UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Early Preview of Round 1 Playoff Matchup Between Gamblers & Tuck

ODDS:	Gamblers By 2
OVER/UNDER:	6.5 Goals

Location: UVHL Arena
Faceoff: 9:25 PM
Broadcast: Your group chat filled with GIFs and expletives

The Setup

It’s the age-old battle between calculated risk and pure chaos. The Gamblers (9-1-2, 1st place) are the kings of the table this season, sitting pretty at the top of the standings. Meanwhile, Tuck (3-6-1, 4th place) is clinging to the last shreds of dignity and playoff relevance, hoping for a miracle—or at least for the Gamblers to have a terrible night.  These two are locked in for a first round playoff game in two weeks, so we will see how this one goes.

Historically, this matchup has been tighter than your uncle’s beer league jersey after Thanksgiving, with the Gamblers leading the all-time series **41-34**. But recently, the edge belongs to the Gamblers, who have won **four straight** against Tuck, including a **5-4 thriller** last month.

The History

These teams go way back, and it’s been a rollercoaster of dominance swings. One minute, the Gamblers are putting up touchdowns on the scoreboard, the next, Tuck is reminding everyone that they were once capable of hanging a **10-spot** on their rivals (yes, that 10-5 beatdown in 2023 still haunts the Gamblers’ nightmares).

In recent meetings, the Gamblers have leaned on their suffocating defense and goaltending to grind out wins, while Tuck has had to claw for every inch of ice. The last five matchups have been decided by two goals or fewer, so expect another nail-biter—unless, of course, Tuck gets flashbacks to their **10-goals-against glory days.**

Key Players to Watch

• Nathan “DeLuca Show” DeLuca (Gamblers) - The league’s leading scorer (17G, 11A, 28P) has been terrorizing defenses all season.


• Ean “It Ain’t” Small (Tuck) - He’s a menace to goalies and second in league scoring. If Tuck has a shot at winning, it starts with him.


• Jay “The Zamboni” Zanleoni (Tuck) - Whether he's scoring or throwing his body around, he’s always in the mix.


• Evan “Showtime” Cline (Gamblers) - The best goalie in the league (.939 SV%, 1.92 GAA). If Tuck plans on scoring, they better bring a cheat code.

The Odds

Gamblers (-200) | Tuck (+175) | Over/Under: 6.5 Goals

The Gamblers enter as the heavy favorites, and for good reason. They’re on a hot streak, they have the best goalie in the league, and their offense is humming. Tuck has shown flashes of brilliance but remains inconsistent. The over/under sits at **6.5 goals**, which could be generous depending on how much of a fight Tuck puts up.

The Prediction

Look, Tuck isn’t a bad team, but this is the Gamblers. They’re first in the standings for a reason. Unless Tuck pulls off some wild Vegas-style heist, this one is shaping up to be another notch in the Gamblers’ win column.

Final Prediction: Gamblers 4, Tuck 2

Prop Bets to Consider:

• Will Nathan DeLuca score a goal? (-250) - Yes, because of course he will.


• Will Evan Cline make a ridiculous save? (-500) - You can bet your life savings on this.


• Will Tuck find a way to lose in heartbreaking fashion? (-110) - History says yes.

Expect a competitive game, some fireworks, and at least one guy yelling at the refs for no reason. See you at puck drop.

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Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	05:37	Penalty	LaCroix, Topo(6)	2 minutes for Hooking
2nd PERIOD
GMB	14:15	Goal	Collins, Sean(5)	Assist(s): none
TCK	09:01	Goal	Husband, David(4)	Assist(s): Lalor, Maclean(7) Ouellette, Matthew(5)
TCK	05:26	Goal	Ouellette, Matthew(6)	Assist(s): Lockwood, Kyle(4) Husband, David(5)
3rd PERIOD
GMB	14:11	Penalty	Collins, Sean(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	09:01	Penalty	Damren , Aaron (1)	2 minutes for Hooking
TCK	03:18	Goal	Lockwood, Kyle(2)	Assist(s): Yablong, Mikey(12)
GMB	02:43	Goal	LaCroix, Ryan(11)	Assist(s): Rivellini, Billy(5) LaCroix, Topo(8)
TCK	00:12	Penalty	Marshall, Jenkins(1)	2 minutes for Interference
TCK	00:12	Penalty	Lockwood, Kyle(2)	2 minutes for Roughing
GMB	00:12	Penalty	Nolan, raymond(4)	2 minutes for Roughing

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