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.

Team Stats:

League Stats:

Week 13-15: Mark It Zero vs. Nice Marmot/Lebowski/The Green Hornets

When work heats up, the blog suffers. Hockey recaps stall, memories fade, buildings collapse. The latter more because of structural impurities & shoddy engineering than my being busy w/ pilot season, but I digress. Here are my recollections of the last 3 (grimace) games:

VS NICE MARMOT

I didn’t bring my usual Marmot game offensively in this one, but we were able to get a lead on these guys. I’m not sure how much we were leading them by, but they caught up so it was 3-2 midway through the 3rd period. 

After about a 35 second shift, there was a stoppage and Ben asked if I wanted to come off, advocating for shorter shifts. I motioned for just a bit more time on the ice. The ensuing action was all in our defensive zone, and just when we were about to clear the puck out finally, Marmot kept it inside our blue line, and threw it on net. I remember the puck doing the following: hitting off of a back/chest, off Andy’s face, and onto a Marmot player’s stick. All the caroms left Justin out of position, and the game tying goal was buried easily. On my way back to the bench, Derek in his passive-aggressive glory uttered, “See, another :30 turns into 2:00”. I let him know I thought he was an asshole. Game’s still tied.

On the next shift, Derek - who doesn’t pass - lost the puck as he was busy dangling near our own net. The Marmot player stole it, fed it in front, and Marmot was ahead 4-3 with about 4 minutes left. 

Justin was talking about how one of the Marmot scoring plays were offside but the refs didn’t blow the play dead. I’m guessing he’s talking about when they tried to keep it in our zone during the shift Derek was timing from the bench.

Speaking of, one funny moment was when Miller and I looked on from the bench as Derek predictably brought it into their zone himself, had the puck in their corner as he looked to our open defenseman (good players pass at this point), CARRIED the puck to the right defenseman, then CARRIED the puck across to the left defenseman. At this point Miller snaps, yelling “PASS THE FUCKING PUCK!” in a quiet rink.

It’s a horrible loss to be a part of, but it didn’t eliminate our chances of finishing the season with the #1 seed, we just made more work for ourselves and “made things more exciting”. Bleugh. I went scoreless for the first time in a while, but thought I played well. Frustrating…

VS LEBOWSKI

Derek wasn’t available for this game, so we were sure there would be a lot of passing in this one. 

Miller brought the wood this game, notching 4 goals. I’m trying to remember them all, but I assisted on 3 of them officially, one of them unofficially, and a teammate’s goal unofficially. The prettiest one came when I was angling on the right side of the slot, circled back, and found Miller’s forehand with a nice, backhanded thread across the slot. Steve released it quickly to the top shelf. That assist was credited incorrectly to Darren, but I can’t be pissed because Darren’s the man. I take this lapse of officiating as a compliment, actually, at how sick the pass was. The ref just didn’t think it was plausible that it was me who made that pass but rather someone in closer proximity to Miller…whatever I cry nightly about it…

This game got out of hand early. We had scored about 8 goals (at least) in the first period. Justin took the high road at the first intermission, telling us that we should take it easy and work on passing. We came out the 2nd period looking obviously different. A bit more passive, working it to our Ds. We still played, but the urgency was obviously not where it was in the first period. When the second intermission came, some representative (I’m guessing their captain) came over to our team huddle and told us to destroy them - to keep playing. We had respect for that, so we obliged.

A later goal Miller notched (his 3rd or 4th), was a product of our forechecking. Their defenseman had the puck in their corner and panicked as I brought the pressure. He committed the cardinal sin on defense by throwing the puck right in front of his own net, where Miller was waiting. BOOM! I was exited at both my influence on this play and his excellent read & positioning that I had my hands up after what was probably the 10th goal of the evening, so some Lebowski bench players had some words for me for acting excited to play the game. I understand how this behavior could’ve been perceived as irritating, but what did you think was going to happen when you tell us to run up the score?

Final score - Too much - Not Enough

VS THE GREEN HORNETS

The way our league is broken down, Da Bulls, Nice Marmot, and us are in a dogfight for 1st, and The Green Hornets & Lebowski are the bottom feeders fighting for the last playoff spot. This one was anticipated to be another ugly one but you never know when one of these teams will surprise you like when Lebowski had a quick 3-0 lead on us earlier in the season.

I can actually provide accurate scoring information on this game as I have the scoresheet (framed) here. 

Goal 1: Miller and I are in the high-slot on our respective sides of the ice. Steve’s carrying the puck and tries to get it across to me, but it’s a high pass (perhaps deflected) fluttering towards my chest. I gloved it to my stick, and shot it through.

Goal 2: This one started very typically with me coming into the zone hot on the left side off a sick pass from our defensemen. They played this one well with two defensemen back. I passed it across to Miller when he entered the zone, and crept behind him. He found me with a sick backhanded saucer on the right side and all I thought was DO NOT MISS THIS. Filthy play.

Goal 3: This was essentially a breakaway, even though there was a defender on my right side the whole way. I was bearing down on the goaltender going about 9/10ths speed, faked across and went to stuff it in the left side backhanded. The fake worked, sending the goalie flying to the right, but I had run out of space and stuffed it outside the post on the side of the net. The puck sorta stayed there for Miller, who made a heads-up play in taking out the trash. It just occurred to me that I could’ve scored a hat trick in under 10 minutes.

Goal 4: This was Ben’s goal, but Miller and I assisted. Are you paying attention? Miller and I have a 4 goal point streak alive right now. WTF? I wish I could’ve remembered this goal a bit better but the more memorable one came later when Ben roofed it.

Goal 6: I have a vague recollection of this goal. I know I was on the left post and that I had been given a sick pass across. Turns out it was from Miller. GO FIGURE. Hatty.

Goal 8: This was Ben’s roofjob. Sick. He fit it over the netminder’s shoulder in the smallest opening. At least from my perspective it looked small but maybe it was a better idea from where he was standing. Love it either way. Steve and I got assists just for witnessing this. It made sense at the time. This is how the refs work. 

Goal 9: On this rush later in the 3rd period, our lines did a half-change and I found myself on the ice with Ryan and Gregg. Ryan had the puck and either missed the net or dumped it - perhaps both - and it ended up in the left corner. I pivoted and saw both players bearing down on the net. I threaded it to Gorski (in better position), and he put it away. The assist goes to…Ryan. Whatever, bro.

Goal 10: On the power play, Andy and I were together 2-on-1. We played catch with it for 4 passes as the goaltender was trying to figure out who would shoot. Andy did. 

Miller (1g 5a) and myself (3g 4a) scored 13 points combined. This output was a new career high, but even in a blowout success like this: what stays in my mind are the missed opportunities. I tried to wrap one rebound I corralled in front of the net around the sprawled out goaltender, and hit iron. One clean breakaway I just blew (I think I lost possession), and on the broken scoring breakaway where I missed a wide open backhand put-away after juking the goalie. That one needed The Finisher to come in and git’ er done.

We play these guys again next week, but at the moment we’re gearing up for Da Bulls tomorrow. As you can see they have 5 players that are top scorers in the league, where we have 3:

They have some fast guys and will send 4 players up on offense (at least) so we’re going to have to play loads of defense. Should be a fast pace. 

Week 8: Mark It Zero vs. Lebowski

Nice Marmot has a bye week this week, so we’re looking to move into a first place tie yet again this season with a win tonight. We got a new player, Ryan Murphy, who by his ultra-Irish name already proved he would be a good skater for us. Derek stepped it up by bringing Sam Adams Winter Lager, so it’s on now.

VS LEBOWSKI

We needed to have a strong first period in this game and we did. Everyone was passing and communicating out there; it was a beautiful thing. It didn’t take us very long to get on the board. Steve had the puck in the slot, I remember making some quick noise to him to let him know I was there, and he shoveled a pass across that I buried. 

It was 1-0 for a long time. Probably the majority of the first period. Even though we were dominating gameplay, their goalie was coming up with some timely saves and they did a fine job keeping it close. 

Our fan section arrived just in time for the start of the 2nd period. Ryan, Pete, Tyler, and Adam brought the noise as we finally padded our lead. I remember Juke scoring one in the high slot and newcomer Ryan trickling one through the goalie, shrugging on the way back to center ice. My next tally was just a hard fought garbage goal. As the puck was thrown on net, I fired another shot, goaltender tried to freeze it up, I pulled the puck out, went to my backhand, and put it away. The only person nearby seemed to be the ref, so I skated over and gave him a quick hug.

Final score: 5-0. Justin gets his first shutout and we move back into a 1st place tie with Nice Marmot. We have a bye week this week and will play 2 games next week. One against the Green Hornets and the other against Da Bulls - the two Debbie Downer teams who didn’t Lebowskify their name.

CLOSE CALLS: I tried to go through somebody one-on-one. I gotta practice that because I’ve been slipping of late. It’s time to burn people old school and just go around them. Miller and I had some excellent puck movement down low that created some quality chances on offense for both us and the defensemen.

stats (season) 

League Scoring Leaderboard:

Feller, Jason   NICE MARMOT  14G  14A  28P  0PIM

Ullman, Tony   DA BULLS   8G  15A  23P  4PIM

Levine, Eric   MARK IT ZERO  12G  10A  22P  0PIM

Gibilisco, Kevin  NICE MARMOT  5G  14A  19P  6PIM

Griffey, Mark   NICE MARMOT  10G  8A  18P  6PIM

Kush, James   DA BULLS  5G  11A  16P  0PIM

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)