UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Kings by 1 goal
OVER/UNDER:	12.5 goals

A battle of the heavy-weights, and it should be a GREAT one. That is depending if both teams can field a full lineup. The Storm Kings are riding a 9 game winning streak, and are victorious in 11 of their last 12 games. Tuck is riding a 2 game winning streak and holding a 9-2-1 record in their past 12 games. Two heavily potent offenses, with two different types of attack. Tuck is high tempo, North to South type of team with the exception of a few players like Scotty Turco. The Kingers boast a Run & Gun offense and spreads out the ice, beating defenders with pristine passes.

The Kings like to play physical and aren't afraid to go to the box to prove a point, cut down a scoring chance or just for shits & giggles. Artie Stout & Tommy Scull provide strong blue line with a mean streak that tends to intimidate, while Dan French "Toast" is back in between the pipes for the Kingers, giving them leadership.

Ryan FItzgerald has been spectacular in his rookie season for Tuck and posting and eye popping 2.64 gaa. Granted that his team plays excellent defense and that he sees far fewer shots than the rest of the league's pipe protectors, but his GAA speaks for himself. Tuck will also need some offense to keep up with the devastating scoring of the Kingers. Scotty Turco will need to be on top of his game and willing to take the puck to the net. Petey Hanbury & Burkhart will need to be quick to let the shots fly on Frenchy.

This should be a great one, and I'd put my money on the Kingers pulling out a big win.

7-6 Kingers.

Fitzgerald makes 29 saves in 3-1 win over Storm Kings.

In a marquee matchup of the UVHL 2007-2008 campaign, the top two teams Tuck(10-3-1) hosted the Storm Kings(11-2-1). The Storm Kings came into tonights game boasting an amazing 9 game winning streak, while Tuck was riding just a 2 gamer after an ugly 7-2 hiccup to the Maple Leafs. The Tuckies were missing 5 rostered players, giving them a short bench with only 43 players tonight, while the Kingers were only missing one player, Robbie Barker, who also happens to be the league leader in points(38) and second in goals(19). This promised to be a very interesting game as both teams sport explosive offenses, while maintaining great defensive zone coverage & very good goaltending.

The game started off with the ice tilting towards Tuck's end as the Kingers mounted the first 4 shots of the period, and holding Tuck without a shot for over 6 minutes. The ice seemed to be teeter-tottering as Tuck managed to register the next 4 shots without anything to show for it. Tuck finally broke through with 1:18 in the period and Dean "The Dream" Cashman in the box for interference. Tuck took the powerplay into the Kinger's zone and didn't give up possession for a minute and a half when Scotty "The Turkish Twist" Turco fed Ryan "Blisters" Burkhart at the point for a BLAST of a one timer right along the ice and inside the near post on Dan French "Toast."

END OF THE FIRST: Tuck 1, Storm Kings 0
SHOTS: Tuck 7, Storm Kings 8

The 2nd period started off pretty slow, without much action in either team's defensive zone, until the Kinger's Dan French was called upon to make a HUGE two pad stack save on Lindeman who was in all alone. Scotty Turco rang the crossbar on an open net at 8:05 off of a huge rebound into the high slot. I alo noticed that Turco was perfecting the art of both cherry picking and not ignoring the defensive zone throughout the 2nd period. The defensive hero of the second period would be Ryan "McDrunken" McGovern who shut down every type of play that came his one. McGovern shut down Tommy Scull one-on-one, Timmy Leroy 3 times one-on-one and even shut down two 2-on-1's in the second period. McGovern didn't happen to be on the ice when Ricky Hughes took a puck off the near boards and fired a BLISTER high glove past Fitzgerald who was down on his knees looking through a screen.

Other notables of the 2nd period would be that Michelle "The Hook" Labbe took her 2nd career penalty in 18 career games on her signature hook. The two teams traded 4 minutes in penalty minutes in the second as well.

END OF THE SECOND: Tuck 1, Storm Kings 1
SHOTS: Tuck 12, Storm Kings 17

Tuck capitalized on some sloppy play in front of the Kingers net just 30 seconds in when Peter "Hands" Hanbury swooped from behind the net to jam in a Mantin rebound that Stuey Close couldn't get to because his stick was pinned under his goaltender. That was "Hands" Hanbury's 7th goal of the year. Tuck continued to carry the play for the next several minutes as Dan French was regularly called upon to make some spectacular saves. "Hands" picked up his 8th goal of the season and 2nd with in 2 minutes when he picked Ronnie "The Widget" Dupuis' pocket at center ice, walked in and beat the Frenchman with a quick snap shot 5-HOLIO to put the Tuckeroonies up 3-1.

Scotty "Cherry Pickin'" Turco had an excellent opportunity with just under 11 minutes remaining when he snuck behind the defense, picked up a puck at center ice and missed high and wide on French's glove side. The two teams battled back and forth with Turco continuing to put the game out of reach by cherry picking every time the puck entered his defensive zone. Both Fitzgerald & French were fantastic in the 3rd period turning away 12 shots apiece to keep their teams in it, but the Kingers couldn't generate any offense with out superstar Robbie Barker.

END OF REGULATION: Tuck 3, Storm Kings 1
SHOTS: Tuck 24, Storm Kings 29

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
STK	02:44	Penalty	Cashman, Dean(3)	2 minutes for Interference
TCK	01:18	Goal	Burkart, Ryan(2)	Assist(s): Turco, Scott(4) Mantin, Adam(1)
2nd PERIOD
STK	12:58	Penalty	Scull, Tom(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
TCK	09:55	Penalty	Burkart, Ryan(1)	2 minutes for Roughing
STK	09:55	Penalty	Cashman, Dean(4)	2 minutes for Roughing
TCK	05:10	Penalty	Labbe, Michelle(2)	2 minutes for Hooking
STK	01:15	Goal	Hughes, Rick(2)	Assist(s): none
3rd PERIOD
TCK	14:30	Goal	Hanbury, Peter(3)	Assist(s): Mantin, Adam(2)
TCK	12:25	Goal	Hanbury, Peter(4)	Assist(s): Turco, Scott(5)
TCK	00:44	Penalty	Turco, Scott(3)	2 minutes for Roughing

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