Feb 10, 2015 | Martin Mirt | 681 views
Game 23
Rematch with Halton Hills, they pushed us to the edge in the last tournament final. We felt we were the team to beat. Let's show them we still feel that way.
Back in the Acton Arena. A bit of a late start as we wait for ref's. We get a good 15 minute warm up before the game. Talk in the dressing room is to give us your best. Do the basics well, back check, fore check, make it tough for them to make a play. Halton really liked the cross ice play for the break out, so the high man needs to pick up that player when he jumps off the boards and break up that pass. If we do that well their chances will be few. First shift was a little shaky as Halton gained our zone quickly and went down low got the puck out front and Fahmy stopped the opening shot and covered up. We picked up the pace and started to control the play in their end. With just under 5 minutes left in the first Droog finds Haffey cutting left to right at Halton's blue line. Haffey carries it in and as he get's to the right face off dot, he fires one high blocker side, just inside the left post. It's 1-0 Wolves. The pace kept up but our high guy cutting off their break out was being effective and we totally won the puck possession battle as the 1st came to an end. First period shots were 7-2 for the Wolves. We get a quick start to the 2nd. 30 seconds in Beech sends Hooper in all alone up the middle. Their D get's a hook in and the ref's hand goes up. Hooper battles through the hook and finds himself right on top of the goal tender, and parks the puck right under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead. With about 3 1/2 minutes to go Halton's D get's the puck at their blue line on the left side. The defender blows a tire and Baker is there to pick up the puck. It's a 2 on 1 and the defender takes away the pass and Baker fires low inside the right post and it's 3-0 Wolves. The next line jumps on and the boys smell blood. We win the draw and get it deep. Hooper is able to dig the puck out of the corner and feeds Haffey in front and he buries it with just 17 seconds between goals for a 4-0 lead. That brings us to the end of the 2nd. Shot were 7-6 Wolves. The 3rd starts with Halton showing a bit of their frustration and we're on the power play. We get sloppy in our end and are not able to make that break out pass. We lose it to the Thunder who get behind the net and send it out front. Farnham stops the first shot but the rebound is out of his reach and the Thunder get on the board short handed. 4-1 Wolves. We go through a spurt of ill advised passes and or attempts to carry out of our zone and Farnham ends up busier than normal but makes some key pad saves to hold Halton to 1 goal. With play getting a little chippy we tell Farnham to cover every thing he can as we want to slow things up and not let Halton pick up any momentum. With 4 1/2 to go in the 3rd Mirt intercepts a pass and sends Schal up the right side. Schal loses the puck ahead of himself and chases it into the corner and as he heads toward the back of the net he sees Baker floating into the high slot. Schal put's it on the tape and Baker finishes with the puck ending up in the top of the net for a 5-1 lead. 1 1/2 minutes later we're in Halton's end again and Carr-Pries is controlling the puck behind the net. The play moves to the left corner and Carr-Pries finds Haffey in tight to the net and it's a bang bang play to make it 6-1. That's our final, great effort boys, way to stay focussed as we battled through some struggles moving the puck in the 3rd. The final shots were 22-18 Wolves. The hardest worker went to Haffey. 12 days till we play again and then it's 3 games in 7 days. Let's keep the focus, and build to the next level. Congrat's on a great win over a tough opponent.
Burn the Ships!!
Coach Martin