Playoffs, The Finals (Game 1): Mark It Zero vs. Nice Marmot

Had a few minutes of downtime at work so I put these signs together:

Expecting this to be a great series, although Feller (their leading scorer) wasn’t there for this game. He wasn’t available for their first round matchup against Da Bulls and they smoked them like 8-1 in the first period, so we wanna pounce on this team quick.

VS NICE MARMOT

Todd got a rebound goal - his specialty. Don’t remember when, but I remember he got it. Sweeeet. 

On another opportunity, the puck found me in the slot, and I took a slapshot that missed the left post (I don’t know when my slapshot will get better, but will keep pluggin away), caromed off the end boards, and found Miller’s stick right on the right doorstep. He put it away and I gave him a hugable.

I would get a penalty in this one. It is part of my repertoire to lift opposing players’ sticks with my stick and steal the puck out from under them. Upon completing a theft, I turned up ice and learned that I was being called for tripping. I have no idea what this guy did after I took the puck, but he ended up upside-down on the ice. I think Juke probably took a run at him or something. An absurd pity call in the first period when we got a quick lead on them. Shame on the officials. Again.

Gorski got a goal in this game. Todd, who had been playing hard all game, stole it from their defenseman in our end, and led a 2-on-1 to their net. Passing across to Gorski on the right side, Gregg found the smallest opening in between the goaltender’s hip and post. I really thought he had Gregg’s shot covered, but it was a well placed shot nonetheless. Was great to get an insurance goal on these guys. Sidenote about Gorski, the man has shrunken & plumped up as part of a challenge at his gym to lose the most weight & gain the most muscle. In each successive week he’s looked leaner. He’s been using HGH though, which they don’t test for in adult league hockey. Holla!

Miller and I had been weaving on the breakout all game and it helped the D-men find us through the neutral zone. On one such occasion, Juke threw a cross ice homerun-pass to me, but the Marmot defenseman was stepping in to intercept the pass. I reached back, poked the puck, which flipped it end-over-end over his head and sent myself in onsides on a breakaway. The other defenseman was gaining a little on me as we approached one another - me on the left and him on the right. Knowing I’m near-invincible with the puck (not bragging, just from a officiating perspective) I lowered my shoulder, stuck out my right leg to protect the puck, and drove through him. The impact did push me off the puck, and play was whistled dead. I thought I had drawn a penalty, certainly. I didn’t realize until I reached center-ice that I had drawn a penalty shot.

To give you background, I once won a shootout competition in the good old days (prize: Trevor Linden Bauer stick) but had never been awarded a penalty shot. Ryan was trying to give me a quick scouting report on the goaltender before I advanced, and with a handful of my friends watching, I proceeded in on Aryan Nation*. I knew what I was going to do from games past. I have lately been awful at finishing breakaways on my backhand, as I write about in this post, this one, and this one. I was going to fake a shot, fake backhand, and stuff it forehand. I went through the motions, handcuffed the goaltender, but fanned on the finishing attempt on my forehand.

Was a bit embarrassing not to score on a penalty shot at a crucial part of the game (3rd period, fairly late) but it feels better knowing we won the game comfortably back in the first period, and I got 2 assists in this one. The only regret I have is I probably should’ve brought some more speed in on the penalty shot, and maybe should’ve looked to go five-hole, as he has awfully small pads.

We ended up winning, I believe by the score of 4-2. We need to come at them even harder next week, as Feller will be back - so say the rumors.

*My little nickname for the goaltender that played for us during week 16 when we didn’t have Justin. He was playing net for Marmot this game.

STATS