UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Anything could happen...

ODDS:	Brewers by 2
OVER/UNDER:	11

I had to pick somebody, but I think this game could be closer. DR is playing better defensively, and if their scorers are there they will compete for the win. If not, I expect the Brew Crew to emerge victorious. Regardless, there will be some penalties with the likes of Garren "Dr. Hook" Poirier at the helm of the UVHL's most physical squad, so you can expect a couple of matching minors to be assessed. Both goalies have played well, but I haven't seen a lights out performance from Crowson yet this second half of the season. Could tonight be the night?

Dead River wins as predicted by "1st Period"

Check it out for yourself in the pre-game discussion. The 4-3 Dead River victory was clearly outlined by the Oilers netminder Greg Feiden, aka "1stPeriod" (his UVHL Forum nickname). This proves I don't know jack shit, and that player contributions to the website mean much more than the drivel Park and I produce week in and week out.

I came in during the second period after my game finished, and witnessed two horrible missed nets by the Brewers: the first was by Charette who came in and fired it 3 feet wide, and the other by Poirier who put a high slapper from the slot well over the net. There were no SOG at the 8 minute mark of the period, and the first came around 11 minutes in. The first B's shot was at 6:38, and then they generated another one immediately afterwards. Another missed net was made by Lazarczyk who, seeing as he is approaching the big 3-OH later this month, is apparently losing his eyesight. A seeing eye puck went in for Fletcher however on a screen past Feiden at 3:16 from Mancuso and Smith. There were 10 Oilers and 9 Brewers in this even battle. Not too bad for the late game, and an excellent showing for Dead River considering their typical low numbers. Shots finished 8-7 for DR in the second frame.

Crowson started the third with a big pad save. Cashman went in hard off a Zagaria pass, and Crowson made another key save, but Cashman kept the puck in and got another shot off and Loomis found the rebound and put it in quickly like he was on a second date with one of my ex-girlfriends at the Drive-In. DR was outshooting the B's 7-2 at the 12 min mark. A turnover at the bleuline on a shot blocked by Golden sent him in on a breakaway and he scored on a bcakhander at 10:35 to make it 3-1. Shots were 10-4 at 8:29. DR was breaking out of their own zone well. A high stick goal for the Brewers was called off. A battle down low worked the puck out front for the Brewers and Lazarczyk scored from Dubin and Poirier's hard work and it was a 1 goal game again. Loomis was down on the ice after receiving a Yehle bodycheck at 7:10, but Scull negated the PP hauling down a Brewer penalty killer at 6:02 to prevent a scoring chance and there was 4-on-4 action for almost a minute. Shots stood at 12-7 Oilers with 3:54 to go. There were lots of missed bodychecks, hooks, and high sticks, and then a tripping call was given to Hadley with a mere 1:34 to go in a 1 goal game. He did trip the puck carrier after losing the puck to him inside the O-zone, but there were too many non-calls for my liking prior to that to justify the tripping call, and it was discussed post-game with one of the refs. The playoffs will be called tighter, so be ready! The Brewers called a timeout, and then they pulled Crowson. When the Oilers became shorthanded Warrington scored a clutch unassisted shorty on the empty net to give DR an insurance goal with a 4-2 lead on a long clearing shot that found the net. Yehle played some nice D and moved the puck to Charette who then found Smith with 15 seconds left and the Brewers did not give up, but time ran out on them.

Final Score: Dead River 4, Brewers 3 - exactly as predicted by 1stPeriod!

Final Tally: Only wingers Dean Cashman from the Oilers and Brian Smith from the Brewers had more than 1 point, and they each earned 1G, 1A in this one. Shots were 28 against Crowson, and 24 on Feiden. For the rest see the boxscore.

Final Analysis: McD should give up both of his day jobs and pass the reins to some fresh blood as he has officially lost touch with the league. DR has been playing better, and this was a close game either team could have won. Hadley was lucky his late penalty did not prove disasterous, and should buy his entire team a beer... if they ever show up at the bar! Only Hads and 1stPeriod made it out afterwards. The Brewers had an excellent post-game showing and deserve full credit for their post-game celebration win or lose. There were a few physical plays in this game that I was rather uncomfortable with, and I was happy to see clear heads prevail because they could have easily been retaliated on and I wouldn't have blamed the players one bit. Thanks for keeping it cool, guys. In a disgusting show of total gluttony McD set a new personal best in post-game wing consumption with 26 delicious bleu cheese slathered Buffalo Wings and suffered the entire next day...

See you on the ice!

McD

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
2nd PERIOD
LAB	14:41	Goal	Cashman, Dean(5)	Assist(s): Duggan, Evan(9)
BRE	12:09	Penalty	Poirier, Garren(24)	2 minutes for hooking
BRE	03:16	Goal	Fletcher, Bill(6)	Assist(s): Mancuso, Aaron(7) Smith, Brian(10)
3rd PERIOD
LAB	12:14	Goal	Loomis, Jason(4)	Assist(s): Cashman, Dean(19)
LAB	10:35	Goal	Golden, Richard(12)	Assist(s): none
BRE	07:28	Goal	Lazarczyk, Keith(7)	Assist(s): Dubin, Chris(8) Poirier, Garren(6)
BRE	07:10	Penalty	Yehle, Jason(7)	2 minutes for bodychecking
LAB	06:02	Penalty	Scull, Tom(5)	2 minutes for hooking
LAB	01:34	Penalty	Hadley, Gregory(6)	2 minutes for tripping
LAB	01:12	Goal	Warrington, Chris(6)	Assist(s): none
BRE	00:15	Goal	Smith, Brian(7)	Assist(s): Charette, Dan(8) Yehle, Jason(12)

LOG IN:
Username:		You must be logged into your Forum account to leave game comments. Please log in to the right to add your Brilliant Diatribes & Thunderous Verbal Attacks about this game.
Password:
	forget username / password? create account

Game Comments:
1stPeriod Lyme, NH Registered: Posts: 18	I'm bored... Feb 27th, 2011 01:09 PM ... thus a prediction. Both teams have been plagued by inconsistencies at all positions. I look for this game to be a close battle with plenty of shots on both goaltenders. It's going to come down to who shows up for each team, but with DR's Rob Pattison guaranteed to be out, the rest of DR will have to chip in to make up for the absence of Pattison's scoring prowess. I say the game will end 4-3, either way, but I'm going to give my nod to DR who have been playing strong defense the past couple of weeks.
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Nice! Mar 1st, 2011 04:51 PM I love it, 1stPeriod! McD
1stPeriod Lyme, NH Registered: Posts: 18	Prophetic? Mar 2nd, 2011 12:18 PM A 4-3 DR victory.