Suds and Blues Battle to a draw

Schlitz (14) vs Blues

Wednesday August 19

Quincy 7:00pm

4-4 Tie

A hot night by the swap gave a steamy backdrop to a classic back and forth contest with longtime rival the Blues that appropriately ended in a draw. How many of these games have we played against these guys? If only the Schlidaveur International Statistics Division hadn't become a ressesion casualty... I could tell you. I could tell you how many back and forth up a goal, down a goal, games we've engaged in with these guys that we are so evenly matched with. This was just the most recent in the long string.

The game was an early start but we had no trouble turning out a strong eleven for the contest, led by the Manager of the Pipes and Pads CEO/BMF Matt Kilroy. The rest of the crew was:
D1 Dave Di;Jeff
D2 Mark R; Steve Baker
O1 Dr. Jasse, iJosh and A.K. Douville
O2 Roman, Neil "R.O.Y." Shah, Matvey and Howard Heppelman

There was eager anticipation in the pregame room... even some "natural" defenseman talk... but the early going didn't look very pretty. Mainly the fact that the Gold had a some difficulty with getting 5 guys on the ice for the faceoff. We managed to start the game and stay out of our own way for the first few minutes then settled into the rythem of the game. It was clear we would get our chances, and with some effort we could handle what they had. On the flipside, we couldn't be 1. Stupid or 2. Lazy or we would pay.

We did indeed pay as the Blues would strike first just under 13:00 in the first. A classic breakdown in our own end and a good bang bang play from #35 on the Blues who buried it.
The Suds would rally a bit and hold it together which was nice to see. AK would keep his cool in an early scuffle with a Blue that resulted in a power play just under the 10 minute mark of the first. The Gold would build some momentum and later in the period would finaly break through. Dave Diloretto would make a nice interception on a pass with help from Jasse and would bury his chance to tie the game. Dave played great, as he's done all season and was a truly stabilizing force on D all night, and then jumping up into the play to create shots on offence. The first would end 1-1.
The Gold would continue the momentum into the second and Mike Jasse would land a rebound that came in from Dave at the point and Neil down in front and would result in the games first lead for the Suds courtesy of the Good Doctor.
Given the game and the up and down theme you know what comes next.... The Gold would give one back after a classic breakdown in our own end. The puck would go "round the world" in our own end with just about everyone on the ice "almost" getting there to touch/challenge their guy or the puck. The result? Pass, pass, pass, shoot, tie game, 8:34 left in the second. Then the Gold would continue the slide with Zebra trouble. Howard would go for a slash at 7:17. Mark would go for a hold at 5:20, and to close the period out Matvey would go with :25 remaining in the second, and a good string of penalty kill minutes in the books by the suds. After 2... 2-2.

During the second intermission there was lots of "come on... we're right there...", and "just a little more effort" and the boys felt tired... in the game... able to win it... but tired and trying to psyche up for the stretch. It was there. The Blues had their regular crew, 35 was back in form after missing a few of our matches, but more importantly they didn't have the second Robbins... the young one with the red pants that has troubled us so. The game was there for the taking... but we'd have to take it. The Blues for sure wouldn't give it to us.

With that in mind the Gold applied themselves to the task with all they had. There were lots of fans for the game. Matvey and Jasse had wife and child on site, AK had some friends and there were a bunch of folks fo the Blues. The game would look like it was going to go the Gold's way when we got a break about 5 minutes in. AK would make terrific break up and created his own breakaway just outside the opposing blue line. AK would keep ahead of the D and make a nice drawn out move that finished beautifully... Suds up 3-2.
It was less than 4 minutes playing time later that we were unable to keep the wheels from falling off the cart with anohter Zebrapocalypse. Matvey would go for a "body check"(iffy), then with the delayed penalty coming Neil would get called for a "Trip" and both would go at 8:08. Neil had made a play on the forward in a strong backcheck and dove hitting the puck first but dropping the man. Bang, bang. Down 5-3. It only took the blues 41 seconds to tie the game... and really it was less than that.
With time short the Suds tried to grind it out, but somehow it was slipping away. The worse came under 2 minutes left when the Blues would score again, on another weak breakdown to go ahead 4-3. It had all come unravelled for the Gold, but they weren't in the ground yet... and there was still some time on the clock. The Beercans would gain possession and then a faceoff in the Blue end as we came to just over a minute. Dave smartly called for the goalie and we pulled Matt for the extra attacker. iJosh would join Dave and Jeff on D, and I think the Russians and Neil on offense. The Gold would manage to keep the play in, but just barely as time wound down. Neil would gain possesion and take a serpentine trip through the zone, masterfully keeping possesion as Blues flailed at him. He curled at the top of the zone and dished to Jeff, back at the right point and standing RIGHT on the line. The zebra was practically looking over his shoulder as Jeff collected the puck on the line and flung it low and wide on the net. It took a hop and a skip and plunked right into the far corner for a tie. The Blues griped that the puck was out, but the Zeeb stood firm... hell... Jeff had to talk his D partner Dave Di into it after the game but I'm here to tell you... It stayed in the zone. Tie game. 4-4. 30 seconds left. That was it.

Game over, and something slavaged from the night, a tie that felt kinda like a win given how much of a bummer it would have been to lose.
Another classic with the Blues. I'm sure there will be a few more.

Game Stars.... ahh.... maybe not with a tie. Honorable mentions to...

Dave Diloretto for a goal and an assist...and steady D when we needed it.

Neil Shah for two helpers and great work all night.... especially that last shift.

Dr. Jasse for a Goal and an assist... and just bein' the Doctor.

AK for the nice breakaway goal... AND keeping his cool drawing penalites not taking them.

More importantly big ups to the Jasse's and the Nikhamiks for coming out to see the game. Always nice to have some fans... big and small.