Daveurs Double Up! Both teams advance to Thursday!

Schlitz vs Blues

Monday September 21

Canton 9:30pm

5-2 win!

There was more doubleheader playoff action last night in Canton and this week was both similar and markedly different than last. Both games were very close, and tied most of the way just like last week's games but this time the Suds and Zombies pulled off the win in both cases and now advance to face each other on Thursday night at the same rink.

The first game saw a very nice Schlitz lineup against ancient rival's the Blues in the first elimination game of the evening. Here's the lineup.

D1: George, Jeff

D2: Dave, Mark

O1: Nelson, Steve, Pete

O2: Neil, Kevin, and AK

Matt in Net

This game would go through a long process of "feeling it out" and finding the pace of the game as the teams went back and forth. Both keepers warmed to the task and the Zeebras were calling things tight as there was clearly a competitive "playoff" atmosphere on the ice.
Steve Baker would go for a rough, a match with 38 from the Blues only 3 minutes into the game. Capraro would go at the end of the first for an interferece. No blood on any of the power plays. The first would end 0-0.

The second would continue back and forth, Kilroy made some just tremendous stops, scooping up anything that came near him. Capraro (thug) would go again on a iffy holding the stick call but again the PK did just fine. Then the Blues would get a break. A classic unable to clear problem in our own end and plunk it was 1-0 Blues with 6 and a half left in the first.

Capraro wasn't done making the scoresheet as he would find teh net, on a helper from Steve to tie the game back up 1-1 with just under 4 left in the second. The play would continue, fast (relatively) and intense and we would go to the third still tied at one.

The third got off to a bang when Kevin Parker and 38 from team Blu would go for matching roughs and the sides skated 5-5. The Blues would take another penalty, and the Suds, AK in particular showed great composure resisting the retaliation and staying clear of the box the rest of the way. Miracle... I know.

The play continued past the 6 minute mark and George made a long end to end push that resulted in another snuffed shot by the Blue keeper. Worse yet number 6 (red pants) would scoop up the puck and race down the other end on a long break away and would finish it past Kilroy and the Blues would lead 2-1 with only 5 minutes left.

Once again, the pride of Old Milwaulkee would rise to the top and the tuckered Suds would take the game right back to the Blues over the next 3 minutes. Then 35 would lose his cool and once again AK would do a first rate job in drawing the penalty without retaliation and off 35 went to the box with 2:29 remaining on an interference (mugging). It was classic. He popped off as the entire Blue bench was screaming at him to keep his cool. Not to be smug but that due was overdue for a call all night long and it couldn't have been sweeter for it to come when it did.

The result was astounding. The Suds would hold the play in the zone, make a nice couple of passes and George would unleash his best slapshot of the game that would find its way through traffic and into the net for the tie with just 2:11 on the clock. Credit Kevin Parker with the assist.

Obviously nothing was over yet, and the Suds refused to relinqish the momentum they had worked so hard for. The play stayed in the blue end, and a minute later the puck would go around the zone from Nelson to Steve then back out to George who topped his best slapper on the previous shot, with an even better one that would hit paydirt and gave the Suds the lead with 1 minute to play. Just massive.

The blues would pull their keeper but couldn't muster a comeback and first Neil then Nelson would would pot empty netters at 41 and 18 seconds respectively to put this one, and the Blues on ice.

The Blues were very stand up and congratulatory in the handshake and there has rarely been a more satisfying playoff win for the Schlitz... other than championships... as far as I can recall.

Good stuff. Major ups to everyone involved.

Game Stars:

3rd Star: Matt Kilroy. Excellent work by the BMF/CEO as he turns away a lot of rubber in this one. Our boy continues to gain experience in the pipes.

2nd Star: Steve Baker. The man with the wicked shot didn't get a goal but 2 assists and a lot of legwork on the night. Good game.

1st Star: George "get that coon outta here" Moorachian for two unbelieveable slappers that would tie then win the game for the Suds. A great effort by George all night long and a well deserved game star for the defenseman.

This comment came in this morning from Pete Capraro about this game:

"Grit" is all I have to say for game 1, Braveheart style."

Which brings us... to the nightcap.

Cadavers vs D-Minus

Monday September 21

Canton 10:40pm

4-2 Win!

The nightcap would see a tired group of suds join the 6 guys scheduled to play for Team Zombie. The Dead would defer to the Minus and thier red shirts and would again play as the Schlitz for the sake of visibility. Here's how the lineup went.

D1: Steve, Mark

D2: George, Jeff

O1: Roman, Matvey, and Hammit

O2: Nelson, AK, and Howard

O3: Neil, Scott, and Ken G.

Lizzy in Net.

Lots of double ups as you can see from the roster.

This game was not nearly as contentious as the first game, as witnessed by the complete lack of a penalty from either team for the whole game. The Dead in Yellow would strike first, about 3 minutes into the game when AK Douville would bury a pass from Neil and put them up 1-0. AS really good night all the way around for Ken who had good chances all night.

The score would stay that way until well into the second.

Jeff would make a horrible clearing attempt on the right boards that was scooped up and bandied about in front of Lizzy until they popped it home for tie. This was only a minute or so into the second. The play would continue at a slower, but still urgent pace for both teams until the Dead would break the tie with a bang bang play of their own. Keeping the puck in the red end Mark would feed Nelson who would feed Mitch who would tap home the puck for the lead after a lot of gritty hard work in front of the net. This goal has been up for debate and probably could be credited to Ken G or Nelson but from my perspective Ken touched it last so he's getting the goal weather he wants it or not.

Before the period was out Old Reliable Nelson would surface again with more mucking in grinding that would result in paydirt. Nelson would bang home a play from Jeff, and Mitch and would give the Golden Dead the 3-1 lead with a minute left in the second. We would go to the third 3-1 Zombies.

D-Minus wasn't done and again capitalizing on a shakey play in our own end would make the game 3-2 with 7 minutes remaining. That led to some anxious moments on the Zombie bench but those fears would be put away when Roman would do his best Nelson imitation and woudl plunk one home from the side of the net after mucking about the zone for a minute or so. Credit Matvey and Howard with the helpers on Roman's goal.
That was it. Game over 4-2 and a pair of nice playoff wins for the 'daveurs.

Game Stars

3rd Star: Lizzy. Another very solid playoff performance from our Gal in the pipes. Great work.

2nd Star: Ken Goldenberg for a goal and an assist and an all around good night.

1st Star: Do I have to say his name? Doubling up. Mucking and grinding like he... likes it. Working hard and making others play hard around him. A goal and an assist at least. Nelson Bleeping Sharfman. Great work as always my man.

So now we are down to the nitty gritty.

Playoff 'Daveur.

Thursday Night.

Canton 10:40pm (I know the schedule says 10:50 but lets go with the normal rink time)

Bring it. Loser goes home.