THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Lumberjacks
Mustangs
1st
2
0
2rd
1
2
3rd
1
0
FINAL
4
2
Shots
34
31
November 6th, 2024 - 7:55PM
WABA - White River Junction, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 1557

Lumberjacks Climb out of Basement with Win over Mustangs

What a game between the Lumberjacks & Mustangs tonight.  Both teams were desperate to get into the win column, and both teams were even more desperate to NOT be in last place.  As a reminder, the bottom team in the standings at the end of the regular season does not make the playoffs.  The Mustangs felt that sting last year and do not want to be in the same boat in February.

Both teams entered tonights contest with an 0-2-0 record.  Both teams had scored 7 goals in those two games while the 'Jacks had let up 12 goals and the Mustangs had let up 13.  Overall, both teams really struggle in their own end and keeping pucks out of their nets.  The Mustangs played a great game last week, trailing the Whaler's 3-2 heading into the third frame before allowing 5 in an 8-4 loss.  "The wheels just fell off," recalled Captain / GM Will "The Thrill" Mudge, "I blame it on the lack of Mustang fans in the stands."  

The Lumberjacks were coming off an epic 3rd period meltdown to Tuck, where they outplayed the Turduckens and took a commanding 4-2 lead with 10 minutes to play before forfeiting 3 unanswered goals to lose 5-4.  "We just lose focus late in the game," summized Captain / GM / Beard Expert Jay "The Zamboni" Zanleoni, "It's really hard to close out a game knowing that we're going to have a couple beers.  Our guys are thirsty, ya know."  

The Mustangs defensive woes started early on a goal by Nathan "DeRoofa" DeLuca as he took the rebound off a Zanleoni point shot and put it up and over the outstretched Colin "C-Money" Farr.  The problem wasn't Farr, it was the Mustang's forwards who were flying the zone even though they didn't have the puck.  Zanleoni recognized a 3 on 1 down low and threw the quick shot on net.  All three of the Mustangs forwards were up near the blueline.

Both teams traded scoring opportunites with Farr and his counterpart, Luke "Spiceman" McCormick both coming up big.  Another Mustang's defensive breakdown saw Zanleoni send Neil "The Real Deal" MacKenzie in all alone.  Farr made a huge save, only find no support fromt the forwards.  MacKenzie got his own rebound and hit Zanleoni at the faceoff dot.  Big Z dished the puck back door to Scotty "Sugar" Shaw who's sweet hands put the puck in the empty net.  Lots of puck watching going on for the Mustangs...Dean Youngblood would be so disappointed.

END OF THE FIRST: Lumberjacks 2, Mustangs 0
SHOTS:  Lumberjacks 9, Mustangs 10

Shaw's lazy hooking penalty in the first minute of the 2nd period, opened the door for the Stangs who scored just 6 seconds later.  Will Mudge won the faceoff back to Jack Smith at the right point, smith walked the puck to the center before firing a tippable shot to Greg "The Armenian Assassin" Dadekian to McCormick's right.  Fun fact, the origin & meaning of the last name Dadekian comes from two Armenian workds "Dada" meaning David and "Agha" meaning gentleman, so essentially meaning "David the Gentleman".  This was on wikipedia, so take it for what it's worth.

The Lumberjacks got their two goal lead back when rookie Zach "Draino" Dayno swirled the net and found a loose puck.  Dayno dusted that puck off and beat Farr top shelf where mama keeps the peanut butter.  This time, the Mustangs had numbers in the slot, but nobody took sticks.  

Farr was called on shortly after the goal to stop Andrew "The Kan Opener" Kimball on a breakaway, flashing his left pad to keep the game within grasp.  Mustang's rookie "Thrillin'" Dylan Parker made it a 1 goal game with 1:24 to play in the first as he stormed down the near boards and threw a changup along the ice, surprising the Spiceman.  

The Mustangs nearly tied the game up on the next shift with exceptional puck movement.  Schuyler St. Germaine worked the outside of the zone, dropping a pass to Logan "The Kid" Caffrey near the blue line.  Caffrey dangled DeLuca at the top of the circles, took two strides to the net, pulling defenders with him before feeding Jamal "The Savage" Sabky in the high slot.  Sabky's quick shot was gobbled up by McCormick who didn't leave a rebound.

END OF THE SECOND: Lumberjacks 3, Mustangs 2
SHOTS: Lumberjacks 21, Mustangs 22

McCormick was a wall in the third, getting redemption on Parker who flew down the far boards and tried beating McCormick with a hard low shot to the far post.  McCormick flashed the pad to preserve the lead.  DeLuca got his second of the night at 10:55 of the third when Jordy "McNasty" McGee split the defenders with a breakaway pass.  Nathan "DeRoofa" DeLuca roofed the puck on Farr causing some confusing and controversy as Farr's waterbottle shattered but the puck was behind the net.  Farr tried his best to argue that the puck never went in, but after looking at the shitty netting on the net, there was a big hole in the roof.  Physics says "Thou shall not be able to shatter a water bottle, without thou putting the puck in the net."  Good goal, game breaker, and time was needed to pick up both Farr's busted waterbottle and his ego.

Farr did get to redeem himself on a "Little" Greg Marsh breakaway, shutting down the big man, but it was too little too late.

END OF REGULATION:  Lumberjacks 4, Mustangs 2
SHOTS: Lumberjacks 34, Mustangs 31

Another big night from DeLuca who sits tied for 3rd in the UVie with 7 points.  Both goaltenders were good, turning away a combined 59 shots.  The Mustang's struggles continue to be in their defensive zone.  Zanleoni, who is typically a forward, has been good defensively and moves the puck very well from the back.  

Next week the Lumberjacks take on the undefeated Gamblers @ 7:55pm.  Their first game didn't go very well with the G-Men throttling the Jacks 7-3.

The Mustangs take on Tuck in the night cap and battled them in a close 5-3 loss.  

LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 0%
Lumberjacks
0% 
Mustangs
0 PICKS
THREE STARS

Nathan DeLuca

GOALS: 2
POINTS: 3

Luke McCormick

GA: 2
SAVES: 29
SAVE%: 0.935

Zachary Dayno

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 2

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