Schlidaver International Hockey: Suds Beat Cats in OT!

Schlitz (3) vs Tigers (6)

Blue Jackets Division Playoffs

Monday September 13th

HinghamC 1030pm

4-3 OT WIN!

The Schlitz took to the ice for their first Playoff game of the Summer season on Monday night against old friends El Tigre and turned in a strong effort, and exciting performance for a big win. This was Larry's Suds squad from waaaay back at the end of the season and the team took the ice with a fair amount of optimism, despite the dreadful clang that the Cads made as they lost their one and out playoff game a week ago.

Here's what the crew looked like at game time.

Lizzy in Net.

D1: DWH and Bauer

D2: Campbell and Jeff

O1: Baker, Mitch and AK

O2: Nelson, Jasse and Larry

O3: Gregson, Daley, and Roman.

A good looking line up to face old rival the Tigers who looked to have 9 or 10 on this night, some decent talent but no ringers and definitely down a few of their better stars. One noticeable absence was their captain, the guy that wears number 8 and has a set of stylish cooperalls. He's a great player and thankfully was nowhere to be seen on Monday night.

The game got going and it was clear from early on that the Gold could have their way with things if they played hard and kept after the feisty Red shirts.

Unfortunately Team Kitty would strike first. This after Mike and Jeff discussed the "man to watch" (number 3) and Jeff professed that he "had 'im" only to lose track of him, right in front of the net where he took a pass and buried a shot from 5 feet. Tigers 1-0 after just 2 minutes.

The Gold was bringing it though and the crew played very well all the way around. Despite some Zebra trouble early for Dr. Campbell (2 penalties in the first) we were able to generate some decent offense. Eric Bauer actually went first for checking not long after the Tiger goal. No bloods on the penalty and in fact the Gold did a good job keeping the play in the Red end despite being a man down. Campbell then went 6 minutes later for his first and this time the penalty kill would be so good it came out +1. And by that I mean Dan "with hands" Herbert would collapse a nice play and take a pass from Mike Daley and put it home to tie the game with about 7 minutes to go in the first.
Campbell would take his second on practically his next shift and he would clearly have to be careful for the rest of the night if he wanted to stick around. Again the PK came up strong and got several good chances on Team Tigre. The first would end tied 1-1.

The second would see lots of good things from the Gold. The forwards were cycling, gathering handfulls of scoring chances. The Tiger keeper deserves some props for standing tall. He wasn't spectacular but he was solid and kept the game tied.
Unfortunately about five minutes into the second Red would get a nice breakaway chance when the Gold D had pinched and scored to take back the lead 2-1. The rest of the period would play out with the only exception of Red taking a penalty about 8 minutes in. No blood on the power play and again the PK held the advantage 1-0 over the PP. ... if you take my meaning...
But despite the good things happening all over the ice the Gold had not much to show on the scoreboard. Daley and Roman showed some nice moves while working together. DWH was a force all night controlling the play and getting chances offensively. All the forwards were changing quick and getting good pressure. Despite all this the second would end with the Suds down 2-1.

The third would certainly start in the right way for Team Beercan and the hard work of the Larry, Nelson Jasse line would start to pay off. Three minutes into the third Campbell would send a shot in and Jasse would feed the rebound to Nelson who would bury it to tie the game 2-2. The Gold felt like they were in business. Unfortunately the good feeling, and time in the Red end didn't translate into goals. The game was getting late. Under 10, under 5 minutes left and still tied 2-2. Then a breakdown hurt the gold. Again giving up a rush the Tigers would break fast and score a nice goal on a hard shot with just over 2 minutes left in the game.
The Gold was down but there was no head hanging. Just hard skating and effort.
With 33 seconds Gold took "time" and Lizzy went to the bench. The cans would put this group on the ice. Daley, AK, Roman and Baker with Campbell and Jeff.
The following faceoff resulted in the puck in the neutral zone but the

gold took it into the zone with less than 15 seconds left. Here's where things get crazy.
Baker would send the puck low from the left side. AK would send a shot that ended up with Mike Daley behind the net. Less than 5 seconds now. Magic Mike Daley would walk out to the crease get one shot off that hit the side and came back, another shot off the pads and back, the third time he deposited the puck in the twine. When the D looked up the clock said 1.3 seconds. Tie game and now that meant OVERTIME.
Hard to remember the last time we had and OT game for the playoffs... but maybe the blogger is just fuzzy. Anyway... after Jeff explained to the Zeebs that it was a playoff game... off we went.
Now. We couldn't just have Overtime. Our old sour pussed friend, Zeebra number 2 would make sure to give us a little twist. He would call Mike Daley (of all people) for a hold just 50 seconds into the overtime period. Luckily this was just the boost that the Gold was looking for. The PK had played great earlier and now late was no different. They would get good chances all the way along and the penalty had just ended when this was the setup on the ice.
DWH and Bauer at the points. Jasse, Nelson and Larry up front. The play kept in the Red end DWH was pressing the play into the zone, so much so, in fact that the bench was yelling for someone to cover the point. Larry would get a nice shot off and the rebound would come right to Dr. Jasse. The good Doc would line up the slapper and would connect. Only trouble was it would be slow wobbler that would end up out front. Not his intention but it all ended well when DWH would scoop it up and wrist it home for the W. I. N..
The Schlitz poured off the bench to congratulate the guys on the ice. Lots of smiles and pats on the back and a good feeling to end the night with.

Game Stars
3rd Star: 2 helpers for the Good Doctor Jasse. Dr. Jasse with only 3 games played this summer is sporting a sick 5 assists on his scoring total. Nice work in short time Doc. Attaboy.

2nd Star: Magic Mike Daley. The man with the knack for scoring timely goals. That's a couple at least the Blogger can recall this season, the first being a game winner in the closing seconds against the Leafs. Great work all night by the rangey center... and once again... terrific goal with 1.3 seconds to send the game to OT. Incredible it only gets him the 2nd star... because...

1st Star: Dan with bleepin Hands Herbert baby. Long tall and dangerous was on the prowl all night making plays and scoring MASSIVE goals. Nice work.

Honorable Mention1: Lizzy played great making big stops when needed in the third.

Honorable Mention2: AK for playing great all night making things happen and also not losing the show when hauled down with no call right in front of the Gold bench in the third. Good work.

Talk about a good feeling. Nice cold adult beverages were

served in the post game parking lot courtesy of Campbell and the Dans, and a very pleasant postgame ensued. Nothing major for a Monday night but it was a big win and there was lots to discuss.