Feb 24, 2018 | sbarber | 657 views
Playoff Hockey at its Best
Today the Novice Rep IceDogs headed down to Blyth for the final game of the series. Winner moves on to the Championship bracket while the loser moves to the Consolation bracket
With the first game of this series a write-off, the second game had shown these 2 teams were very comparable and players from both sides stepped up their game with drive and determination. Today's game was going to be a beauty...
The first period was a flurry of end to end rushes, shots and puck battles. The Crusaders got on board early in the first. The IceDogs retaliated 3 minutes later with a blast from Carter G. tipped on net by Karden C. and the rebound buried into the back of the net by Gryphon B.
Game on.
The tie only lasted a couple minutes though when the Crusaders came back down and buried another one ending the first period up by one.
The Rep IceDogs have been in this situation before so they were not rattled. 4 minutes into the second Owen M. dishes the puck up to Ethan S. who then danced around the lone Crusader Defenseman and blasts one blocker side on the Crusader goalie to tie the game.
3 minutes later, Karden C. receives a pass from goalie Peyton L. and walks through all 5 Crusader players (and quite possibly the ticket taker at the door as well as the zamboni driver), and goes top shelf blocker side to put the Rep IceDogs up by one.
Second period ended with the IceDogs up by 1 heading into the third. Then things got tense.
It needs to be mentioned that this game was a spirited affair. After 2 games these teams had developed a definite disliking for each other. Penalties, checks attempts to get under each other's skin combined with goal scoring certainly made this a great playoff hockey game.
4 minutes into the third the Crusaders tied it up. 3 minutes later Braden N. fed Owen M. with a pass who ripped one and Karden C. pounced on the rebound to put the IceDogs up by 1 again. Back and forth the play went with rushes and breakaways (and maybe a caved in steel toe boot - but that story is for another time...). Goalie Peyton L. made some big time saves to keep the boys in it and up by 1. Then 2 minutes left, after much pressure the Crusaders scored tying the game at 4 apiece.
That's how it ended in regulation. 4-4. Now on to sudden death overtime.
Right off the drop off the puck the Rep IceDogs carried the play into the Crusader end blasting shot after shot at the Crusader goalie who made save after save after save.
With 6 minutes left in the game the Crusader player broke free and found the puck on his stick for a breakaway and buried it into the IceDog net completing the comeback.
It was a tough defeat for the IceDogs, although they made a game and a series of it after the first game. They had every opportunity to turn tail and run but like a bulldog, they stood their ground and fought back with everything they had. A bounce here or there and the result would have been different.
Although a loss is not ideal, there are lots of lessons and a ton of growing as a player to be found in game and a series like this. Battling back from a huge loss in the first game, battling back from a 2 goal deficit heading into the third period of the second game to win and not giving up and battling all game in this one only gives the Rep IceDog players more experience and understanding on what it takes to win, be an actual team and to be a great teammate.
Proud of this team.
Now on to the round robin in the Consolation Division...