Suds Stunned by D-Minus: Crushing Loss

Schlitz (8) vs D-Minus (9)

Play-in game for Islanders Division Playoffs

Tuesday March 31st

Bavis Arena 10:20pm

3-1 Loss

Ooooooh boy. The blogger was glad to be safe home in bed when this debacle took place. Thankfully the guestbloggers have come forward, after a few days to put some perspective on things, and have given us something of a game story to try and figure out what happened. Major ups to iJosh for his usuall excellent work, and to Scott Pounds as well for his humorus contributions. Well, without further delay... lets start with iJosh:

With the season on the brink the Schlitz waltzed into Bavis Arena for a play-in show down with D Minus. The team had a good showing with a full squad of 13 in attendance. Everyone seemed confident that the job could get done and that the Suds could continue on into the next round of the playoffs on Thursday.

So the game would begin with the forwards of: AK, Dr. Pounds, Jasse, Steve Baker, Matt Elliott, Nelson, Matvey, Neil and Mike Daley.

The defensemen would be: Capt George, iJosh, Mark Reynolds and DWH.

Early on Schlitz would control the play. Nice passing, good movement and definitely good opportunities. But nothing to show for it. Defensively the team looked pretty good early as well. Then midway through the 1st the first mistake would cost Schlitz. In the defensive zone with the puck moving forward, a bad pass would be made and deflect to a D- player. The defense would scramble back, but it was too late. D- would make a pass and make a shot. Lizzy would make the initial save, but it would not be enough to prevent the goal. That would leave the team down 1-0. Somewhere in there Mr. Reynolds would get the first penalty of the game. That one would be killed. But the period would still end with Schlitz down 1-0.

The second period would see more good play without much to show for it. But the few mistakes made would be costly. D- would net another goal early on the power play as Neil Shah was called for a ticky-tack call that even the other ref admitted should have been let go. But the damage would be done and the Golden Suds would trail 2-0. Later in the 2nd, Steve Baker would get cross checked from behind by the goalie. After a few seconds, Steve would collect his thoughts and go after the goal keep. The bad news, Steve was headed to the box. The good news, so was someone else to serve for the goalie. Though the ref explained that he had the cross check before Steve retaliated. So that was a power play lost. We've all been there. No harm done. We suck on the power play anyway. So back to five on five hockey. More opportunities were had. A few tips that the Minus goalkeeper just kept finding a way to get his stick/glove/body in the way. So with 2 periods down, Schlitz would be 2 goals down 2-0.

Down only 2 goals and some good play (mixed with some fatal errors) it wasn't unreasonable to think that the Golden Suds could mount a comeback. Team continued to push the puck and take chances. But it wasn't until Steve Baker made a few nifty moves going around the net, squaring in front and making a nice shot did the Schlitz finally get on the board. This would leave us behind only 1 goal with about 7 minutes or so left to play. There were definitely chances. But again nothing to show for it. Then Capt George would push the puck forward leaving only iJosh on the blueline. After a shot sped out toward the high slot, iJosh opted to not chase the puck (seeing that he had no backup) and started to retreat. Matvey was on the chase as well, but as iJosh got to the defensive blue line, he tripped and left Lizzy all alone. The puck would hit her in the shoulder and flip over her and into the net giving the Minus a 3-1 lead. On the next shift, Reynolds would get called on another penalty and be admonished for shooting the puck up the boards while play was still going. No matter, the game would end without any more major action.

And thus ends the season for the Schlitz.

Unfortunately there would be no 4th period. It seems no one thought they could handle the biblical storm and decided to row on home.

==

Ug. Thanks for the story Josh... grim and depressing as it may be...

Lets see what the always ticklish Dr. Pounds had to add concerning this playoff performance.

Here's Scott:

Their goalie was a criminal. We wuz robbed!

He was on fire

and he stoned us.