The game started off with a few bad bounces and some rust. With a two week break there is always bound to be that rust, but last night, it came with a 3-0 deficit early. The thing about the guillotines that i have noticed through the past few seasons is how we never give up. It could be 8-0 or 0-0 we always play the same hockey. Although we still play aggressive even when we have a lead, and that can sometimes be our undoing. In this situation though, we all kept our heads up and played smart hockey.
Tyler Rabold opened up the scoring for us with a goal that to be honest, i cant even remember. All that i can remember is thinking that this goal could potentially open the floodgates for us, and more importantly destroy any chance of being shut out. After that, the guillotines added goals from a sick re-direct from a Jarred Pufka shot from the point by Matt Cushion. Tyler Rabold had another beauty on a great pass from Alan Pickrell on a long and awesome shift by Alan Tyler and I. The Hawk's got their last lead by going up 4-3. I tallied a breakaway goal set up by Tyler, scoring on the rebound from my initial shot, which tied the game at 4-4 at the end of the second period.
One thing our goalie Scott Pickrell is awesome at is recognizing a huge moment/period/game and he knows when to shut the door. He did just that. Although it helped that our defense was fantastic in the third, shutting down some very promising scoring chances from the opposition. Jeff Guyer, a former guillotine who took a break from hockey last season, made his return last night. As could be expected, he didnt have his legs back initially in his first game in several months. With our lack of players last night i opted to move Jeff, who is regularly a defenseman; to play as a forward. In the third period Jeff hammered in a rebound at the doorstep to mark his return as a guillotine, and giving us our first lead of the night. I mentioned to D man Derek Vaughn at the second intermission that i would kill for a lead. Well this is the lead we wanted and we werent letting up. The defense was clearing pucks and the forwards were dominating zone time. With a bench that was three times as large as ours, the Hawks were the ones looking gassed.
There was some physical play in the defensive zone between Tyler Rabold and one of their bigger guys and goal scorers. The Hawks forward was slashing, cross checking and hooking Tyler but he was unwilling to cough up the puck and the refs apparently swallowed their whistles. Rather than take a stupid penalty in response, Tyler came back the best way possible: carrying the puck coast-to-coast and scoring on a truly nasty shot over the shoulder of the goalie, short side. With a two goal lead you are never safe at Galactic Ice. The clock at galactic ice is a continuous one, meaning there are no stoppages in time for icings, offsides goals, etc. The only time they stop the clock is any time within the last 2 minutes of the third period, and only when the score is within 2 points. It just so happens that was the scenario of the game, and we couldn't afford the stoppages. The clock was our enemy at this point and we all knew we needed to get another goal to seal the deal. With one minute left in the game, I carried the puck into the zone with Jamie Smith driving hard to the net. After pulling two of the hawks defensemen and the goalie to my side of the net i slid a pass across the crease to a wide open Jamie. Buried. Guillotines win 7-4.
I mentioned in passing the tremendous efforts of our d-men but I have to mention them individually for their great efforts last night. Jarred Pufka had some great shots from the point and some great shut downs in the defensive zone. Derek Vaughn has been juggled back and forth from defense and forward and every time he does it without question and tears it up. Last night was no different, when i asked him to drop back to allow Jeff Guyer some time as a forward, he knew what he had to do, and did it with ease. Finally in his second season as a Guillotine (and second season ever playing ice hockey) Michael Martin had a tremendous game. Last season he was paired with one of Altoonas greatest hockey players, Sam Peoples, who now plays for the A-Leagues' Al's Tavern. So on his first game of the season without Sam by his side, Mike showed some fantastic effort and drive, shutting down some definite scoring chances. In fact Mr Martin even had a few shots on goal. Overall, every one of our players showed up to play last night and I cant express how happy i was with how everyone played. I know its just game 1 of the season and surely there will be losses to come, but this was a great start to the season.
I dont plan on recapping every game this season on here, and Jamie Smith has his own Blog you should check out : http://greenwoodguillotines.wordpress.com/ But this was a fun one and a hard fought game so i wanted to share the details with everyone who couldnt make it out.
Thanks for taking the time to read this if you did.
Good stuff Mike, keep on postin!
ReplyDeleteIt was almost like I was there!
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