Week 4: Mark It Zero vs. Lebowski
I had mixed feelings about this game because I had rolled my ankle in the previous Paradigm softball game and hadn’t felt the same all week. By Thursday, it felt fine in most positions but in other specific weight distributions it still gave me some pain. The medical professionals might call this a tear or even a break. I call it a tweak.
Miller’s girlfriend, Robin, showed up for this game. I’m told that although she’s been with Steve for a while, this is the 2nd time she’s done this so I know Steve’s going to bring it.
As I stepped onto the ice for warmups, the first thing I noticed was that the way my right foot pushes off is one of those painful positions. I had thought the stiff boot of the skate would support my ankle fully but not the case. After my brief oh-no moment, I tried to rationalize how I’d play this game. Immediately, flashes of Alex Hartman (more on roller blog) entered my brain. Alex was a good hockey player that was able to adapt his game quickly and accordingly with his rising weight. You couldn’t shake him off the puck cause he’d stickhandle through you while he’s just stand there. Similarly, I figured I’d be making more passes, setting up teammates, and just relying on the fact that they are the team with the worst league standing. Contrary to the last stat sheet, they are actually winless going into this game.
VS LEBOWSKI
I started this game on the bench since my two linemates (Darren King, Steve) were still in the locker room by the time the game started. Miller arrived as the Zamboni was finishing. The first impression I got as the puck dropped was that this team is awful. Their pace was slow, they were very passive, and just didn’t look very intimidating. On the plus side, they did have sweet jerseys. Although I think ours are better, theirs are sweet. Picture a black jersey with this logo on the chest:
The first Lebowski rush into our zone, seconds after the puck dropped - yes, after all the smack I just talked on them - was a successful one. As slow as they set the pace, I noticed right away that we were equalling that pace by playing equally passively. The puck found it’s way to the right winger, and he just stood there for a bit, wound up, and shot it. Justin might’ve messed up the angle a bit, but the guy got reeeeeal lucky, because Justin closed the door on them and it would be the only goal they’d get the whole game.
Later in the 1st, I set up shop in the offensive zone on the left post during a scoring chance. I was wondering why I was so open, but I waited for the shot to come through, it squirted through, and I buried an easy one into an open net. We’re tied at 1. I later learned that we were on the power play, which would be a fantastic explanation as to why I was open. I’m normally up on such happenings but let’s just say I was a bit elsewhere thinking about my ankle.
Let’s get this out of the way. It’s been established that my ankle was an issue in this game. I thought you didn’t need an ankle to play hockey but it turns out it affects not only your speed, but your ability to backcheck, forecheck, get open, get power behind your shot, climb the boards and turn sharply. It was frustrating to know that I was giving it 50% the whole game. Just coasting and trying to make plays. Andy, a defenseman who just started playing with us, seems like a good skater who is capable of joining the rush. In fact, he started many rushes out of that same frustration.
For the majority of the game, we were tied 1-1. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 3rd period when we got another tally; a sweet redirection by Aaron. He had set up in the low slot area and altered a shot’s path that had been heading to the left side of the net. Gorgeous.
Desperate to provide some support to my right ankle, I retied my skates as tightly as possible, hoping that it would provide relief in any form. Fortunately, it did, and the pain was lowered a bit.
I don’t remember how I ended up with the subsequent breakaway. I’m sure either Darren or a defenseman found me, but I was sent behind the D and skated into their zone unopposed. The defense were gaining on me, and the goalie had cut off a large portion of the net. Having no confidence in my separation ability this game I picked the low glove side and snapped it quickly. Peeling away to my left, I watched the result unfold. It seemed like an eternity, but the goaltender seemed to come up with the save….nope. Puck came out the other side. 3-1. Sigh of relief.
CLOSE CALLS: At the end of the 1st with the final seconds ticking down, I was sent alone on the goaltender. Rapidly bearing down on him, I was startled when the defenseman made a solid play and dove to swipe the puck away. I’m usually the one doing this to people (historically being a defenseman) so there was a little element of surprise to this. I was unbelievably close to the goalie at that point, so props to the D-man. A hellish succession of scoring chances came late in the 3rd period on one of our last shifts, as Miller, Darren, and I put together a shift to remember. Miller set me up for a chance and I was unable to finish, Darren fed the puck across to me on another opportunity, and I then slid a sneaky, last-second-cherry-on-top pass over to Miller, who missed the net. I don’t blame him as much for this, though, as my pass was more suited for a lefty. He does seem to favor his backhand, lately. Speaking of, Steve let the beast loose again this game, ringing one off the crossbar.
This wasn’t a pretty win but we’ll take it. Miller and I haven’t been in on many plays together, so he devised a good idea for next game. Darren will play center, and we’ll each play wing. Miller’s an exceptional center, but if we’re going to combine on any scoring chances together, he’ll at least be on my latitude. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds. Our old friends, the Green Hornets, await!
stats (season)
