UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Tuck by 2
OVER/UNDER:	7

Tuck and the Gamblers are both 3-0 to start the season. Tuck has done it with smooth play, great offense, a solid team game, and perhaps the best goaltending in the league. The Gamblers have done it with will and determination, and stole two victories by coming back from 2 goal deficits to score in the last minute of play against the Nords and the other in a shootout against the Whalers. The Gamblers could easily be 1-1-1, but they aren't, and they deserve their 3-0 record. Having the UVHL's top line on the ice half the time definitely helps the Gamblers, but they will lose this game on depth and goaltending, both favored by Tuck (not that Condon or the MMA line are slouches). Yacey has been stellar, and hasn't shown any weaknesses thus far. Tuck has two studs on D, and they pass the puck well, work it to the net, and their offense is on fire. Not even the MMA line will be able to match it, and Yacey will be there to stop them more often than the other goalies they have faced thus far. Tuck by 2.

Gamblers remain undefeated in front of enthusiastic Tuck fans

This was absolutely the best hockey game of the UVHL season thus far. It was exciting, fun to watch, had lots of energy, hustle, great goaltending and chances at both ends. The Tuckies brought their fans, at least 20 of them, and they were heard loud and clear in Union Arena, and at Bentley's post-game. Awesome! Thanks for comin' out!

Tuck started the scoring at 10:52 of the first frame when Derek Nowak found a hole in Jered Condon's armor from Helming. The Gamblers answered back quickly at 10:35 on Scotty Davis' marker from Tyson Seely that solved Yacey for a rare goal against the league's GAA leader. Helming took a cross-checking penalty at 7:29, and then John Clifford took penalties at 3:42 and 0:37 for hooking and tripping, but Tuck kept all pucks out of the net and was perfect on the PK all night against a potent attack from the UVHL's top line of Meyer-Marrazzo-Ammel, aka the MMA line.

In the second Gamblers D Brendan Drew took a hitting from behind penalty at 12:59, followed by two Tuck penalties at 7:58 to Coughlin for tripping and at 3:39 to Simon McKay for hooking. Neither power play could solve the solid, and at times spectacular goaltending of both Condon and Yacey. Late in the second Gamblers D Mike Harrington got sent for tripping at 1:24. Consistent with the game, the Tuck PP was moot, but Gamblers captain Will Meyer stole a puck forechecking anticipating a pass and shoved it past a stunned Yacey with 44 seconds to go to give the Gamblers a 2-1 lead.

Coughlin and Drew were given coincidental minors for roughing at 12:10 of the third, and the fast and tough play continued at both ends and in the netural zone. Both teams were skating well, passing, causing turnovers, getting chances, and the goalies were coming up with big saves. The Tuck crowd was into it and was cheering their team on when Meyer silenced them, albeit briefly, when helming made a perfect pass onto Meyer's stick from behind the net on a pass in front of Yacey that meyer had on his stick for 0.03 seconds as he buried in in the five hole to go up 3-1 fo rhis second unassisted goal in a row. Tuck answered and got the fans back into it as Carrihill intercepted a pass in the Gamblers zone that found a hole through Condon at 7:58 to return it to a 1 goal lead. Scott Fraser went to the Gamblers box at 4:18 for checking from behind and Tuck had their chance to pull even, but they were denied by Condon on the PP. Just after the penalty ended Marrazzo got a sweet pass from Ammel and beat two Tuck defenders and put it past Yacey with 2:05 left to go and it was game over.

Final Score: Gamblers 4, Tuck 2

Final Analysis: The Tuck fans were great to have in the building, and it got very lonely during the third game with zero fans after they left. This was a very even game and was seriously great hockey to watch. Meyer was the difference with his desire to win, and his speed and anticipation turned the game in favor of the Gamblers. The mistake pass by Helming in front right to Meyer was the backbreaker. Condon and Yacey were both incredible, but cancel each other out. The Gamblers are undefeated and are finding a way to win. They have proven that their Whalen Cup from last season was no fluke, and they are doing so with 9 players on most nights and several roster changes. Tuck is the real deal, and they had lots of chances, but gave up two goals that Yacey is not at fault for with brief defensive zone gaffes that Meyer capitalized on, and that was the only difference.

Final Tally: Check out the boxscores section, and don't forget to vote for the UVHL's Long Trail Player of the Week, eh!

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
TCK	10:52	Goal	Nowak, Derek(4)	Assist(s): Helming, Andrew(4)
GMB	10:35	Goal	Davis, Scott(3)	Assist(s): Seely, Tyson(1)
TCK	07:29	Penalty	Helming, Andrew(3)	2 minutes for Cross Checking
TCK	03:42	Penalty	Clifford, John(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
TCK	00:37	Penalty	Clifford, John(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
2nd PERIOD
GMB	12:51	Penalty	Drew, Brendan(1)	2 minutes for Hitting From Behind
TCK	07:58	Penalty	Coughlin, Halsey(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
TCK	03:38	Penalty	McKay, Simon(1)	2 minutes for Hooking
GMB	01:24	Penalty	Harrington, Mike(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	00:44	Goal	Meyer, Will(2)	Assist(s): none
3rd PERIOD
GMB	12:10	Penalty	Drew, Brendan(2)	2 minutes for
TCK	12:10	Penalty	Coughlin, Halsey(2)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	09:24	Goal	Meyer, Will(3)	Assist(s): none
TCK	07:58	Goal	Carrihill, Colin(2)	Assist(s): none
GMB	04:18	Penalty	Fraser, Scott(1)	2 minutes for Cross Checking
GMB	02:05	Goal	Marrazzo, Matt(5)	Assist(s): Meyer, Will(4)

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Game Comments:
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	OOOOOO YEAH! Nov 2nd, 2009 03:00 PM The Commish says Tuckies by 2 goals. I think I'm going with the Gamblers though, but it will be a game time decision who I choose in the Pick 'Em. Two undefeated teams.....only one will remain.
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Right call, Park. Nov 5th, 2009 11:15 PM You got it right! But I think you should stop editing the website and your picks AFTER the games are over, Mr. Webmaster. Did you make sure you got credit for your assist from our game against the Brewers?