry thereafter and missed the playoffs for a second straight season.
Week of October 3 (Game 2) – Needing to earn their first win of the restart, Snow White was determined to play a full
30-minute game and force Shockwave into a winner take all game next week for first place. In a close playoff-like feel of a game, Snow White outlasted Shockwave by a score of 3 – 2 on a late goal.
Both teams were looking for an edge right away as the game started and it was Snow White’s Matt Farrell who provided it only fifty-six seconds into the game, as he took passes from Ray Nickerson and Jason Carrien to score the game’s first goal. On the ensuing faceoff only thirteen seconds later, Shockwave’s rookie Rich Pelletier answered right back scoring an unassisted goal, his fourth straight goal in only three games played this season.
The second period was a replay of the first as once again, only thirty-five seconds in, it was Matt scoring again, set up by Ray and Jason. In a back and forth defensive period, it was Rich again who was set up by Dominic Defrancisco and John Carey in the slot tying the game with forty-one seconds to play in the period.
The third period saw Snow White carry most of the play as both goalies Scott Rosato and Sean Roach were stopping everything throw at them. This game had all the look and feel of heading to overtime until Matt scored his third goal of the game, completing the hat trick with just under two minutes to play in the game, set up by goalie Scott Rosato. After missing games and only scoring 1-goal to this point, could Matt be heating up just in time for the playoffs?
Next week, last games of the season outcomes will determine which team finishes in 1st place earning the number 1 playoff seed, will Ray Nickerson hold on to his lead in the leading scorer’s race, which goalie will win the best goalie award. Tune in on Saturday, as it promises to be a very interesting two games and will Jason Carrien beat that pink shirt/stick bag challenge needing just one more goal?
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