Week 18-19: Mark It Zero vs. Da Bulls & Lebowski
After work kept me late and the subsequent white-knuckle thrill ride that ensued to get to the game on time, I was overenergized for this game. We were short, playing w/o Todd, Andy, and Derek, but Da Bulls were as well. Playing w/o playmaker, Tony, as well as a couple of others, they looked like a completely different team.
VS DA BULLS
Despite dominating play, It may have stayed scoreless for the entire first period. Ben and Juke were ironmanning it on defense, staying out there almost the entire game. We would get it going in the 2nd. Ryan took advantage of a weak goal to start things, and I got on the board next with a pass-across from Miller. I actually hit the goaltender’s chest, but it ricocheted off right into the net.
Miller brought his beastly backhand to this game, as he scored on two of them. On one, I gained the line, and Miller tried to beat his defenseman to the post. With the D-man in position, he made a fine adjustment and took him to the inside. I passed it as he made his move, he torched the defenseman and went backhand on the goaltender above the pad about blocker-high. It was a thing of beauty. He curls around the net effortlessly as if to say, “and then what? So that’s it?” Silky smooth.
Don’t remember the score, but we won. By one. I think. Damn.
CLOSE CALLS
I had two breakaways, went backhand on both of them, and got stoned both times. Here’s to trying something else!
VS LEBOWSKI
This was a make-up game for the time a film was shooting during our regularly scheduled game. As compensation for the move, we got free stick practice vouchers which I redeemed today (more on this in the next post). Point is, we’re playing Lebowski, and we’ve already got the #1 seed wrapped up, but Lebowski needs this game to be in the playoffs. Otherwise we’re playing the Green Hornets in the first round. Technically, we can choose who we want to play based on how hard we try, but that’s bad sportsmanship.
In the first period, Miller and I got on the board first. This was purely a catch-them-sleeping-on-their-heels (2 clichés?) play. In what is becoming routine for us, I gained the zone, stalled, and fed a hard pass backdoor to Miller, who beat his man and beat the goalie. The “closing” section in a textbook never looked as good. I remember this pass being as good as any pass I’ve had in recent memory. I’m very accustomed to saucer passes but this one was flat, hard, and landed perfectly on Miller’s stick before it overshot him. It also got there through at least 2 defenders’ legs, who were closing in on the pass from either direction. Quick 1-0 lead.
Not much later, I was able to put away a rebound off of a Juke shot from the point. Juke and Ben are so good at keeping shots low. And goaltenders in this league can’t control rebounds to save their lives. It bounced right to me - easy buckets.
Ryan had a great game in this one. He deflected Ben’s shot from the point for one tally, and ****SPOILER ALERT (Nobody reads this, Eric)****would end up with the game winner.
We won this game by one - I believe the final score being 4-3 - which is disappointing considering what we can do against this team, but they were fighting to extend their season, so all things considered we’re glad we came out w/o any injuries/suspensions. Ryan, acting on mounted frustration from playing on the other line, got a dumb penalty with a minute or two left and yelled FAGGOT on his way to the locker room. I thought this was directed at the refs and might’ve warranted a suspension but he told me later it was to a Lebowski player. So this makes it OK!
Playoffs - Green Hornets - Thursday (tonight). Post Soon.
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