UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Nords by 2
OVER/UNDER:	7

Once again it will come down to who shows up. The Brewers have talent, tenacity, and solid goaltending. They just don't have enough players on the bench. Only once in three games have they had 2 lines, and 3rd period fatigue has set in even in these extremely finely tuned athletes in burgundy. The Nords should skate them into the ice if they keep their shifts short. That is a big IF. The Nords can't seem to keep it together to play three full periods, and have given up TWO goals in three games in the last minute of play. Unacceptable. Vulnerable. Sloppy. I'm gonna have to give the edge to the Nords by 2 goals, but I can smell a potential upset. The Brewers are WAY better than 0-3 and could steal this one if the Nords play pond hockey again.

"7-11" Brewers shutout Nordiques 3-0

This game did come down to who shows up, and the Brewers only had 7 skaters to the Nords 11, but it was their goaltender Pete Bartline that was the most important person that made it. Bartline was incredibly solid, and the Nords had PLENTY of chances, including 4 breakaways by UVHL leading scorer Jordan McGee, but they came up emptyhanded, not even with a Big Gulp or a Slurpee, and they left shaking their heads. The Nords let down their goaltender John Turner who played well in between the pipes giving them a chance to win. The Brewers "out-Nordiqued the Nordiques" and played a very solid, smart defensive game pushing the puck up ice, banking it out off the glass keeping one, and sometimes two, forwards high to force the Nords off the blueline. The Brewers battled for loose pucks in their own end and got it out reducing the Nords time in the offensive zone. When the Nords did have chances Big Petey was there. Several pucks were just missed at the side of the net for tap-ins by the Nords, and the puck seemed to be bouncing the Brewers way for the entire game.

The Brewers scored a goal in each period, and there was only one penalty in the game that was very clean yet hard fought. Billy the "Bald Eagle" Fletcher showed up in the middle of the first period only to score his team's first goal with 4:30 left assisted by part-time Brewers goalie and part-time left winger Matt Crowson and winger Brian "Silent Assassin"Smith. Fletcher struck again assisted by Smith and D-man Dan "Super Chunk" Charette on a weird one in front off a rebound that he whacked at with a backhand which found a tiny spot just above JT who was square to the puck at 6:00 of the second with McD covering the other forward in front. The Nords felt nervous, but felt that they still had plenty of time. Brewers captain Garren "Dr. Hook" Poirier got sent to the box for tripping with 1:15 left, but the Nords were denied time and time again by Bartline on the PP.

With only two and a half minutes left in the game the Nords called timeout to strategize. They were determined to score and to not allow another goal against in the last minute. Think again. While pressing "Super Chunk" flipped the puck out of the zone to a streaking Smith who walked in on Turner chased by Park and the puck glanced off Turner and rolled into the net with 1:40 to go. Game over. Bartline records the first shutout of the UVHL season and shakes off ALL the rust from last week.

Final Score: Brewers 3, Nords 0

Final Analysis: The Brewers deserved their first win, and played a fantastic team game. Bartline was clearly THE difference as the Nords got many quality chances throughout the game, and Big Petey was all the talk in the Nords locker room post-game as the Nords knew they played well and just couldn't beat Bartline.

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
BRE	04:30	Goal	Fletcher, Bill(2)	Assist(s): Crowson, Matthew(1) Smith, Brian(2)
2nd PERIOD
BRE	06:00	Goal	Fletcher, Bill(3)	Assist(s): Smith, Brian(3) Charette, Dan(2)
BRE	01:15	Penalty	Poirier, Garren(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
3rd PERIOD
BRE	01:40	Goal	Smith, Brian(3)	Assist(s): Charette, Dan(3)

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Game Comments:
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	PATHETIC! Nov 5th, 2009 10:52 AM I suck. Great team game by the Brewers and as much as it KILLS me to say it....Petey Bartline was solid. But he's still a virgin! KP