UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Lumberjacks look to sweep Mustangs

If you believe in miracles and you love to root for the underdog, then you will love following the Mustangs during the final 3 weeks of the season.  The Mustangs (2-9-0) sit in last place and take on the Lumberjacks (4-7-1) this week.  Only the top 4 teams make it to the playoffs, and for the Mustangs to make the playoffs in their innaugural season, they will need to be perfect.  They have a game in hand on the Lumberjacks who only have 2 games remaining in the regular season.  

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the Lumberjacks have taken all three matchups this season.  On top of that, they have to close out the season with the #1 Gamblers(9-3-0) and #2 Tuck(6-2-1).

Good news for the Mustangs...the Lumberjacks are riding a 3 game losing streak, being out-scored 27-9.  The bad news...the Lumberjack's last win was on January 3rd....a 5-2 Win over the Mustangs.

For the Mustangs to win, they will need to neutralize the Jack's Jordy "McNasty" McGee who has put up 19 points in 11 games this season.  They will need to put shots on Ryan "The Liberator" Libbey.  They will need to bring their best lineup.  They will need to find religion and start to pray.

I think the Mustangs put out their best effort, but I still think they fall 5-4 on a late goal in the 3rd.

Mustangs Battle But Lose Must Win Game to Jacks

There were no fans in the stands for this one, but a blast from the UVHL’s past made a guest appearance: 37-year-old Ryan McGovern, former Tuckie, former Nordique, opponent and teammate of mine. Ryan now has two kids, 11 and 5, still looking fit and trim sporting a salt ‘n pepper beard subbing in on the Mustangs tonight for “EARLY GAMES ONLY”. First thing I heard was “Are you still alive, McD?”. Fuckin’ right I am, McG, and if I was still playing, I would play in the late games, too. The Lumberjacks also welcomed a new player, Jordan Camp, to the UVie tonight, and both squads had one other sub each from the Gamblers who had the night off: Ryan “Bergie” Bergeron on the ‘Jacks and Ray Nolan on the Mustangs.

The first SOG came at 12:30 by the ‘Jacks. New guy Jordan Camp was “Man down!” as he fell right on his ass after spinning to make a quick shot after penetrating the ‘Stangs’ blue line and totally losing his balance, but he was okay, didn’t bang his head and only had a bruised ego. The Mustangs’ second SOG found its way into the net at 9:42 on a Brian Geraghty goal from Will Mudge and Jeff “Make Ya Holla” Colla. At 7:18 the ‘Jacks’ Andrew Miraldi had a baaad missed net after receiving a sweet pass right in the slot. Eva Seely went to the ‘Jacks’ box at 6:22 for bodychecking. The ‘Stangs managed one SOG and a tip wide on the ensuing PP. Lumberjacks’ captain Jay Zaneloni answered at 4:07 just after the penalty ended from Andrew “Pinball” Kimbell and Miraldi. Zaneloni stated hot and scored just 24 seconds later at 3:43 to put his team up 2-1 finding the top corner from Jordan McGee and Evan Seely. The ‘Jacks were feelin’ it and a mere 17 seconds later they made it 3-1 on another Seely-McGee connection for the goal, their 3rd in just 41 seconds and Seely’s first. Could that be a UVHL record? Quite possibly! Shots were 9-4 for the L’s after the goal. ‘Stangs goalie Colin Farr stopped Kimbell on a breakaway before the period finished with shots ending at 11-5 for the L’s.

In the 2nd, Kimbell scored an unassisted marker at 10:42 to make the score 4-1. Matti “Local Legend” Hartmann continued to put on yet another hockey clinic for the rest of the league with a great backcheck to negate a cross-ice pass in the slot by the ‘Jacks. Then Hartmann made a great pass to Ray Nolan for a scoring chance that Nolan missed wide under pressure. The M’s generated several shots in a row making the totals a much closer 11-10. Hartmann continued her strong play getting a great shot labelled for the top corner in the high slot that was somehow blocked or saved along the way at 8:31. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: watch and learn from this young lady’s game, boys. She’s a special player and does everything the right way in all 3 zones and in both directions. Right after her sweet shot she fed linemate St. Germain for a goal at 8:22 to cut the ‘Jacks lead back to 2. A bad line change by the Mustangs gave Seely a breakaway that was stopped by Farr’s R pad keeping his team in it after the stinky brain fart at the bench. The ‘Stangs got it to a 1-goal game on Jeff “Make Ya Holla” Colla’s goal at 6:46 from the ageless Ryan McGovern. McG cut across the net with speed and got tripped up by the defender and goalie and Colla jumped on the rebound with Farr pulled out of position by the contact and McG still sliding across the ice on his stomach. There were good battles by both teams in all 3 zones. Hartmann put one off Libbey’s forehead at 2:55. The ‘Jacks generated some nice chances down low all turned away by Farr. Shots finished 16-15 ‘Stangs at period’s end.

In the 3rd, the L’s second SOG found its way into the net at 14:33 to start the period off strong on the subbing Ryan “Bergie” Bergeron’s goal from McGee and Seely to regain the 2-goal lead. The Mustangs dominated most of the 2nd period and it was disappointing to see them let it slip away so early in the third. To their credit, the Lumberjacks were playing their best two team games of the season. The addition of Bergie to the lineup tonight helped their often-weak net front presence, and his ability to join the play at the right times without sacrificing great defense certainly didn’t hurt either. Kimbell made a great neutral zone play lifting the stick battling a Mustang for the puck and turned around to sneak by a defending Nolan for a quick 2-on-0 only to make the pass too far ahead for a streaking and well positioned Camp. McGovern was having a strong game on the ‘Stangs blueline. He was just as smooth with and without the puck, and generated almost as much speed as he did 9 years ago when we last played together on the long defunct Nordiques. St. Germain made a nice pass to Hartmann for a shot in the high slot. McGee made a nice shot of his own at 6:53. Bergie blocked a Hartmann shot in the high slot with his foot and great positioning. Marc “Love Handles” Gattie got sent to the ‘Jacks box for bodychecking at 4:16. At the start of the PP the ‘Stangs made a baaaad pass across their blue line to absolutely no one. However, they recovered and scored a PPG at 3:39 on Matt “I’m Not a Douche” Derouchie’s goal from Hartmann and McGovern to make it 5-4. The Mustangs pulled Farr around the 3-minute mark to push for a GTG. The ‘Jacks had a 2-on-1 chance with the empty net, but Kevin Clarkson made a great defensive play forcing the puck carrier to hit Clarkson’s skate on the pass attempt to negate the excellent chance! About halfway through the 6-on-5 effort, Kimbell scored his second unassisted goal of the game to seal the deal with 1:25 left on the empty net to finish the game 6-4 ‘Jacks and shots 26-23 in the Mustangs’ favor.

MVP:  Jay Zaneloni singlehandedly changed the game with two quick goals and flashes of his younger self with two goals in 41 seconds. Andrew “Pinball” Kimbell (possibly) had 2 unassisted goals and an assist (to be verified by the all-powerful Parky, of course). Take your pick between these two for Player of the Week.

LVP?:  Nobody sucked or cost their team the game. 

POST-GAME:
As usual, there is nothing to report from the only two UVHL teams that never go out after the games. Maybe someday they will leave the safe confines of their locker rooms and “traditions” and be social with the rest of the league…

Respectfully submitted,
McDefense, aka HKYDOC