Zombies fall to Predators.

Cadavers (2) vs Predators (3)
Thursday April 8th
Bavis Arena 9:30pm

4-2 loss


The Cadavers, the lone surviving member of Schlidaveur Enterprises remaining in the playoffs, took to the ice on Thursday to play a very scrappy and competitive Predators team. Unfortunately the result was not what we were looking for, but the game was a tight contest and Team Zombie certainly had their moments. Lets get right to the lineups.
Net: Jim Sullivan
D1: George, Valenti
D2: DWH, Jeff
O1: Larry, Chris, Roman
O2: Goody, Scott, Pete
O3: Hammit, Gregson, Blake

Lets say this about the green wearing Preds. They had their Playoff roster. A couple of half shields and a guy with tape numbers on his generic shirt (44), so clearly they were prepared and brought the talent. Beyond that they let the talent play and there were very few shifts that didn't see at least one of their strong players on the ice. This included Red helmet #8 Newcomb, and the centerman #14 with no shield that would score just a ridiculous tally in the first. The aforementioned 44 was troublesome because if you didn't keep both eyes on him (and hands) he'd skate right by you, and often did so to the Blogger. It was clear, from very early on that the Zombies would have their hands full.
The first period would get going and it didnt take long for the Red to act in frustration. The Green would rip off a couple of shots and by the time Hammit had chased 44 around the ice once or twice he caught him and stapled him to the side boards and went for the first penalty about 3 minutes into the game. The Red would survive the penalty kill and really worked themselves into the Green end more as the period went on. As the shifts rolled the Red would get some opportunities, and the longer the game would remain scoreless the better they felt. Jim would turn aside a bunch of good chances and showed his consistent stability.
Before the end of the period #14 would strike on a nice break that DWH was all over. In fact DWH was all over the guy as he drove to the net, then flipped the puck up as he was being ridden off and it went top shelf over Sully's shoulder for the goal. Speaking from someone who saw it from a bout 3 feet away... it was ridiculous. The first would end 1-0 Preds.
The second would progress much as the first, with more wheezing. Jim would pull out some terrific stops, and the Red held together very well under the constant pressure. Still, scoring chances were infrequent and eventually the Green guns would get us. Before that Larry would go for a hook at some point. No blood on the PK as I recall... The Preds would score again when old tape numbers 44 would rack up another sick talley and put the bad guys up by 2. Roman would be the next to fall victim to frustration as he laid a nice check on his man but would take a seat in the box for his efforts. Not long after... but not on the power play... 44 would score again, this time with help from #8 red helmet and the second period would end 3-0 Predators.
Team Zombie faced a serious uphill climb in the third. The situation would get worse before it got better when 44 and 8 would team up yet again, this time with 8 providing the finish on a bang bang play and it was 4-0 Predators early in the third. Things finally came around just a little for the Dead in Red and good things began to happen.
George was clearly in meltdown mode as he verbally berated a teammate as the Red struggled again with the breakout. But moments later the play was in the offensive zone, George had fed it up to Dan Gregson who made a great play and in turn zipped a pass to Dr.Pounds who was in the slot and finished the play for the first Zombie score of the night. There was no small hint of irony as George congratulated his teammates after the goal. Regardless, it was good play all the way around by everyone on the ice, and it finally managed to turn the tide.
Larry's line had been up and down all night, but was starting to get better chances. Only a minute or two after Scott's goal they would put it together. Larry would keep the play and work the zone, he sent it to Dan Herbert and he would send it with force to the net. Chris Fosdick was there to bang it home and suddenly the Zombies actually had a pulse. ...well... you know what i mean.
It was nice to see the Green react by essentially keeping its best line(s) on the ice for the rest of the game. I think 8 might have taken a minute off in the last 10, but I could be wrong. He and 44 and 14 would pretty much play the rest of the way making it extra difficult for the Red to keep the momentum going. Eventually Hammit would go once more for a rough, but he showed good restraint by simply staying in the game, and once again there was no scoring on the penalty.
The Red would fight hard, Jim would again close the door when needed but there would be no dramatic comeback for this club. A bit too little, a bit too late against a team that was going to be hard to beat.
So thats how it would go for the Zombies. 4-2 final and a first class ticket to the "losers" bracket and a matchup on Tuesday coming up. We'll find out who we are playing and have an email out for roster purposes Monday.
No game stars.
... but ....
We can say, in an honorable mention capacity, that the Cads did take the fourth period... and maybe the fifth. Its always a "good" night when the zamboni driver tips his hat and reminds you to pick up the empties on his way out of hte parking lot. Kudos to all who stayed... you know who you are...