Sunday October 1

Kraken pull away late to defeat Blackhawks

(11)Kraken vs Blackhawks( 8 )

As likely expected when a game ends with such a high score, both teams engaged in what was a spirited affair. May players contributed on the score sheet showing their capability of generating a ton of offense. For a very long stretch, this contest was up for grabs until a late surge by the Kraken put them over the top. Their strongest moments occurred in the last ten minutes or so with C.Cusson stringing back to back tallies to complete his hat trick. A big driving force for the Kraken was the consistent smart play driven by C.Decotis. On nearly every shift, Decotis made something happen whether it was his for checking to recuperate the ball or simply making the right play. There weren’t many dull moments as both sides played with intensity, making it an exciting game for the few that were watching. Ultimately, the strong finish enabled the Kraken to edge out the Blackhawks in a high scoring game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Decotis of the Kraken. His ability to do all the little things right often pays off. Tonight, the skilled forward produced many big plays that resulted in a bunch of points.

Despite valiant effort, Flyers fall short to the Bruins

( 8 )Bruins vs Flyers(6)

The Bruins stormed out of the gate on a bang scoring four consecutive goals by only the ten minute mark. It was a kind of pace where you’d figure would end in a complete landslide for how one team was ready and dialled in while the other have yet to sip their coffee. That being said, the Flyers caffeine intake started to kick in, and all of a sudden there was an actual hockey game going on. The Flyers went on a tear rattling off three straight goals to finally enter the competition.  Form-there, they just kept responding the Bruins goals with tenacity and determination, frequently narrowing the score gap. While the spirited fight was there for the Flyers, they never quite made it in time to even the score. The Bruins were always one step ahead and made sure to secure their slight lead despite a push back. Unfortunately for the Flyers, they couldn’t get there in time as the Bruins rode out the clock to secure the win. M.StMartin led his teammates with four points, Z.StMartin followed up a point less while E.Gabrielli and S.Vitali shared two goals apiece.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Andy Benedetto of the Bruins. The net minder, apart-from a shaky stretch was a rock for his side enabling them to play with a lead throughout the entire match.

Melissa Barbiero comes up huge notching overtime winner for the Canadiens

(4)Wild vs Canadiens(5)

In a thrilling overall match up between the Canadiens and the Wild, Melissa Barbiero emerged as the hero scoring the game winning goal to secure a 5-4 win over the Wild. The game was a roller-coaster of events for the two teams. Goals kept getting traded giving no indication on who would prevail. It was a contest that featured exiting plays, strong goaltending and intense back and forth action. As the game finally entered overtime, Melissa Barbiero capitalised on a critical scoring opportunity, finding the back of the net to seal the win for the Canadiens. Her heroics were met with jubilation-from her bench, as they celebrated a hard fought win over a tough opponent in the Wild. It was a type of game that saw both sides having to grind it out with no real massive point getters. M.Danesi did howver have a strong three point game for the Canadiens. In net, M.Tzouvadakis was able to get the win over his counterpart B.Verducci as both goaltenders gave their side a legit chance to win the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Melissa Barbiero of the Canadiens. Her clutch performance in the extra period showcased her ability to rise to the occasion when her team needed it the most.

Panthers thump Kings

(4)Kings vs Panthers(14)

In a one sided and high scoring affair, the Panthers dominated the Kings, securing a resounding 14-4 victory. The Panthers offense was firing on all cylinders while the Kings  struggled to keep pace in this lopsided matchup. The Panthers offensive onslaught was relentless, as they continuously found the back of the net throughout the whole game. Conversely, the Kings had a tough time containing many of their opposition and struggled to create scoring opportunities of their own. Often, this happens when a team is overall quicker than you as ball possession becomes the pivotal reason as to why games get out of reach. The limited amount of ball control was evident for the Kings as they spend their time chasing rather than dictating the pace. Overall, just a bad night for a side that has the potential to do more. The Panthers had a bunch of players occupy the score sheet with A.Gravel leading the charge with seven points. Other notables include L.Katsifolis, S.Sicuso, M.Chenier and Melissa Barbiero just to name a few as they all chipped in with a bunch of points as well.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Freddy Vigliotti of the Panthers. Regardless who would have been the goaltender due to the lopsided score, F.Vigliotti needed to be good early on in which he was allowing only a total of four goals by the end of the game.

Predators establish early lead, Sabres respond a little too late

(9)Predators vs Sabres(5)

By executing their game plan effectively, scoring multiple goals and controlling the flow of the play, the Predators couldn’t have asked for a better start. They displayed solid offensive and defensive play, making it challenging for the Sabres to generate scoring opportunities. Scoring efforts came-from P.Stroubakis, who buried a pair and M.Kardum that was able to find the back of the net on three occasions. Everything was going perfectly for the Predators until the Sabres finally woke up on a late surge. They managed to make the game more competitive, but couldn’t gain enough ground as time was winding down. The Predators early lead proved to be enough to secure the victory. The final score reflected the Predators dominant play for most of the game, even though the Sabres made a push to narrow the gap.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Vince Romero of the Predators. After getting his first goal, V.Romero went on to set up three more tallies to merit the honour as his clubs most valuable player.

Islanders cruise in easy win over Red Wings

(9)Islanders vs Red Wings(5)

The Islanders barely wasted time to get the ball rolling versus the Red Wings. They scored almost at will while limiting the Red wings to only one goal in 42 minutes. T.Sauk was seeing and saving everything in sight as the net minder remained stubborn in net frustrating the opposition. Apart-from C.Pizzuto scoring twice, the Islanders got balanced scoring in this tilt. The Red Wings were no where to be seen up until a time when it didn’t really matter much. They scored four of their five goals in the remaining minutes that included a nifty penalty shot marker by M.Russo. That was his second-from a side that had issues burying their chances. The late surge may have shown some character  throughout their bench, but it came way to late. L.Folini needs a better pep talk the next time the Red Wings enter the dressing room.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tyler Sauk of the Islanders. In a less urgent situation, T.Sauk gave up his goals very late when the game was put to rest. Prior to that point, Sauk was practically unstoppable making save after save that left the Red Wings stuck searching for answers.

Thursday September 28

Chiefs hang on to nail biter vs Altius

(3)Altius vs Chiefs(4)

Despite finding themselves scrambling for a pair of goals, M.David and P.Arkalis were able to overcome the deficit to put the Altius in an advantageous position. However, their celebration was short lived as C.Gosselin responded immediately with a quick counter attack. The Chiefs not only took the lead with half a frame remaining, but managed to hang on to their momentum, eventually securing victory in a tightly contested match. It was a game filled with excitement and rapid shifts in fortune, ultimately favouring the Chiefs for their second straight win of the season. A big part of the win could be credited to P-O Girouard. The goaltenders skills and quick reflexes were instrumental in thwarting numerous scoring chances-from the Altius. Its not to say that M.Melo wasn’t as crucial for the Altius on the flip side of the court. The difference was simply that P-O Girouard was busier in net facing a ton of high end chances. Captain J.Gagne helped set up three teammates for the win while M.David was the Altius’s top performer bagging two goals.

J-R Turgeon posts 4 for Generals season debut win over Rated R

(7)Generals vs Rated R(3)

It took some time to get it going, but the Generals eventually got there by the end of the second period. It was during that late stretch that this contest had its defining moment. The Generals got goals by M.Pinheiro and J.R Turgeon to take a commanding 4-2 lead heading into the final stretch. From-there, they unleashed an offensive onslaught striking three more times to put the game out of reach. Its worth noting that J-R Turgeon had a massive impact in determining the score. The forward was on top of his game riffling four tallies along with an assist. Unable to hang in there long enough, Rated R just didn’t have the same kind of rhythm to sustain a full out game. The Generals have a load of talent that had Rated R no answers on how to slow them down. For now, its week one only, and S.DosSantos will soon forget a meaningless game that occurred in a young season so far.

D.Lombardi contributes significantly with 5 points for Black Knights

(7)Black Knights vs UW(3)

While the scoreline remained tight in the early stages, it was in the second period where the Black Knights truly erupted, putting together a dominant performance that left the UW struggling to keep up. In a five minute span, the Black Knights scored three goals to build a substantial lead. The UW did get that next much needed tally that come on the power play by J.Saydi. With the next goal being so crucial, A.Sayed was able to provide his clubs second power play goal to tighten the gap by only one. The Black Knights started to feel the pressure-from a team that seemingly put it together. Unfortunately, the momentum was cut short when S.Racicot regained control for the Black Knights by regaining a two goal lead. That tally left over six minutes to play where the Black Knights displayed their composure and determination to close out the game. Both sides had their power plays work in full swing trading two goals each. C.Ekonomakis was strong in net stopping 30 shots and allowing only three to get by him. But the bigger story of the game was the significant impact put forth by D.Lombardi. The power forward showcased his scoring ability once more by rattling off a hat trick as part of a five point game.

Fatal Demons hang on after strong start

(3)Krazy Train vs Fatal Demons(5)

A slow start by the Krazy Train found themselves constantly playing-from behind. As much as they tried to bridge the gap, the Fatal Demons maintained their lead throughout. Its always a challenging position when playing-from behind. And while finding themselves down 5-1 in the third period, the Krazy Train fought hard anyway scoring a pair of goals close the gap. By this point, time wasn’t a luxury they had as they were forced to pull out their net minder for the extra attack needing still two goals with little time left over. They did manage to control the play while attempting some shots toward R.Ranieri, but it just wasn’t meant to be. The Fatal Demons defensive strategy proved resilient, making it difficult for the Krazy Train to create enough room out there. In the end, the Fatal Demons came out stronger, and used the lead to their advantage the entire time. T.Langiano had a multi goal game while M.Mavroudis was playing the nice guy by setting up three teammates rather than scoring.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to J-R Turgeon of the Generals. His offensive prowess was simply unmatched scoring an astonishing fours goals and an assist.

Wednesday September 27

P.Camirand an absolute force striking 5 times for the Golden Knights

(6)Senators vs Golden Knights( 8 )

It was a game that displayed both sides trading goals as it kept going back and forth. Ultimately, the Golden Knights used their extra gear toward the end resulting in a close 8-6 victory. While both teams had the quality to carry a good chunk of the offense, its safe to say that P.Camirand  had an incredible night on the court. P.Camirand was a handful throughout the entire contest posting an incredible five goals and an assist  as he played a pivotal role to why his club got the better of the Senators. The Golden Knights used both their lines to their advantage. M.Lafleur used his wicked wrist shot to bury a pair. As for the Senators, it came to no surprise that T.Settino had an input collecting four goals that included a hat trick. Tonight’s difference was due to the fact that the Golden Knights had a little more balance up front which came into play.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to P.Camirand of the Golden Knights. Camirand  undeniably merits the honour after scoring five times along with an assist.

Blues wave of success finally comes to an end vs the Hurricanes

(10)Hurricanes vs Blues( 8 )

The Blues suffered their first loss of the season as they faced off against the Hurricanes, ultimately falling short with a final score of 10-8. Both teams came out strong trading a ton of chances as the game kept going back and forth. The offense was relentless as both goaltenders felt the pressure to perform under extreme circumstances. While the divisions scoring leader C.Arnoldo kept his pace going by adding four goals for the Blues, it was the dynamic between D.Lipinski and B.Monette that really stole the show on Wednesday night . The two players were definitely on top of their game practically involved in every play as they shared a whopping six points each. Sometimes, finding a turning point in such a high scoring affair can be arbitrary, but it can be argued that giving up three late goals by the Blues proved to be the difference maker.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Benoit Monette of the Hurricanes .His ability to find the open space and make the right play, resulted in B.Monette collecting an impressive three goals and three assists.

G.Charron riffles hat trick, B.Verducci shines in net for Stars win over Oilers

(3)Oilers vs Stars(6)

The game was marked by tenacity on both sides, with the Oilers showing resilience by repeatedly fighting their way back into the match. However, the Stars managed to maintain their lead and secure the victory. A standout performance came by G.Charron of the Stars, who posted an impressive hat trick. His scoring prowess and offensive contributions played a pivotal role his clubs victory. No question he was a big difference maker since the final score was relatively low. When allowing only three goals at this type of competition, its because your net minder is dialled in. B.Verducci somehow had enough energy to put out a brilliant display of goaltending in his second game of the night. A strong goaltender can be the backbone of a teams success and is responsible for making huge and timely stops when the games are close. Luckily enough for the Stars, B.Verducci had the will and fight in him to collect a well deserved win between the pipes.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Guillaume Charron of the Stars. G.Charrons’s contribution not only energized his teammates but also had a significant impact on the final score.

Tuesday September 26 (Sunday division Draft League)

Strong start propels Bruins in high scoring tilt with the Panthers

(9)Panthers vs Bruins(12)

In a thrilling game between the Bruins and the Panthers, it was the Bruins that got off to a fast start setting the tone for the entire match. The game turned into a high scoring affair with both teams lighting up the scoreboard. Some players stood out for the Bruins with F.Bchara racking up four goals along with E.Gabrielli, M.StMartin and S.Vitali doing damage as well collecting at least four points apiece. Forced to play catch up all game, the Panthers got their act together when it was a little to late. Luckily they had M.Chenier doing his thing as the sniper was dominant scoring an astonishing five times. The Panthers also had L.Katsifolis, S.Gravel and M.Estrela support the offense collecting a bunch of points as well. Despite their best efforts, F.Vigliotti and A.Benedetto were left with little support-from their players in front of them having to face a barrage of shots.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathis StMartin of the Bruins. His impact came a long way creating plenty of space that resulted in a nice five point night that included a hat trick.

M.Zuccaro plays hero in overtime as Wild edge out Red Wings

(4)Wild vs Red Wings(3) O.T

Despite stringing a pair of timely goals by M.Salerno, this game took a dramatic turn once it went into overtime. The Red Wings couldn’t carry the momentum long enough as it was M.Zuccaro who clinched the victory giving the Wild the slight edge. The Wild couldn’t have asked for a better start rattling off two quick goals-from S.Smith and G.Demos by the five minute mark .M.Russo did respond shortly after, and this game went on a scoring drought where the goaltenders took over. For almost 30 minutes, M.Tzouvadakis of the Wild and B.Verducci of the Red Wings were the reason why neither side had an advantage . The two goaltenders stood out contributing intensely making plenty of crucial saves. Finally, something was to give, and that’s when M.Salerno broke the spell by riffling two big markers for the Red Wings. Unfortunately, once they hit overtime, M.Zuccaro decided the outcome giving the Wild a hard fought win that resembled a playoff style game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Zuccaro of the Wild. M.Zuccaro solidified his status as player of the game by delivering the games biggest goal.

Predators hold off late surge, hang on to defeat Blackhawks

(4)Blackhawks vs Predators(5)

The Predators managed to hold off a late surge-from the Blackhawks to secure a narrow 5-4 victory. D.Melo had a standout game charging the offense with a spectacular hat trick. This contest looked like it was going to favour the Blackhawks easily up until a late surge by the Predators sounded the alarm bells. E.Allon made sure to convert on a penalty shot, and J.Musi narrowed the gap by one leaving all but a single minute for the equaliser. In their attempt to extend the game, the Blackhawks finally ran out of race track as they just fell short in the end. A.Zardarian had some moments of brilliance as the net minder kept his side playing with the lead. P.Stroubakis and M.Papadakis were contributors as well collecting three points each in the win. It was a difficult night for the Blackhawks having to many regulars absent-from the line up. Considering the situation, they did a pretty good job hanging around till the very end.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mary Papadakis of the Predators. Whether it was through scoring a goal, providing a pair of assists, or playing smart hockey, M.Papadakis efforts were instrumental in her clubs close win over the Blackhawks.

Monday September 25

Snipers grinding effort propels them twice over Sharpshooters

Both games as expected were intense and tightly contested. Although the Snipers had a little more breathing room in the opener, the second one needed every inch of the court in order to pair wins over the Sharpshooters. The victory only came in its final minute when A.Sayed broke the late tie. With the Snipers its all about playing by committee. They display excellent teamwork and coordination, allowing them to create enough scoring chances while applying a suffocating style when playing without the ball. The Sharpshooters actually played up leading 3-2 with less than a frame remaining. Unable to close out the deal, the Snipers were the ones who had the extra gear, and pull out a pair of grinding wins. You almost need a full out effort with a deeper bench if you plan on beating them. The Sharpshooters could have used that extra piece required in order to at least split. For now, they’ll deal with it since its only week one of the regular season.

(4)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(2)

(4)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(3)

Classics bounce back after tough opening game with Hustlers

In the first game between two familiar opponents, the Hustlers came out stronger, and were able to outlast the Classics by a narrow margin. While many contributed offensively, M.Arkalis arguably provided his clubs biggest goal as it stood for the winner. However, the Classics weren’t deterred by the initial setback. In the second encounter, they regrouped and carried a much urgent response. The Classics offense clicked harder with K.Kavan and M.Mavroudis netting a pair each. Since scoring wasn’t much of an issue, the Classics also exceled on their own end of the court by tightening up and making it harder for the Hustlers to maintain their offensive momentum. As the night progressed, it became evident that the Classics found their rhythm. With both teams splitting, the series now hangs in the balance as they’ll be eager to claim victory in their next showdown.

(5)Classics vs Hustlers(6)

(6)Classics vs Hustlers(3)

Dragons and Orient entertain in a an evenly matched mini series

In an action packed back and back games, both the Orient and the Dragons brought high octane offense to the court, resulting in a pair of games that ultimately ended in ties. In the first encounter, both teams demonstrated their prowess with an incredible display of offensive skills. Goaltenders were incredibly busy facing a barrage of shots that were nearly impossible to save. Despite the intense back and forth action, neither team could gain a decisive advantage, and the game concluded in a well-deserved tie. The excitement didn’t stop there in the second tilt. Fast-paced transitions, pinpoint passes, and accurate shooting were the order of the night. Goals continued to light up with both sides trading two power play goals each. The defense and more so the goaltenders tried their best to contain the offensive onslaught, but it was a challenging task. Somehow, neither side could have gotten it done for a second straight time which suggested for another evenly matched contest. Points were widely spread out with so much fire power to go around. Its worth noting that O.Wahid of the Orient made his plays and tallies look like a  magic for how patient and crafty he his. The forward produced five points along with a pair of spectacular goals in the two shootouts.

( 8 )Orient vs Dragons( 8 ) S.O

(5)Orient vs Dragons(5) S.O

Assadi Consulting inc respond with a much better outing in second encounter with Degenerates

Unable to string a pair of solid games together, the Degenerates looked flat entering their second match vs the Assadi Consulting inc. The Assadi Consulting inc were able to bounce back, especially in the first period where they sent a strong message on four unanswered goals. N.Kokovides had major hand setting up three teammates while P.Assadi was sharper in net frustrating the opposition. The Degenerates still felt they had a chance despite a mental breakdown. The mind set was to get one and take it-from there. Eventually, they started to click and actually made it very interesting after posting back to back power play goals to pull within two. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get there in time as the Assadi Consulting inc fed an empty cage to close out the game. M.Tvaraonas had a second period tear scoring all three goals for his club. N.Chiminian had a very productive two games collecting seven points. By applying some simple strategies and determination, the Assadi Consulting inc got the final word in their split with the Degenerates.

(6)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting inc(3)

(4)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting inc(7)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Ozair Wahid of the Orient. His ability to navigate effortlessly and evade defenders with success was on full display Monday night. The skilled forward collected five points along with a pair of nifty shootout goals.

Sunday September 24

Red Wings shine with three breakaway goals

(7)Kraken vs Red Wings(10)

In a thrilling match-up, the Red Wings clashed with the Kraken in a high-scoring affair, ultimately emerging victorious with a final score of 10-7. The Red Wings showcased their offensive prowess, capitalizing on three penalty shot goals throughout the game, demonstrating their exceptional skill and strategy on the court. Both teams fought hard, displaying impressive efforts, but it was the Red Wings who prevailed, securing a well-deserved win in this exciting encounter. A good portion of the offense was generated by L.Folini, who led the charge up front collecting five points. The goaltenders didn’t always get the help they deserved, but battled hard anyway to try and keep their clubs in it. In the end, the Red Wings made a few extra offensive plays to grab a nice victory.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Livio Folini of the Red Wings. His standout performance contributed significantly for his teams success.

Bruins storm out of gate on four unanswered goals

(2)Islanders vs Bruins(6)

The Bruins showcased their strength early in the game, demonstrating a formidable start that kept the intensity high. A.Benedetto was exceptional making crucial saves that limited the Islanders to only two goals on 25 shots. The Islanders faced a tough challenge against the offensive prowess of the Bruins, struggling to breakthrough their defense and find the back of the net consistently. Despite their efforts, they were unable to match the scoring output of their opponents. S.Vitali and S.Dansereau had a multi goal games in the win, and the Bruins scored two of their six goals on penalty shots by E.Capalbo and E.Gabrielli. In the end, the Bruins offensive performance and solid goaltending proved to be the deciding factors , leading them to well deserved win against the Islanders.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Andy Benedetto of the Bruins.  After facing 25 shots, A.Benedetto was rock solid allowing only a pair of goals.

Canadiens use strong start in double up win over Sabres

(3)Sabres vs Canadiens(6)

The Canadiens got off to a blistering start, netting three early goals that set the tone of the game. Their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and establish an early lead showcased their offensive firepower and solid team work. The Sabres on the other hand, faced an uphill battle-from the start, but continued to compete with determination throughout the game. It wasn’t up until the 22 minute mark when C.Arnoldo scored his first of two to finally get the better of D.Geishecker-Cote. Unfortunately, the  Sabers attack couldn’t match the Canadiens on this night.

The Allo mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to D.Geishecker-Cote of the Canadiens. The net minder was on top of his game making one save look nicer than the other.

Wild rely on balanced soring in thumping of Blackhawks

(6)Blackhawks vs Wild(14)

What stood out in this matchup was the Wilds’s ability to spread their scoring throughout the game. Their offense didn’t rely on a single player, showcasing the depth and overall teamwork. The balanced scoring approach made it challenging for the Blackhawks to defend against a variety of threats on the court. S.Boulerice and J.Bergola led the charge with five points each, N.Faria and M.Zuccaro shared four points a piece for the win while E.Allen and M.Caruso did their part in the loss combining for six points. Its evident that both teams contributed to a thrilling game that highlighted the fast paced and unpredictable nature of ball hockey. While players were having fun trading scoring chances, the poor net minders were left behind hanging  having to face a ton of shots.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Miguel Rodriguez of the Wild. His team may have left him out to dry at times, but that didn’t stop M.Rodriguez-from battling hard between the pipes to earn the victory.

T.Settino racks up 7 more points, Kings outlast Flyers

(7)Flyers vs Kings(11)

In a high scoring showdown, T.Settino continued to shine as a scoring machine, amassing an impressive seven more points to his already stellar season total. In a game where goals were plenty , the Kings managed to outlast the Flyers 11-7. Settino’s outstanding performance undoubtedly played a significant role in the Kings victory. His ability to contribute both goals and assists showcased his versatility and skill on the court. One thing this contest didn’t lack was plenty of action. If you like goals and plenty of plays, this was a gem to watch. However, if your into a tight defense game where the goaltenders shine, than you got ripped off at the door. The two goalies could have used some help, but S.Sauk was glad anyway to record the win in net over D.Apikian, who was left out to dry.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Kings. The forward scored a hat trick and provided four helpers to lead all players in the points department.

Predators display resilience in comeback win over Panthers

(6)Panthers vs Predators(8)

Resilience was shown by the Predators as they mounted an impressive comeback against the Panthers. Despite facing a an early three goal deficit, the Predators rallied with five unanswered goals to secure a memorable victory. The Predators showed their determination to adapt to adversity. Their offense came alive with a relentless surge on the backs of V.Romero’s consecutive goals, and play making skills by J.Melo, who set up four tallies. The Panthers, who started strong with a three goal lead, were unable to withstand the Predators relentless push. The comeback victory served as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of this particular contest. B.Freitas-Pereira had a major hand in the win collecting four points while A.Zardarian made a couple of key extra saves to out duel his counter part F.Vigliotti.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Jason Melo of the Predators. Cool calm and collective, J.Melo never panics making key essential defensive plays while also contributing the other way resulting in four points.

Thursday September 21

Chiefs rout UW in season opener

(11)Chiefs vs UW(1)

The Chiefs controlled the play early and often against the UW netting two first period goals to get the ball rolling. The deficit wasn’t a concern by that point, but the UW did want nothing less than to get that next tally. The problem with that is if you miss on your execution, the Chiefs will exploit your mistakes and make you pay. Five minutes into the second period had gone by, and J.Thibodeau buried his second for a commanding 5-0 lead. That sequence spelled the beginning of the end for the UW. It seemed no matter what they tried, it just didn’t work. They did finally get on board when J.Hassan beat P-O Girouard. Apart-from that, the offense remained dry while the defence struggled to contain a high octane offense. Many took turns contributing which came to be expected with the Chiefs rolling only two lines. If someone did stand out, P.Genereaux was that player. The forward was unstoppable collecting a whopping seven points that included four goals. This was a type of match up that needed the UW to try and strike first while committing to playing a tighter game. By falling behind, things opened up for the Chiefs as they demonstrated what a lethal force they are when given the extra space.

Brew Crew collapse in third, Fatal Demons mount incredible comeback

( 8 )Fatal Demons vs Brew Crew(5)

They fell behind 4-2 after two periods, and the Brew Crew had laid claim to this match. But the Fatal Demons focused on details, and they took this game back with a smart, structured and clever game plan. The Fatal Demons looked like a different team entering the final stretch. With their back to the wall, they looked more tenacious and preyed on the Brew Crews mistakes. Too many things went wrong for the Brew Crew in that final period. How does a team that prides themselves on playing well without the ball give up six in a single period alone? It’s a question that they’ll need to figure out and adjust. When you have a team on the ropes, you have to put them down. Luckily enough this isn’t more than a regular season game that will be forgotten soon enough. While you can try and pin point a few turning points, perhaps the biggest one was when the Brew Crew took some late visits to the penalty box. The game was tied 5-5 before M.Mavroudis snapped the tie on the power play followed with G.DeMarinnis doing the same to close out the deal.

Krazy Train storm back twice but fall in overtime to Armadillos

(5)Krazy Train vs Armadillos(6) O.T

Overcoming a two and then a three goal deficit against the Armadillos isn’t the easiest thing to do. The Krazy Train did make a pair of spirited comebacks,  especially in the third period where they rattled off three straight markers to help send the game into overtime. M.Argiris scored twice during that span giving the Krazy Train a legit shot at tying the game. With their net minder pulled for the extra attacker, the Krazy Train got there just in time to force a looming sudden death period. While things looked promising after riding three consecutive goals, an unfortunate penalty by the buzzer set the stage for the Armadillos to get that final glorious chance and end it. Playing four versus three on the power play is a recipe for disaster if your the defending team . The Armadillos put their main guns on their power play unit and it became only a question of time before they would convert. That being said, it didn’t come easy by all means. The defence were trapping the lanes while G.Follano stood on his head to keeping the game alive. Then, an innocent looking play turned into a couple of lucky bounces, and P.Arkalis was there to bury his second for the winner.

Stunning comeback leads HC Fennecs to overtime win on goal by T.Foura

(6)HC Fennecs vs Rated R(5) O.T

One thing we know for sure is that the HC Fennecs have heart, and plenty of it. They mounted a stunning third period rally before T.Foura celebrated by netting the overtime winner. No question there was a great sense of belief after finding yourself trailing 4-1 at one point. By sticking with it, they got some big goals taking it a shift at a time. The crazy part about it all was that the HC Fennecs grabbed a late 5-4 lead and were all but three seconds away-from claiming victory in regulation time. But with V.Pandza delaying the process, Rated R scored to live another day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite the ending they had hoped for with the HC Fennecs getting the final word. Surely, the HC Fennecs are proud of what they accomplished by overcoming a hurdle. And yes comeback attempts happen often enough in hockey games. But in normal circumstances, teams need to be able to close out late leads. Rated R have only themselves to blame for letting this one slip away despite the HC Fennecs showing no quit in their game. The good news is that its one week one of the regular season which wont overly concern S.DosSantos and the rest of Rated R.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Peter Arkalis of the Armadillos. Look to your big guns to get it done. It wasn’t a shook that P.Arkalis was going to be a major player as to why the Armadillos took the opener on Thursday night.  Already with an earlier goal, P.Arkalis capped off the night by getting the games final touch in overtime.

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Wednesday September 20

Resilient Oilers end Rangers winning streak

(7)Oilers vs Rangers(5)

The buzzer sounded, and T.Sauk celebrated in a mixture of joy and exhaustion. Determined at the start, and dominant at the finish, T.Sauk lifted the resilient Oilers past the undefeated Rangers on Wednesday night. When facing a challenge to go up against a team that’s been riding a hot hand, its all about how you answer that matters. The Oilers responded with a strong message of their own that they can feel proud about for how they won this game. It wasn’t up until the 42 minute mark of the contest that they finally played in front thanks to a go ahead marker by M.Scarpetta. While many factors are required to get the job done, there was no question that S.Ouellette had a major influence . Five of the seven goals stemmed-from S.Ouellette as he set up four tallies while scoring one as well. Of coarse goaltending is always a must in order to prevail. After facing his fair amount of shots, T.Sauk battled every ball limiting a high powered offense to only five goals.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tyler Sauk of the Oilers. He was able to stop a barrage of opportunities, and always kept his side in striking distance before finally playing in front where he took care of the rest to earn a nice win in net.

Senators fall in some back and forth action with the Blues

(6)Senators vs Blues(8)

Though tempted throughout a back and forth affair, the Blues refused to let their head to head with the Senators slip out of their grasp, downing them 8-6. The Blues didn’t quite get the start they wanted trailing early on 2-0. Rather than falling into a deeper hole, F.Bchara responded almost immediately which fired up his bench for more to come. Through out a very good stretch of this game, the two sides kept going back and forth with no real indictor on where it was headed. Things were dead even at six goals a piece by the 30 minute mark which suggested for many more goals to come. However, that wasn’t entirely the case as things started to really calm down. Although the scoring was very limited, the Blues got a pair of extra goals by M.Petracca and C.Arnoldo that went a very long way. The Senators never appeared to have issues scoring until the last twenty minutes unable to get anything by S.Sauk. The Blues were able to buckle down and protect a very slight lead thanks to their strong defensive play and solid goaltender. There was only so much T.Settino could have done for the Senators bagging four of his clubs six goals. On the flip side of the court, the Blues got more balanced contributions, but with C.Arnoldo adding a little more mustard to the offense by riffling a hat trick.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Arnoldo of the Blues. For C.Arnoldo’s standards, it was just another day at the office as the veteran sparks another at trick.

Stars give up to many in a row, blitzed by Golden Knights

(10)Golden Knights vs Stars(4)

It was decisive , quick and one sided. The Golden Knights didn’t take the Stars lightly and it showed as they ran up the score with almost no resistance. Everyone wore them down with depth and speed. Many chipped in offensively keeping up the intensity and focus the whole way through. The Golden Knights actually found itself down 1-0 early when R.Kilgour scored for the Stars, but the rest of the night belonged to the Golden Knights as the surged with eight unanswered goals. P.Carone found the back of the net three times, F.Decoster and G.Lamothe followed up with a pair each while M.Lafluer had a nice night as well collecting five points in his season debut. It just was a night to forget if you’re the Stars. Goals were hard to come by, the defense struggled and the goaltending didn’t quite get the support he needed.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathieu Lafleur of the Golden Knights. Known more for his scoring touch, M.Lafleur can make plays as well by setting up four goals as part of a five point night.

Tuesday September 19

D.Greco, J.Tzanetakos dynamic duo dismantles Canucks

(9)Canucks vs Sharks(14)

Every time teammates D.Greco and J.Tzanatekos were on the court, there was no ignoring their magic which was on full display. They both play a similar game for how well they see the court. With D.Greco looking to be the play maker, J.Tzanatekos showed what a great finisher he his. The Sharks scored a ridicolous14 goals that saw J.Tzanetakos strike six times to cap off a productive nine point performance which was a point more than D.Greco, who collected six assists. While both players excelled, the Sharks had a good supporting cast to help compliment the dynamic duo. Playing a tight defensive game doesn't seem to be any part of the Sharks make up. As long as they continue to score at will, defending will be more of an issue for the opposition. The Canucks like to play a similar style like the Sharks, but they don't have the fire power to match, at least not in tonight's case. So by playing a run and gun, back and forth twisted game, the Canucks couldn't recover in time despite battling back. It really became an issue on how to address two particular players which ultimately made the entire difference.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Jimmy Tzanetakos of the Sharks. When a player is riding a hot hand he becomes almost unstoppable. The forward was able to tear it up by scoring an impressive six goals as part of s nine point display.

Ducks rally-from 3 goal deficit but fall short

(5)Ducks vs Penguins(6)

The Ducks spotted the Penguins a three goal lead, battled to try to erase the deficit ,and then the club saw its losing streak extended to three games. A very poor and sluggish start was the downfall for the Ducks despite rebounding for a ten minute stretch. One strong sequence just wont cut it. The Penguins came prepared barley wasting time to putting a pair behind the Ducks net minder. S.Kalaydjian was the mastermind behind it all as the forward had an incredible night cashing in four times by the time it was said and done. Scoring in bunches often comes with some help, and S.Kalaydjian was glad to have his brother A.Kalaydjian and line mate M.Estrela support him. The trio were at their best causing plenty of mayhem that saw all three players combine for thirteen points. Somehow the Ducks had found themselves in front 5-4 when N.Macri buried his second with only ten minutes remaining. And rather than building off that momentum, the Ducks couldn't put together enough of an effort to ride out the clock.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Monika Estrela of the Penguins. She may not have found the back of the net, but the sneaky forward was the catalyst behind setting up five goals in order to get the offense going for the Penguins

Monday September 18

Deeper Orient roster outlast Classics in season opener

Despite a closely contested first game, it was just a question of time before the Orient would overwhelm the Classics. The first encounter was closer than it should have been with the Orient edging out the recent champions in a shootout. The Orient were deeper utilising tier overall speed that had them keep the ball longer. If it wasn’t for S.Morante making a ton of key saves, the Classics would have been blown out of the water. Instead, they hung in there for as long as possible, and managed to force a shootout thanks to a wicked shot by M.Mavroudis to tie the game. Entering the shootout , both goaltenders were the real story with M.Jobin remaining calm and collective to deny all three shot attempts. The Orient did take it in the end when A.Laramee patiently waited out Morante on a hard wrist shot .Looking back, the Classics were content to go the distance with a much more prepared club compared to their anemic roster. You almost sensed that the second encounter was going to be an issue for the Classics since they looked to be hanging on chasing a quicker opponent. To their credit however, they stayed neck in neck for a good solid period until the flood gates finally opened for the Orient. Once O.Ducharme made the score 3-1, the journey was over for the Classics, who simply couldn’t keep up anymore. A.Laramee and J.Saydi riffled a pair each while M.Jobin made it look easy earning a shutout.

(2)Classics vs Orient(3) S.O

(0)Classics vs Orient(5)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to M.Jobin of the Orient. Unless it’s a precious shot, you’ll likely not beat the Orient net minder. M.Jobin allowed only two goals in four periods while denying three straight shootout attempts.

Sunday September 17

Flyers prevail in wild win over Kraken

(9)Kraken vs Flyers(10)

No doubt, the Kraken and the Flyers decided to trade chances on Sunday night. Sure, it was exciting for the forwards as they ran up the score by utilising all their weapons up front. On the other hand, the goaltenders were the ones paying the price having only themselves to rely on. No one knew where this thing was headed with so many twists and turns. When teams combining for nineteen goals, some players will stand out more than others . For the Flyers, S.Koulieris and D.Fortier had productive nights sharing hat tricks while F.Mastrocola did the same but in a losing cause. Trying to find turning points in this type of game is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. You really cant point at anything in particular that would have shifted the tides. It came down to who have the better finish since both teams kept outdoing one another with no direction. In the end, M.Destounis scored perhaps the biggest goal of the game that stood up for the winner.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Steve Koulieris of the Flyers. Despite being out of the loop for a while, the forwards hasn’t forgotten how to score and produce points by notching a hat trick and three assists.

Sabres outlast Red Wings in high scoring affair

(12)Sabres vs Red Wings( 8 )

It’s a game of mistakes, and there going to be chances. The Sabres and the Red Wings danced throughout the entire game never taking a shift off that had everyone expose the defenceless net minders. Both goaltenders knew they were going to be in tough as the shots and high end scoring never ended. The Sabres were a little more in control of the situation since they managed to play in front. Its seemed every time the Red Wings would battle back, the Sabres kept enough distance ahead by responding. Offense was widely spread out-from the regulars while the spares between S.Kavaldjian and C.Cusson did damage combining for five goals. Momentum didn’t apply much in this contest with neither side able to pull stay consistent long enough. Due to their better start and ability to answer back, the Sabres did just enough to hold on to a high scoring tilt with the Red Wings.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Nick Macri of the Sabres. Hard to contain, N.Macri will always be involved, and tonight was no different as the power forward collected five big points to help lead the way.

One to forget for the Canadiens as the Blackhawks cruise for easy win

(0)Canadiens vs Blackhawks(12)

It was a case of two badly mismatched teams as the Blackhawks ran circles around the Canadiens in what ended as a massive thumping defeat. The Canadiens struggled to get the ball out of their end throughout the entire game as the Blackhawks kept up the onslaught extending their winning ways. Its very difficult to pin point any positives if your the Canadiens. At least if they could have gotten one by G.Follano to say that they spoiled the shutout. In reality, the only positive was when the final buzzer sounded. Sometimes, things just don’t go your way no matter how hard you try. The Canadiens did have some chances and decent moments but couldn’t convert having to go up against an established net minder in G.Follano. Its very possible that this may be the first time that a team has been shutout in the  Draft League. The league manager will need to very the archives if its happened before. Regardless, whether it did ort not, its very rare and difficult to do. Credit to the Blackhawks for keeping a very clean score sheet.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to G.Follano of the Blackhawks. Although he didn’t need to be at his best, G.Follano did do something remarkable by not allowing a single goal in a format that’s extremely difficult to do.

Islanders battle back late , pull off thrilling overtime win

(9)Panthers vs Islanders(10) O.T

During the most of part regulation time, the Panthers couldn’t get over the hump of playing in front. Then, that finally changed when A.Albot scored on a penalty shot followed with a quick tally that provided a two goal lead with less than six minutes remaining. Finally, the Panthers broke the momentum, and shifted it their way in what appeared to be a perfect time. You almost have to feel like you let this one slip away if you’re the Islanders, and why not since you were in control for nearly the entire game. This become a test of character on how one team is to respond when having their backs to the wall. And while many would have likely packed it in, the Islanders had a different approach, and that was to battle harder in which they did by getting two late goals. Once T.Scarpelli bagged his hat trick to pull his side within one, A.Kavaldjian brought it a step further by netting the equaliser right before ending it in style with the overtime winner.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Claude Kfoury of the Islanders. Never once did C.Kfoury take a shift off. His pace and determination to win the game came a long way leading all teammates with six points that included a hat trick.

Strong start propels Bruins past Predators

(5)Predators vs Bruins(12)

The Bruins got off to the start they wanted and never looked back en route to a convincing win over the Predators. It wasn’t up until the fifteen minute mark that the Predators were able to finally stop the bleeding. Although it looked like the damage had already been done with the Bruins up 5-0, the Predators showed immediate signs of  life on three quick goals. Out of nowhere, they caught fire and looked to build of it. Unfortunately, the Bruins weren’t impressed as they went back to their good habits by taking over for good. The offense rode in harmony with many contributing. M.StMartin didn’t score but helped set up five goals. E.Gabrielli, M.Porato and  Z.StMartin all chipped in with a pair while A.Benedetto rebounded after a shaky sequence to get the job done in net.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathis StMartin of the Bruins. Feeling generous, M.StMartin enjoyed moving the ball to his teammates that resulted in him collecting five nice assists.

Kings use strong finish to down Wild in overtime

(7)Wild vs Kings( 8 ) O.T

It took a while to get going, but the Kings eventually got there as they barley edged out the Wild in overtime. The better start did belong to the Wild as they got most of their scoring done in the first portion of the game. M.Moison and M.DiNiro scored two goals each, P.Carone was lighting it up with four points, and V.Orsini was doing his part in net making the key stops. It’s not like the Kings were in a huge jam, but something had to give. Eventually, the tides started to shift and things were slowly falling into play. That’s when their top guns took over with T.Settino leading the charge with help of a  natural goal scorer in S.Marricco. The catalyst and motor behind the structure of the team is T.Settino, who always makes that impact . After setting up three goals while netting the equaliser, T.Settino made a huge play in overtime by using his back hand that barely touched S.Marricco as the ball trickled behind the goal line.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to T.Settino of the Kings. Unless you pay very close attention to him throughout the entire game, the highly skilled forward won’t ever be denied and provide a huge impact for his team.

Wednesday September 13

Golden Knights stuck enduring a thumping vs Blues

(8)Golden Knights vs Blues(15)

From-the drop of the ball, the Golden Knights had no time to settle and conceded goals that that kept coming in waves primarily stemmed by C.Arnoldo , T.Nardelli and K.Labelle. The three were the main part of a flowing attack that never slowed down accumulating a whopping 18 points combined. The Golden Knights struggled leaving to much open space that enabled the Blues to walk in at will. Hesitant and indecisive in defense, they turned over the ball a little to often, conceding territory and possession. They did hold their own in the first portion that had their offense keep pace, but were nowhere to be seen after the mid way point. The Blues just kept pushing the pace with no limits in sight. It got to the point where the Golden Knights didn’t have the will to compete anymore knowing that this was a lost cause. P.Elizardo occupied the attack for the Golden Knights with five points while some of the spares contributed as well with P.Carone, M.Moison and D.Morrone doing their part. It wasn’t about the offense for the Golden Knights, but more so their play without the ball.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Nardelli of the Blues. Leading all players in the points department, T.Nardelli had a field day collecting an impressive seven points that included a hat trick.

Rangers erase three goal deficit to top Senators

(4)Senators vs Rangers(5)

The Rangers took advantage of a late collapse by the Senators netting three consecutive goals. The two goal deficit was put almost immediately in the rear view mirror for the Rangers as they found a momentum swing that was to much to handle for the Senators. And who other than your top goal scorer to get things going. S.Todd needed less than a minute to string a pair of goals to tie the knot. Things did settle down as both sides took a cautious approach since the game was all evened up. As the game was winding down to its final minutes, M.Ferraro seized the moment by bagging his clubs biggest goal. The tally came with only three minutes left in the game in which the Rangers tightened the gaps even more making sure that the Senators would not get to B.Mourad. The net minder had an incredible second half going flawless for over twenty minutes. The Senators caused most of their damage in a short four minute span where they tallied three times. Apart-from that, the offense remained dry as they struggled to get much going offensively.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Brian Mourad of the Rangers. With his club trailing by two, B.Mourad felt confident that the Rangers would pull through knowing that he could make all the necessary stops in order for the comeback to happen.

Hurricanes spoil 4 goal game by J.Fidrilis with 7-4 win

(4)Oilers vs Hurricanes(7)

Its unfortunate to have a four goal game and your team falls short in the win column. With the help of M.Lauzon feeding him on each play, J.Fidrilis was the only player to find the back of the net for the Oilers. It just goes to show that hockey relies on all your elements in order to get the right result. The Hurricanes looked for balance, structure and an overall team game in order to defeat the Oilers on Wednesday night. Starting with their goaltender G.Kanaras standing firm to E.Allen doing his usual breaking up plays while joining the rush, many players chipped in that involved six different goal scorers. It wasn’t really up until the twenty eight minute mark that this game tilted in one direction. That’s when M.Kardum snapped a 3-3 tie with his first of two followed with goals by B.Monette and P.Desforges.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to George Kanaras of the Hurricanes. After some back and forth action with both sides trading three goals a piece, G.Kanaras decided to tighten the screws making it that much harder to be beaten.

Tuesday September 12

Sharks topple Ducks in high scoring affair

(11)Sharks vs Ducks(10) O.T

The Sharks threw everything they had at the Ducks early on, and luckily enough A.Benedetto stood his ground keeping the score low . If not for his key stops in the first portion of the game, the Sharks would have had a feast eating the Ducks alive leaving all but their beaks on a platter. Instead, they managed to weather the storm, and were able to avoid a disastrous start. Its not like the Sharks didn’t let up or slow down the pace. The difference was that the Ducks started to be more engaged as both sides went on a tear exchanging goal after goal giving no indicator on where this match was headed. On the large part, the Sharks played ahead up until a strong sequence that saw the Ducks grab a slight lead. But for how the game was going, this contest needed every available second in order to see who would come out on top. You have to figure on normal circumstances that scoring ten goals in a game is sufficient for a win. Not in this case with the offense rolling on all cylinders for the two sides. With regulation time ending in a stalemate, the two teams tested their luck in an overtime sudden death period. The Ducks had some early chances to convert, but couldn’t close out the deal as the Sharks had the final say when N.Macri buried his second for the winner. A bulk of the Sharks offense were concentrated by D.Greco, J.Tzanetakos, M.Porato and S.Panetta as all four players combined for 23 points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Daniel Greco of the Sharks. Looking to get his club back on track, D.Greco occupied both sides of the court back controlling the back end while providing a ton of help to his forwards.

F.Bchara late goal lifts Canucks over Penguins

( 8 )Canucks vs Penguins(7)

It doesn’t get much more clutch that what F.Bchara pulled off with just six seconds in the game. Both sides had to be convinced that overtime was needed with the match winding down. As long as you have enough time to take a shot on net, anything can happen. The Canucks found a way to create that last opportunity in which they made the best of to stun their opponent. And why not that it was F.Bchara to close it out. The power forward had a strong night leading his teammates with four points. Similar to the previous game between the Ducks and the Sharks, this contest had its crazy twists and turns with no indication of where its headed. Both sides kept going back and forth trading plenty of chances that could only suggest for an insane ending. Apart-from F.Bchara causing mayhem, T.Nardelli, S.Smith and M.DiLena had their hand in it as well combining for ten points. As for the Penguins, the trio between A.Kalaydian, S.Kalaydian and M.Estrela showed  flashes of  brilliance as all three players connected sharing eight points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Fadel Bchara of the Canucks. In  a contest that could have easily gone either way, F.Bchara made the games biggest play to help capture a close 8-7 win over the Penguins.

Sunday September 10

Kraken stage late comeback only to fall short in overtime

(8)Kraken vs Panthers(7) O.T

The Panthers were one shot away-from authoring an incredible comeback. Unfortunately, some missed opportunities saw them fall short when F.Mastrocola caught F.Vigliotti off guard on a quick and deceptive release. Its never easy falling behind early by at least a three goal gap. That didn’t stop the Panthers-from battling back as they slowly started to put it together. Five of their seven goals came in the last twenty minutes with Melissa Barbiero sparking much of the offense. The shifty and gritty forward scored twice while setting up M.Chenier, who had an offensive output as well collecting four points. It showed that the Kraken had the confidence as the game went on. And although they just fell short, they never gave up mounting a nice little comeback in the end. All you can ask for when reaching overtime is to try and catch your break before your opponent. The Kraken did have some opportunities but couldn’t connect on that final dart. Instead, it was the Kraken getting the final word thanks to their top gun. F.Mastrocola led all teammates with three points while many chipped in with at least a pair.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Mastrocola of the Kraken. In a neutral zone battle for a loose ball, F.Mastrocola was able to get a nice swipe at that ball that had enough momentum to find its way behind the goal line.

Floodgates open in Kings blowout win over Islanders

(6)Islanders vs Kings(13)

It was a relentless, merciless 20 minute effort that featured an abundance of goals securing a 13-6 win for the Kings. The outpouring of offense spilled onto the court as if someone had dropped a handful of Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke: one after the other. The Kings just let it flow while the Islanders maybe couldn’t keep up anyone after a good stretch of a neck and neck battle. The craziness began in the last twenty minutes, and who other than their catalyst to get it all going. If thirteen goals are to go in, and T.Settino is in the roster, than expect him to be the main fabricator of the offense. He collected eight points sending one perfect feed after another that saw Georgie Papadakis benefit four times. This contest had a tale of two stories. With the first half seemingly close, the second portion was far-from it with the Islanders falling apart unable to contain some of the Kings top guns. There was no question that the temporary additions of C.Lato and T.Nardelli had an influence as well as both players connected naturally creating a ton of plays.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Georgie Papadakis. Her instinct of knowing where to be around the net paid dividends as the sniper buried four goals that was part of a natural hat trick.

Canadiens blitzed by Red Wings

(5)Canadiens vs Red Wings(10)

The start looked promising for the Canadiens when T.Acheson got them on board early. Then, it all fell apart as the Red Wings strung together eight in a row to put this contest completely out of reach. The momentum building process lasted for nearly the entire game for the Red Wings. They found themselves up 8-1 with about eight minutes remaining. Both teams knew this was over and done with despite the Canadiens waking up late on four tallies. The Red Wings kept the Canadiens in their rear view mirror with good defense and continuous offense that never took a shift off. Everyone looked comfortable out there feeding off a balanced attack. The forwards connected not needing to rely on any particular player while B.Verducci was dialled in for nearly the entire time earning the win in net. Overall, a good outing for one side, but not the other as the Canadiens will need to figure things out in order to put up a better challenge.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Ben Verducci of the Red Wings. It wasn’t his best game, but it was good enough as the net minder needed to be early sharp early on which enabled his side to build a nice and comfortable sufficient lead.

M.Saia 4 goal game holds up for Flyers close win over Predators

(6)Predators vs Flyers(8)

The Predators didn’t quite get the start they hoped for. Although they battled back to making it close, it just wasn’t enough in the end. In part, in can be argued that M.Saia had one of his better outings as the forward was unstoppable bagging four of his clubs eight goals. If anyone has a scouting report on how to handle the Flyers, paying close attention to M.Destounis is a bare minimum required. Its very difficult containing a cerebral forward that has the skill set to make plenty happen. So for M.Saia, its always pleasant knowing that the passes will get through along with the rest of his teammates. The Flyers were able to put themselves in a good position due to their rapid start. They led 4-1 after twenty minutes, and made sure to never surrender their lead. Three of M.Saia’s goals all came passed the thirty minute mark of the contest. With the game still up for grabs for the Predators, M.Saia made sure to seal it on a late tear.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Matthew Saia of the Flyers. It was a nice night for the tall lanky forward who tallied a bunch of goals that helped his side collect a fairly close victory.

Wild run out of race track after late push

(6)Wild vs Sabres(8)

It was a little to late for the Wild as their comeback attempt fell short. Scoring four of your six goals in the last ten minutes just wont cut it after a disastrous sequence. The Sabres had their best moment in seven minutes where they reeled off four tallies to find themselves up 7-3. The lead appeared to be comfortable enough to ride out only twelve minutes. However, that didn’t slow down the effort put forth by the Wild as they battled back to eventually pull within one. That tally left more than enough time on the clock for an equaliser. Five minutes is a long time when teams trade the amount of goals like in tonight’s case. You almost knew someone was going to score before it all ended. And while the Wild hoped to carry their momentum, A.Zakarian was able to calm the storm by posting his second goal and fifth point of the game. The power forward was a force up front creating a ton of problems for the Wild’s defense. Other notables include L.Bucci, C.Arnoldo and J.Pendino as all three players shared three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Alex Zakarian of the Sabres. If anyone up front is there to make a difference for the Wild, A.Zakarian is that player. Tonight, he played to his identity by being heavily engaged throughout the entire time that often comes with a reward, which was collecting five nice points to his piggy bank.

Goaltending duel to the wire, Blackhawks edge out Bruins

(4)Blackhawks vs Bruins(3)

Strong goaltending played a crucial role in this matchup between the Blackhawks and the Bruins. Usually you see offensive explosions when it comes to this calibre, but not in this particular game that featured A.Benedetto of the Bruins and S.Catalano of the Blackhawks. The two were sharper than any razor blade that cuts easily through flesh. It looked as though neither side was going to score for how long this tilt remained scoreless. And its not like both sides didn’t generate their fair share of chances. The problem was that neither goaltender was flinching as they kept making save after save. Eventually however, something had to give, and that moment came when the Bruins were awarded a penalty shot. Just passed the mid way point, C.Doulis disrupted the pattern on a clever fake to beat S.Catalano on a perfect wrist shot. Finally, somebody scored, and this contest took a different identity as both sides started to figure out the goaltenders. Six of the seven goals all came in the last eleven minutes with the Blackhawks riding a strong finish that saw them eek out the win.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Santino Catalano of the Blackhawks. With plenty of action in front of him, S.Catalano wasn’t phased stopping plenty of shots in what was an incredible goaltending battle with A.Benedetto.

Wednesday September 6

Another hat trick by S.Todd leads Rangers past Hurricanes

(6)Rangers vs Hurricanes(3)

S.Todd had his second hat trick of an early season, and the Rangers outlasted the Hurricanes 6-3 on Wednesday night. The sharp shooter is surrounded with a nice supporting cast, especially J.Teresi who brings his game to another level. The Rangers utilise speed to their advantage which makes it hard for the opposition to keep up at times. Overall, the Hurricanes hung in there for a while but couldn’t catch enough breaks to give themselves a legit chance. Much of their limited offense stemmed-from E.Allon and M.Kardum. Unable to capitalise on a few breakaways, M.Kardum kept hitting a wall in B.Verducci. The net minder never flinched denying enough high end chances which kept the Rangers in position to close out the game. Everything went right for a team that had the quality up front to produce along with a goaltender that stood tall allowing only three goals on thirty shots.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Ben Verducci of the Hurricanes. Some incredible timely saves played a major factor as to why the Rangers were able to edge out the Hurricanes.

Oilers show fight in 2 goal comeback in overtime loss to Senators

(5)Oilers vs Senators(6) O.T

The Oilers injected life into a lackluster game with a lively end to its Wednesday night overtime loss to the Senators. They scored two very late goals by J.Valicenti and L.Dalessio to force a sudden death frame. Unfortunately, the late surge was punctured in overtime when S.Settino found a wide open T.Scarpelli to bury his winner. Prior to that moment, the Oilers were hitting themselves in the head after seeing M.Scarpetta somehow miss a wide open net to end the game. Luckily this was only a regular season game an not a do or die playoff match. The Senators looked to be the ones playing with rhythm and more cohesion. They never seemed to be playing with any sort of adversity since everything was sailing just fine riding a lead for nearly the entire match. That was up until a three minute hiccup toward the end of the game set the alarm bells. If not for some luck, the Senators would have been in disbelief wondering how they let this one slip away. Instead, they caught a break, and made sure to finish when the chance presented itself.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Senators. If someone was to have an impact in this type of game, T.Settino was going to be that player. The forward did what was expected of him producing four points that included a perfect pass in overtime to end it.

Blues pull away late in high scoring affair with Stars

(7)Stars vs Blues(10)

It was everything a clash between these two teams with back and forth action, plenty of goals, big saves and a roller-coaster ride of emotion. Unfortunately for the Stars, they came up on the wrong side of a 10-7 score against the Blues. It was a game that could of gone either way with both teams playing well enough to win. Ultimately, it was decided in a three minute span as of the 38th minute mark. That’s when the Blues put into sixth gear scoring three quick goals by T.Nardelli, P.Labateya and C.Arnoldo. The crazy momentum shift couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blues, who made sure by then to play cautiously without the ball. While the goaltenders weren’t pleased on how both sides approached this, the forwards weren’t complaining as many produced heavily. The Blues had C.Arnoldo and J.DiMauro share six points a piece while T.Nardelli, P.Labateya and F.Bchara combined for ten points. As for the Stars, R.Kilgour, G.Charron and S.Charron did their part collecting three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Arnoldo of the Blues. Known more for his finishing touch, C.Arnoldo could play two sides of the game as the sniper was feeling generous setting up five goals while netting one himself.

Tuesday September 5

Penguins take over on five unanswered goals to hang on in close win over Sharks

(5)Sharks vs Penguins(6)

Sometimes you don’t get off to a strong start, but its how you respond that matters. The Penguins learned their lesson by applying themselves harder after an early deficit which eventually turned the tides in their favour. S.Sicuso started the trend scoring his first of two with his second providing a 5-2 lead. In just over sixteen minutes, the Penguins went on a tear netting five straight goals that had the Sharks wondering what was going on. Finally, they stopped the bleeding, and responded with some pressure of their own and narrowed the gap within one at one point. Eleven minutes left over was more than enough time to try and even the score. Both teams kept pressing hard, but it was the Sharks that needed to get their in order to level. Despite some numerous attempts, the Sharks couldn’t answer F.Koch as the Penguins hung on to a nail biter.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Felix Koch of the Penguins. With the game on the line, often your goaltender needs to be there for his club. F. Koch had a strong final stretch protecting a very close one goal lead that enabled the Penguins to hang on and defeat the Sharks.

Ducks kept battling back only to fall short vs Canucks

(9)Canucks vs Ducks(7)

The Ducks battled a strong offensive team, but it was enough in the end. It seemed every time they would pull within one, the Canucks would respond next and stay ahead. Both side knew that nothing was going to be settled anytime soon as they kept trading goals leaving their goaltenders out to dry in muggy conditions. The forwards on both sides of the court struggled to come back and help the defense which created plenty of odd man rushes. With that much time and space coupled with the fact that the goaltenders were overheating, plenty of goals were expected to occur. It became a question of who would generate more scoring chances. The Canucks were able to make a few extra plays that  essentially made the difference in a close high scoring affair. M.Braun notched a few beauties for a hat trick while many others chipped away getting their goals by committee.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Canucks. Although the Canucks scored many by committee, M.Braun did have that extra gear up front generating a big hat trick for his team.

Sunday September 3

Kraken outlast Predators in last stretch of the game

(11)Kraken vs Predators(7)

The Predators let down tier goaltender, and let down themselves. They struggled to consistently challenge the Kraken letting a close game deteriorate into an 11-7 shellacking. C.Cusson had an incredible start posting the Krakens first three of four goals. After some back an forth swings, the Kraken outlasted the Predators in the last portion of the game where they bagged four tallies by the forty minute mark. G.Charron used back to back goals along with an assist to start a contagious trend that saw A.Amicone collect his fifth point to lead all teammates. It was just a matter of not keeping up long enough for the Predators. Much of their offense was widely spread not needing to rely on any particular player. For a first game of the regular season, both sides have plenty to feel good about as they seem to have the ability to score. Maybe giving up eleven isn’t ideal, but the Predators wont be overly concerned as they’ll find ways to adjust.  

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Angelo Amicone of the Kraken. In a productive five point game, the forward made plenty happen up front by feeding many teammates while finishing off a pair himself.

Wild put up a fight but couldn’t catch Islanders in time

(6)Wild vs Islanders(9)

Trailing throughout the entire match, the Wild never surrendered by battling back only to keep falling short. There was no question that the early 3-0 deficit didn’t help their cause. It seemed as though they only woke up when they were down which came to be a little to late in the end. Both sides kept trading goals-from that point on which never enabled the Wild to catch an equaliser. They came as close as trailing by one when R.Beaupre scored passed the mid way point. The Islanders started to feel the pressure and responded almost immediately thanks to J.Choudhry’s second of the contest. G.Lamothe scored right after for the Islanders, and the Wild were now back in the same spot having to overcome another hurdle. Unfortunately, they just catch up or make any sort of ground with the Islanders always finding a way to play in front. T.Scarpelli was buzzing all night creating chances that resulted in three helpers and a goal.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Scarpelli of the Islanders. He’s the type of player that never gives up on a play. And when you play with so much energy, results will come automatically. The forward led all teammates accumulating a total of four points.

Bruins overcome slow start to down Canadiens

(5)Canadiens vs Bruins(9)

Some sloppy early minutes didn’t effect the end result for the Bruins on Sunday night. Sometimes its just about finding your groove and rhythm before things start to fall into place. That was clearly the case for a determined Bruins side that eventually took over and handed the Canadiens a hard loss. While a solid supporting cast is always essential for a successful night, it helps when you have a high quality line clicking on all cylinders. The trio involving Z.StMartin, M.StMartin and S.Dansereau proved to be a handful for the Canadiens defense as all three players combined for a whopping sixteen points. The three were all about business in their season debut showing plenty of character. It speaks a lot about a team when they fall behind and battle back to earn the win. The Canadiens couldn’t have asked for a better start to their night building a 4-2 lead at one point. Maybe they needed to be a little more aware of the imposing threats coming-from the Bruins trio. Since the scouting reports have yet come out, the Canadiens only found out the hard way which was a little to late.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Zachary StMartin of the Bruins. While all three players merit the honour, Z.StMartin did lead the group scoring twice along with four assists.

Kings attempt to shake off poor start not enough as Red Wings pull away

(8)Red Wings vs Kings(3)

The Kings were pinned down early in this one, and didn’t seem to have any answers on how to slow down a massive surge that saw the Red Wings all over them in the first sixteen minutes alone. M.Salerno was part of the onslaught netting two quick goals only seconds apart. It appeared as though the Red Wings were going to embarrass the Kings before it was said an done. Any why not when building a 4-0 lead just sixteen minutes in. Then, out of nowhere, the script flipped and the Kings rattled off three consecutive goals a couple of minutes apart. What once looked like a smooth pavement for the Kings turned into a three lane street of potholes. All of a sudden, they hit a bumpy ride unable to steer themselves in the right direction. All this madness occurred just prior to the twenty minute mark of the game suggesting for more wild and crazy things to occur. With so much unpredictability ahead, this game returned back to normal in the Red Wings perspective. They calmed matters down, and approached the rest of the journey with a lot more caution  which denied the Kings-from scoring again. With one goal leading to another, the Red Wings strung four in a row to cap off a decent night to their season debut. M.Salerno made an impact with four points, L.Folini wasn’t far behind with three points while B.Verducci had one shaky stretch to earn well deserved victory between the pipes.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game to Ben Verducci of the Red Wings. Sometimes its how you respond as a goaltender. B. Verducci wasn’t pleased for about two minutes, but that didn’t stop him-from bouncing back riding a clean sheet the rest of the way.

Sleeping giants Blackhawks over power Sabres in thumping

(11)Blackhawks vs Sabres(6)

Jumping off to a 2-0 lead was almost an illusion for how things turned out afterwards for the Sabres. Maybe the Blackhawks didn’t set the alarm clock on time. Once M.Baumgartner broke the barrier by the nine minute mark, the rest was curtains for the Sabres. They scored five times before the twenty minute mark and only slowed down a little since they felt comfortable on how things were playing out. The Sabres were fortunate to have M.Chenier dress as the forward caused plenty of mayhem bagging five of his clubs six goals. Maybe if they had two M.Cheniers they would have had a chance .It was clear that the depth chart favoured a well rounded Blackhawks side. With M.Baumgartner having a major impact with four goals along with the father son tandem between J.Martuccio and G.Martuccio sharing four points apiece, the onslaught was too much to handle for a team that played on its heels. The good news for the Sabres is that this game doesn’t have much implication since its only week one of the regular season. There will be plenty of time to move things around and adjust for a much better path ahead.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Michael Baumgartner of the Blackhawks. Its always nice to start off your season with a bang. The forward showed his ability to find the back of the net four times that helped pave the way to a convincing win.

Panthers save best for last as they pull away-from Flyers

(3)Flyers vs Panthers(9)

For a very long stretch, the Flyers were able to hang around with the Panthers. Tied 3-3 passed the mid way point isn’t a bad deal for either side with plenty of time left over. The Panthers did seem to apply more pressure due to their speed and felt it was only a question of time before they would jump in front for good. Not only did M.Chenier break the 3-3 tie, but was able to bury his second shortly after that provided a lead that was never faltered. There just was no stopping the Panthers by then as they overwhelmed a Flyers side that had no more answers on how to stay competitive. One good play led to another as the Panthers kept pushing the pace leaving the Flyers in the dust. A.Gravel provided two quick insurance goals before adding his assist to complete a very productive four point night. While the offense got into gear, F.Vigliotti signalled his team that the net minder was there to bail them out going flawless for nearly half the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Freddy Vigliotti of the Panthers. Confident he was going to get the job done, F.Vigliotti didn’t miss a beat in his season return by stopping 22 of 25 shots.

Wednesday August 30

M.Lauzon timely hat trick sparks Oilers past Golden Knights

(5)Golden Knights vs Oilers(8)

M.Lauzon wasted no time making an impact on a timely offensive explosion. Just when it looked like D.Galloro was heating up providing the Oilers there first two goals, M.Lauzon took the torch bagging three in the span of only nine minutes. That onslaught put the Oilers up 5-2 by the mid way point of the game which now forced the Golden Knights to figure out ways on how to respond. Rather than sliding into a deeper hole, the Golden Knights adjusted and battled hard but were unable to make any ground. J.Choudhry and P.Elizardo each scored twice for the Golden Knights as both players will be expected to perform on a regular basis. Tonight was a case of a couple players able to make a huge impact early on with D.Galloro and M.Lauzon combining for five straight goals. Since its only the first game of the regular season, the Golden Knights will be intent an avoiding an early let down as they look to bounce back in their next game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Lauzon of the Oilers. It was three straight goals that couldn’t have come at a better time. In only nine minutes, M.Lauzon completed a hat trick that helped put the Oilers in the drivers seat.

Rangers pull away on a sufficient lead

(4)Stars vs Rangers(6)

For a while, this thing appeared to be close, but the Rangers eventually got their legs going and the Stars started to dim out. They turned it up as of the twenty eight minute mark where the fired on all cylinders riffling four quick goals. S.Todd was the heavy roller collecting four straight points that included a hat trick while J.Teresi was right in the mix accumulating three points. Falling behind 6-1 is no doubt discouraging if your on the losing end. Sometimes, teams just don’t have the will to battle anymore. However, that wasn’t the case for the Stars who continued to push and carry good habits despite knowing the end result. To their credit, they scored the games last three goals on efforts by R.Kilgour ,S.Charron and S.Tosi to keep the end result very respectable. The Rangers were clearly the better of the two sides in the first portion of the game owning every aspect of the court. For nearly thirty five minutes, B.Mourad had surrendered only one single goal that came on a penalty shot. Still very early in the season, the Rangers are looking fine with their young group of players.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Brian Mourad of the Rangers. You have to be doing something right if you haven’t conceded a single tally in thirty five straight minutes. B.Mourad was seeing and challenging the ball every single time which made scoring extremely difficult for the opposition.

M.Mascitto solid in net for Senators win over Hurricanes

(6)Senators vs Hurricanes(2)

M.Mascitto looked like a brick with no cracks on Wednesday night. As the Hurricanes attempted there fair share of shots, two things were happening at the same time. First, the Senators would capitalise slowly at a time, and M.Mascitto was stopping everything in sight for a very long stretch. It wasn’t up until the thirty minute mark that a rare seam opened up for B.Monette to finally score for the Hurricanes. By then, the Senators felt comfortable about their game carrying a 4-1 lead despite giving up one more tally by E.Charbonneau. The Hurricanes did manage to pull themselves within two with still ten minutes to go. Unfortunately, two quick tallies by T.Settino and T.Scarpelli summed up this contest as the Senators simply rode off the clock to earn the win. M. Sasso and N.Tsirmbas shared three points reach in the win while M.Mascitto was rock solid making plenty of nice saves.

The Allo Mon Cocco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Mascitto of the Senators. His torrid play in the first thirty minutes enabled his side to build enough of a lead that they would not falter.

Tuesday August 29

T.Nardelli, F.Bchara and M.Braun line clicking quickly in season debut

(5)Sharks vs Canucks(11)

It really didn’t take long for T.Nardelli, F.Bchara and M.Braun to display some fine hockey as a trio on Tuesday night. The three had seventeen points among them causing instant havoc-from the time the ball dropped. The Sharks may have struggled to contain them, but kept the game very close for about thirty minutes. Up until that point, the Canucks carried a slight 6-5 lead before taking over on five unanswered goals. While the Canucks felt comfortable as the game went on, the Sharks started to cool off unable to beat C.Malkoun. The net minder went through a stretch of twenty four minutes without conceding a goal. Its difficult to start off a season when not knowing how everybody plays. While the Canucks seem to have that instant chemistry, the Sharks will eventually get there by making some simple adjustments. They showed tonight that they can score, but struggled on the defensive end of the court, which is an area that can be addressed with the right leadership.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Chris Malkoun of the Canucks. After some crazy back and forth action that appeared to be getting out of control, C.Malkoun helped stabilise the entire situation by going flawless in the second portion of the game.

Ducks find instant chemistry in rout of Penguins

(2)Penguins vs Ducks(10)

Offensively balanced, defensively stalwart while backed by S.Catalano in net, the Ducks quacked their way to an easy win over the Penguins on Tuesday night. It takes time to build chemistry, but the Ducks displayed that they know what needs to be done when competing. If its not one line producing, the other will fill in the gaps making sure to ride a smooth rhythm. S.Kalaydjian showed his ability to find the back of the net by riffling a hat trick. Insisting that he made a pair of nice passes, B.Panarello recorded two helpers-from the back end as part of a solid core of defensemen. The Ducks did a fine job on both areas of the court to separate themselves-from the Canucks. Often, they had a flow to their game by finding one another that resulted in decent scoring chances. And when playing without the ball, they made it a point to keeping their opponent to the outside while feeling comfortable that S.Catalano was there to make the save. Its likely never happened that a team has shut out the other in the Draft division, but S.Catalano came close enough with only eight minutes on the clock before conceding his first of two tallies. To sum it up, a strong opening night to the season for a well rounded team.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Santino Catalano of the Ducks. It wasn’t a game that he needed to steal, but S.Catalano wasn’t far away-from recording a shutout which is unheard of to do in this particular division. The Penguins only got to the net minder by the forty minute mark which game on a penalty shot.

Monday August 28 ( Final )

Classics extends series of championships after shootout thriller

As playoff hockey goes, it just had about everything. High-energy, end to end action, big saves and three full out games along with a shootout that had one team joyful while a heartbreak for the other. The Snipers had a dream start to their night up 2-0 in the first encounter until some penalty trouble eventually shifted the game in the Classics favour. They had given up four straight goals before attempting a late comeback when A.Saleh scored on the power play to narrow the gap by one. It was just a little to late as S.Morante and the Classics shut the door to pull ahead in an important game 1 series lead. It was a kind of loss that the Snipers knew they deserved better. Since it takes two games in order to reach your ultimate goal, the Snipers regrouped and made sure to continue working hard knowing that they could even up the series.  Talk about a response. Game 2 wasn’t even close as the Snipers imposed their will winning many one on one battles that eventually translated into goals. They had scored five times in the first period alone getting contributions throughout their entire line up. The Classis did slow down the bleeding in the final frame, but couldn’t make any ground as they prepared mentally for a third and deciding game. When reaching this stage of your playoff season, resiliency ,the no quit fire, and the insatiable desire to be a winning club was at the heart of both the Snipers and the Classics. Both sides were so evenly matched that some unpredictable detail needed occur. Since neither side edged the other out in regulation time,  a dreaded shootout stood in the way of glory or despair. If there is one player in these big moments you look for to make the difference, that player is C.Gingras. Its gotten to the point where the predication isn’t really a prediction anymore on if he’s going to score. Its more a question of how. Of coarse he finished off a beautiful move to slide the ball right underneath the Snipers goaltender. And since he was the first player to shoot, the Snipers had three attempts while hoping no other Classics would capitalise. Unfortunately, the pressure was perhaps to overwhelming as all three players got denied going up against an experienced, poised and solid goaltender in S.Morante. Prior to the shootouts, the Classics had the better chances in the five minute sudden death frame, and could have easily ended it if not for C.Hernandez making some brilliant saves. The goaltender gave his side every chance possible to dethrone a dynasty team that was on the verge of capturing their fourth straight title. As much as this feels like a let down, the Snipers have nothing to feel bad about as they threw it all on the line giving it there all. Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t bounce your way when you need it the most. Kind of like losing a coin toss for how well matched both teams were. In the end, the Classics made that one extra play to decide the outcome of a thrilling series. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Pat Santullo and the Classics for capturing their fourth straight title.

(3)Snipers vs Classics(4) Game 1

(8)Snipers vs Classics(4) Game 2

(2)Snipers vs Classics(3) S.O Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carl Gingras of the Classics. He is that player that will win you a series. Even though the Classics have their steady depth chart with many nice pieces, C.Gingras will influence the final outcome. He almost never got off playing entire periods breaking up so many plays that turned into high end chances. Tonight, he collected seven points while being the only player to score in the breakaways that ultimately led the Classics to another championship.

Thursday August 24 (Final)

Black Knights dethrone GK Lite on back of J.Crivello double OT winner

(4)Black Knights vs GK Lite(3) OT(2)

The GK’s bid for a third straight title was denied by the Black Knights on Thursday night. It showed-from as soon as the ball dropped that the Black Knights didn’t want to sit back while applying an aggressive fore-check. And when they needed a save, F.Gagnon was there to back them up. The Black Knights owned much of the first period scoring three of the four goals by D.Lombardi, P.Abandonado and S.Racicot. They played a period expected of a team eager to end a series. The GK Lite had some scoring chances, but F.Gagnon kept standing in the way. While the first period was a step in the right direction, the final frame had a different story line. This time, the GK Lite were the ones that played with more urgency with their season on the line. As long as they got the next goal this contest was far-from being decided. Eventually, they got their thanks to G.Lubwele narrowing the gap by one right before K.Kuczmarski tied the game a minute later. Once the equaliser came, the two teams played the edgy ,defense stingy style that often wins championships. It came to that point in a game where neither side could have afforded a mistake. Luckily enough, the goaltending did not disappoint with F.Gagnon and P.Caouette keeping their clubs in it. The Black Knights and the GK Lite didn’t just need one overtime period to decide matters, but a second one before something was to give. There were enough big chances for somebody to play the hero. As long as both sides kept finding ways to generate a shot on net, something was bound to go in. That pivotal moment finally came courtesy of J.Crivello, who made sure to bury his chance and end the stalemate in what was a grinding and thrilling hockey game. In the perspective of the GK Lite, it may have felt disappointing knowing they were right there for a third straight title. The GK Lite didn’t relinquish their grip on the title without a fight. They never quit and left everything on the court which is expected-from a side with a winning pedigree. But tonight did belong to a side that’s just got accustomed to one another in a very short period of time. While many know the Black Knights have been around for several decades, 34 years to be exact, this particular group are fairly new to an ongoing legacy. It just went to show by putting together the right pieces along with the proper guidance anything is possible. Congratulations go out to the Black Knights for winning the Dek Elite Championship.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Fred Gagnon of the Black Knights. Facing the GK Lite as a goaltender carries a ton of pressure. That being said, F.Gagnon was dialled in-from the very beginning making a bunch of key saves to help lead his team to a well earned victory.

Thursday August 24 (Final)

Black Knights dethrone GK Lite on back of J.Crivello double OT winner

(4)Black Knights vs GK Lite(3) OT(2)

The GK’s bid for a third straight title was denied by the Black Knights on Thursday night. It showed-from as soon as the ball dropped that the Black Knights didn’t want to sit back while applying an aggressive fore-check. And when they needed a save, F.Gagnon was there to back them up. The Black Knights owned much of the first period scoring three of the four goals by D.Lombardi, P.Abandonado and S.Racicot. They played a period expected of a team eager to end a series. The GK Lite had some scoring chances, but F.Gagnon kept standing in the way. While the first period was a step in the right direction, the final frame had a different story line. This time, the GK Lite were the ones that played with more urgency with their season on the line. As long as they got the next goal this contest was far-from being decided. Eventually, they got their thanks to G.Lubwele narrowing the gap by one right before K.Kuczmarski tied the game a minute later. Once the equaliser came, the two teams played the edgy ,defense stingy style that often wins championships. It came to that point in a game where neither side could have afforded a mistake. Luckily enough, the goaltending did not disappoint with F.Gagnon and P.Caouette keeping their clubs in it. The Black Knights and the GK Lite didn’t just need one overtime period to decide matters, but a second one before something was to give. There were enough big chances for somebody to play the hero. As long as both sides kept finding ways to generate a shot on net, something was bound to go in. That pivotal moment finally came courtesy of J.Crivello, who made sure to bury his chance and end the stalemate in what was a grinding and thrilling hockey game. In the perspective of the GK Lite, it may have felt disappointing knowing they were right there for a third straight title. The GK Lite didn’t relinquish their grip on the title without a fight. They never quit and left everything on the court which is expected-from a side with a winning pedigree. But tonight did belong to a side that’s just got accustomed to one another in a very short period of time. While many know the Black Knights have been around for several decades, 34 years to be exact, this particular group are fairly new to an ongoing legacy. It just went to show by putting together the right pieces along with the proper guidance anything is possible. Congratulations go out to the Black Knights for winning the Dek Elite Championship.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Fred Gagnon of the Black Knights. Facing the GK Lite as a goaltender carries a ton of pressure. That being said, F.Gagnon was dialled in-from the very beginning making a bunch of key saves to help lead his team to a well earned victory.

Thursday August 24 (Final)

J.Russo imposed his will with 2 big third period goals, Krazy Train jump ahead in series

(3)Rated R vs Krazy Train(5) Game 1

J.Russo relishes playing for the big moments. After accumulating a pair of assists, the power forward was a major reason why the Krazy Train took a commanding lead in this series. His first of two tallies came on the power play reacting with no hesitation to catch F.Baratta off guard while his second was even more masterful finding himself alone to finish off a nifty move. Prior to those set of events, the two sides were evenly matched trading two power play goals each with neither side ever playing with more than a two goal cushion. The one advantage the Krazy Train took with them was to force Rated R to respond each and every time. At no point did Rated R have the luxury of playing in front. Despite coming back on three straight occasions , they just couldn’t find a way to jump ahead. Sometimes all it takes is that one big play to decide matters as the game starts to wind down. J.Russo was able to provide it on the power play to snap a 3-3 tie, and the Krazy Train never looked back en route to an important game one victory.

S.Sauk gets hot at right moment, Krazy Train crowned winners of E Thursday division

(2)Rated R vs Krazy Train(5) Game 2

With a mix of speed, high end talent, and an outstanding performance by S.Scott guarding his cage, the Krazy Train earned every bit of this championship by knocking out Rated R in two games. Like the Krazy Train fully expected, it wasn’t easy. The Krazy Train took nothing for granted by getting the better start. At one point, S.Marricco scored his second to provide  what seemed like a comfortable 3-0 lead by the four minute mark of the second period. There was no question that Rated R were on the ropes with so much work , effort and bounces required in order to make a serious push. The mind set had to remain simple by taking it a shift at a time. As long as they got the next goal, things had the potential to turn around. That break  occurred early in the third period when P.Doulis finally got to S.Sauk. Now that they ended a scoreless drought, confidence started to trickle down their bench with plenty of time left over. The next step was to try and cut the lead by one in hopes of having enough time for an eventual equaliser. With the Krazy Train complicating matters by taking a pair of late penalties, the door was wide open for Rated R to bounce back into the series and potentially force an overtime. Payam Assadi took advantage of the extra space by netting a power play goal. All of a sudden, Rated R found themselves one shot on net away-from mounting a much needed comeback. They still had almost two minutes to get there while being awarded another power play chance. As they tried to move the ball well enough to create some available lanes, M.Crialese was able to break up a play and send the ball right into the empty net notching his first of two empty net goals. Seeing the first empty net goal find its way in sent a sigh of relief for a side that was carrying a ton of weight on their shoulders. The Krazy Train motivated each other to try and become champions. To do it after a sub par regular season with only two wins in nine games is pretty special. The successful run was marked by a few factors with goaltending playing a major role. With S.Sauk being your goaltender, you never know what your going to get. Sometimes he looks like a flop, and sometimes he can be your best piece of the puzzle. At a time when it counted the most, S.Sauk delivered making a bunch of key saves that enabled his side to build off it. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Rino Varr and the Krazy Train for winning the Thursday night division.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Scott Sauk of the Krazy Train. Sometimes its all about timing. The Krazy Train went on to take both games in the final thanks to their exceptional goaltender. S.Sauk faced close to 50 shots in both games denying most of them which gave the confidence to his side to get stronger as the series went on.

 Monday August 21 (Semi finals)

Classics top Degenerates after tight knitted series

The Classics got some timely goals in their tight semi final series with the Degenerates, and when the goals weren’t coming, S.Morante stood tall. The goaltender came up big in the opener enabling M.Mavroudis to score late in the game that broke a 1-1 tie. The first encounter felt like a chess match as both sides made it a point to play a sound man on man game. Now that the Degenerates were stuck playing catch up in the series, a good start was something they hoped for. This time, they scored first, and eventually built a nice 3-1 lead thanks to J.Courteau and D.Charbonneau. By then, they were just passed half way to achieving their goal to force a third and deciding game. The Classics did catch a break shortly after due to an unfortunate tripping call. Needing to crawl back into it, T.Langiano tapped in an easy tally after receiving a perfect pass by T.Karvouriaris. That goal only fuelled C.Gingras to even the score seconds later. All of a sudden, this series went into a critical state for the Degenerates, who almost had no more margin of error. Since the two sides didn’t finish it off in regulation time, a dreaded shootout stood in the way of an extended series, or an exit by the Degenerates.  Unfortunately, they couldn’t catch the break they needed in the breakaway competition with C.Gingras scoring a spectacular goal along with S.Morante denying three straight attempts.

(2)Classics vs Degenerates(1) Game 1

(4)Classics vs Degenerates(3) S.O Game 2

Dragons implode in game 3, Snipers mount an epic comeback

This was not merely a loss, it felt more like a reckoning. It was that stunning, that unlikely and that disheartening. A Dragons team that had the horses and a commanding 3-1 lead in game three was humbled and humiliated in an eventual loss. To think that a 3-1 lead with less than five minutes to go somehow vanished out of thin air. While many can argue that the Dragons blew it, plenty of credit has to go the other way with the Snipers never giving up on their plays. And who better than your captain to take the bull by the horns. It took only thirty seconds for Ali Khanafer to snipe two incredible goals that evened the score 3-3. Despite letting go of such a lead, you need to be able to answer adversity, especially with the character players of the Dragons. Instead, it only got worse with J.Hassan providing the Snipers a huge go ahead marker. The Dragons were now forced to pull out their net minder for the extra attacker as their season started to fade away. Unable to get anything much going, J.Hassan won a big battle behind the net to bury his second in an empty cage, and ultimately put an end to a wild and thrilling series. It happened, crazy as it seems, the Dragons are off to wonder why and how they collapsed after a grasp in this series. On the flip side, the Snipers played to their identity which is to play for one another with plenty of heart. By never giving up on plays, those moments in a game add up, and eventually get paid off.

(3)Snipers vs Dragons(4) Game 1

(3)Snipers vs Dragons(2) Game 2

(6)Snipers vs Dragons(3) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Ali Khanafer of the Snipers. In what appeared to be a bleak situation for the Snipers, Ali Khanafer erased all doubt by providing two spectacular timely goals which helped send his club to the final.

The defending champion Classics will now have a date with the Snipers in the Monday 4vs4 division final. A big part of this series will depend on how much space the Classics can create for themselves since they will have a Sniper constantly fore-checking them. That being said, the odds area always good when C.Gingras will be logging in the minutes playing-from the back end. The Snipers will need to be aware of his presence the entire time if they are to have a legit chance. Difficult to predict, look for a very close series.

Monday August 14 (Quarter finals)

Classics use some extra key plays to outlast Country Club

Patience, solid goaltending and timely goals drove this series in favour of the Classics. The first game was dictated by both goaltenders S.Morante and M.Dupuis keeping their clubs in it throughout the entire contest. It was one of those games that who ever scored first would likely win. The Classics were able to get their before the Country Club thanks to M.Mavroudis, who not only broke the barrier but was able to bury his second on the power play to put the opposition on the ropes. The Country Club felt they didn’t play poorly enough not to challenge the heavy favourite Classics in the ensuing match. This time, they had their offense more engaged as they were able to tally three times in the first period alone but weren’t able to create a gap with the Classics matching them. One thing you don’t want to do when the games are on the line is taking visits to the penalty box, especially against the Classics. The Country Club may have shot themselves on the foot in the final stretch where T.Karvouriaris made sure to capitalise with the man advantage. Now that an experienced team like the Classics grabbed the lead, the Country Club knew their season was on the line as the walls were slowly closing in. No matter how many attempts they tried to get at least one, the Classics defence stood in the way along with the last line of defense S.Morante making all the necessary saves.

(3)Classics vs Country Club(1) Game 1

(5)Classics vs Country Club(3) Game 2

Degenerates thrilling comeback stuns Brewers  

Comebacks are difficult at any level of competition, but they are even more difficult in the playoffs against a team built on the back of defensive stalwarts and backed by solid goaltending. Already trailing 1-0 after a heartbreaking opener, the Degenerates found themselves in a deeper hole down 4-1 in the second game. The Brewers knew that they should have held on to the game by just keeping it  simple. While the entire situation felt dire for the Degenerates, the mind set remained simple by playing it a moment at a time. All you can control is getting that next goal. S.Marricco was awarded a penalty shot toward the end of the opening frame and made sure to score what felt like a must goal. After pulling off a brilliant fake to narrow the gap by two, this series was far-from over with an entire period to play.  The Degenerates entered their final stanza with the right mind set which was to continue working hard knowing that they had the personal to stage a miraculous comeback. In the span of about ninety seconds, the tides turned on a dime with J.Courteau and M.Chenier finishing off a pair of nice plays. All of a sudden, the Degenerates rose-from the dead and were now the ones in control of the series despite if being far-from settled. By that point, you keep relying on momentum if your the Degenerates or a break landing in your favour if you’re the Brewers.  In this particular case, momentum was yet to slow down as P.Paikopoulos continued the comeback by finally putting the Degenerates in front for the first time during the game. His late tally helped even the series forcing what would be a hard fought third and deciding mini game. Often, the winners of the second game have the higher spirits entering the final stage of a series. And why not when you just came off a win. The positive energy felt throughout the Degenerates bench was evident that it translated on the field. Every single player was dialled in and extremely focused on trying to do their part. It didn’t even take long for their key moment to arrive. Two minutes and change into the mini game, S.Marricco used his strength to get that first needed goal. Even though there was a ton of time left over, the Brewers just couldn’t get enough good chances in order to level. The Degenerates made it a point to play defense first while knowing C.Stavriadis was there to close out the series.

(2)Degenerates vs Brewers(4) Game 1

(6)Degenerates vs Brewers(4) Game 2

(1)Degenerates vs Brewers(0) Game 3

Snipers met with no resistance in sweep of HC Jokerit

Scoring only one goal in four periods just wont cut it. Yes, the HC Jokerit had to keep this series as low scoring as possible, but they just couldn’t slow down a side that’s seasoned to make a serious push. The Snipers are at a good place after proving they are a top contender for finishing first in the division. These results are to be expected when a team shows up full pin game in and game out. They barely have any weaknesses with a balanced formula that works. The forwards will wear you down, the defence never gives up on a play and finally the goaltending by M.St-Laurent often doesn’t disappoint. The HC Jokerit had two poor starts which ultimately gave them no chance. In order to defeat the Snipers, you almost have to score first or keep the games close in order to catch an eventual break. Unfortunately, nothing went right in both games with the Snipers jumping out of the gate. Five different goal scorers were a contributing factor in the opener while A.Saleh did manage to score twice in game two. This isn’t a side that you try and contain one particular player. The Snipers rely on hard work and balance to get their point across. With this being an easy series sweep, the Snipers will need to expect a much more difficult challenge ahead of them with only four teams remaining. For now, they’ll take the week to enjoy a well earned series.

(5)Snipers vs HC Jokerit(1) Game 1

(6)Snipers vs HC Jokerit(0) Game 2

Dragons pull off improbable comeback win vs Sharpshooters

Up 1-0 in the series, and finding yourself leading 5-2 into the second game of the final period points to a well rounded successful night. The Sharpshooters were well on their way to upsetting the Dragons and punching a ticket to the semi final round. Everything was going according to plan. They came-from behind to take game one, and were seemingly the better of the two sides showing plenty of energy and pace to their game. To think, they needed eight more solid minutes to play out the clock nursing a three goal lead. Then, the wheels fell off, and the Sharpshooters hit a massive ditch unable to recover. Knowing that the Dragons have the fire power to score at will, the Sharpshooters may have gotten a little to complacent without the ball which set the stage for an incredible comeback. The Dragons scored five goals in that single frame alone that saw Y.Derohannessian complete his hat trick. Similar to the previous series between the Degenerates and the Brewers, the Dragons fed off their momentum heading into game three. Its during those moments that you expect your top guns to step it up a little more. Since anything can happen in a shortened mini game, you need to apply your very best in order to make the difference. And while the Dragons worked hard collectively to capture the win, J.Mandracchia was a huge part of it scoring two big goals while making a perfect pass for Y.Derohannassian to tap in the winner.

(3)Dragons vs Sharpshooters(4) S.O Game 1

(7)Dragons vs Sharpshooters(5) Game 2

(3)Dragons vs Sharpshooters(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Yerik Derohannessian of the Dragons. It took a miracle, but the Dragons somehow stormed back to steal this series against the Sharpshooters. While many factors need to align, its safe to say that Y.Derohannessian’s timely goals was a major reason why they reached the next round. The shifty forward scored three goals and one assist in game two before tapping in a huge game winning tally in the final moments of game three.

Off to the final four with four solid teams remaining. The semi final match ups are as follows:

(1)Snipers vs Dragons(4) This series will come down to how the Dragons offense will need to try and break down the Snipers defense. You don’t want to rely on comebacks against the Snipers if your the Dragons. The space will be limited, and the one on one battles will be much harder. The Dragons may have the offensive upside entering this series, but the Snipers do have that wolf pack mentality on playing a complete overall game. Difficult to predict a winner, this one will be decided on who limits mistakes.

(2)Classics vs Degenerates(3) Two teams that are no strangers to one another want nothing less than to prevail. Both sides don’t need any scouting report on how they play. This series will be determined on who is better at executing their plays. The Classics will depend on C.Gingras, M.Mavroudis and M.Destounis to occupy the offense while the Degenerates have more than their fair share of firing power up front.

Thursday August 10 (Semi finals)

Horsemen give up late goal before losing in overtime to Krazy Train

The Horsemen are done, with an offseason to think about their failure to close out the deal that was right at the palm of their hands. All it took was the combination of scoring in the empty net or killing off 36 seconds. Neither happened, and the Krazy Train used an incredible finish to stun the division leaders. Ali Khanafer struck first in game three of the mini game with a huge power play goal for the Horsemen. The full fifteen minutes wasn’t enough with the Krazy Train not hearing the bell just yet. After finding themselves up for a power play chance coupled with their met minder out for the extra attacker, the Krazy Train were able to keep their season alive thanks to J.Russo before providing the final dagger on some what of a lucky goal by M.Richard in overtime. Anytime you get to that point in a series, any shot on net will do. The Krazy Train often played-from behind in all three games of this series. They managed to overcome a slight deficit in game one on a strong third period finish. Game two saw the Horsemen play with more urgency with their season on the line. Two of their five goals came on the power play by M.Kardum while M.Vinciguerra was as good as you can expect-from your net minder. Since both sides split, it came to no ones surprise that this thing was headed the distance. There are many small turning points that are often out of your control when playing in an evenly matched series. So many things are required to go right with the element of luck. Whether its your power play, stellar goaltending or simply avoiding mistakes, all those basic elements add up in the end. Unfortunately for the Horsemen, they couldn’t make that one extra play in order to avoid a heart breaking finish.

(3)Horsemen vs Krazy Train(6) Game 1

(5)Horsemen vs Krazy Train(3) Game 2

(1)Horsemen vs Krazy Train(2) O.T Game 3

Rated R hold off Fatal Demons to reach final

It was as close as you can expect-from two teams that were willing to grind it out all night. Game one gave no indication on who would come out on top. Goals were hard to come by as you would expect -from these two stubborn teams. Neither side wanted to stumble in the big moments with the clock winding down. Eventually something was to give, and who other than arguably the most dangerous forward of the division. In the short span of only thirty seconds, G-C Pisanelli was able to decide the opener on two brilliant goals. The Fatal Demons now had their back firmly pressed against the wall. P.Santulllo’s team responded with a solid effort, one peppered with desperation and urgency to keeping their hopes alive. There was no real let up as a pair of timely goals by T.Karvouriaris and T.Langiano gave just enough offense to eke out the win. Of coarse adding to that, S.Morante was definitely dialled in as the net minder faced his fair share of shots only to get beaten once. The minimal required task of bouncing back was checked off for the Fatal Demons. As many would perhaps expect before the series began, a third game was going to likely decide a winner. Since time isn’t a luxury for any team, scoring first usually comes a long way in a shorten fifteen minute game. Rated R exceeded that plan by riffling four straight by the twelve minute mark. Talk about a comfortable lead if your any team trying to close out a series with only three minutes left on the clock. That being said, the final score indicates other wise as the Fatal Demons made Rated R sweat by bagging three straight markers in less than a minute. J.Bolanakis was there to set up A.Zarzour twice along with F.Casacalenda. By that point, Rated R had all but eleven seconds to kill in which they did despite nearly giving up a shot on net. For a game that had no business being close, drama still found a way to get involved.

(3)Rated R vs Fatal Demons(1) Game 1

(1)Rated R vs Fatal Demons(3) Game 2

(4)Rated R vs Fatal Demons(3) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Frank Baratta of Rated R. You need your most important piece of the puzzle to deliver. F.Baratta is a warrior in net battling every ball his way looking like someone on a mission. If he continues this way, Rated R will have a strong shot at winning it all.

The E Thursday division is now down its final two teams. Expect an even match up with star power up front along with a structured defensive game. F.Baratta has shown that he’s ready for the challenge which will force S.Sauk to be at his best as well as he’s shown before in the past. Rated R and the Krazy Train have delivered there in the post season thus far, and there’s every reason to believe it’ll  continue until the victory lap.

Monday August 7

P.Delli Colli posts incredible goaltending for Sharpshooters split with Classics

The shots would not stop coming at P.Delli Colli of the Sharpshooters. With the Sharpshooters having to deal with a way shorter bench, the pressure was clear on the net minder to make up for some tired legs. It went without saying that the challenge would be a difficult one for the Sharpshooters in order to split their night with the Classics. Struggling fatigue after giving it all in a loss makes it that much harder for ones spirit. That being said, all six players along with P.Delli Colli stepped it up by never giving up on any play. While goaltending wasn’t an issue with Delli Colli stealing the show, D.Greco and J.Tersei were the engines powering the forwards as the two d-man caused plenty of havoc making one brilliant play after the other. The Sharpshooters did most of their damage in the first period of the second game rattling off five goals. They almost had no choice but to take a lead rather than being stuck chasing the game. Instead of making life easier on themselves, the Sharpshooters played with plenty of fire before it was said and done. Its already a travesty to take one penalty against the Classics, but two is almost a death sentence. Somehow however, the Sharpshooters did the improbable by killing off two late penalties against the divisions top power play unit. Sometimes a little bit of luck with the sound of the goal posts ringing a couple of times is what’s required in order to take down a giant. In tonight’s case, the Sharpshooters put together a masterful performance grabbing at least one win versus the Classics.

(1)Sharpshooters vs Classics(3)

(5)Sharpshooters vs Classics(4)

Degenerates stuck coming back twice after slow starts to Country Club

They weren’t pretty starts, but the Degenerates pulled away with an earlier win while testing their luck in the shootout of the second encounter. Twice they fell behind 2-0, and twice they managed to overcome the deficits before finding themselves in front. Unlike the first game, the Degenerates weren’t able to lock it down in the second tilt. A slight 3-2 lead got answered when G.Dumont one timed a pass to beat C.Stavriadis low in the corner of the net. From-there, things only got settled in the shootout where F.Proulx made no mistake to finish off a nice move. The Degenerates had the opportunity to put the Country Club away after missing out on some decent chances. Luckily enough M.Dupuis was there to keep the margin low enough as the net minder stood firm at crucial moments during the game. Most of the goals were spread out by both teams, but S.Pilot did perhaps have a little more of an impact for the Country Club as the solid d-man provided a total of four points.

(5)Degenerates vs Country Club(3)

(3)Degenerates vs Country Club(4) S.O

Dragons making a statement for looming playoff season ahead

For a rare time this season, the Dragons had almost all their players show up. And while the Brewers could have used their top guns, both games indicated how much of a gap there was between the two sides. Everywhere the Brewers looked, a danger presented itself. Its very difficult having to focus on trying to slow down many players that can hurt you. M.Carpentier, Y.Derohannesian and J.Mandracchia scored seven of the eight goals in the opener. The second match saw the very same M.Carpentier notch his second hat trick while Payam Assadi matched him sparking three goals as well. Discouraging as it was, the Brewers didn’t have much to play for on Monday night. Unfortunately, they were stuck going through the motions of having to deal with a prepped line up while dealing with significant holes on their roster. This wont matter much for a team that’s seasoned to play post season hockey . When a complete line up, the Brewers are always a difficult out.

(2)Brewers vs Dragons( 8 )

(2)Brewers vs Dragons(9)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Paolo Delli Colli of the Sharpshooters. Contrary to his team name, the goaltender was the target instead having to face a ton of shots only to keep denying a high powered offense. The Sharpshooters stole the second game versus the Classics on a very short bench while on the back of Delli Colli.

The Monday 4vs4 regular season came to a close on Monday night. The first round will feature eight teams in a quarter final round. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Snipers vs HC Jokerit( 8 ) It will take many things to go right for the HC Jokerit. At the very least, every single player will need to step up and contribute by committee. They do have the speed, endurance and a deep bench to compete. The problem is that they are going up against a team that’s well structured that doesn’t give you much. As long as they can keep the games close enough, than you never know, but do expect for the division leaders to pull through in the end.

(2)Classics vs Country Club(7) The County Club are all to familiar with the threat on the other side. Knowing C.Gingras who recently was a Country Club teammate, the strategy will come down to how to slow him down. S.Pilot will have a huge task ahead of him as the d-man will swallow a ton of minutes by trying to neutralise an ex teammate. If M.Dupuis stands tall, and the Country Club play a sound defensive game, the Classics may have a hard time escaping this series.

(3)Degenerates vs Brewers(6) Both sides wont have a choice but to floor a deep roster. The Brewers will need their key forwards to show up while the Degenerates are expected to have all their elements in play. If that’s the case, this will be a very grinding series that can tilt either way. Goaltending needs to be sharp as well limiting trips to the penalty box.

(4)Dragons vs Sharpshooters(5) For how deep and talented the Dragons are, many will expect them to pull through. That being said, the Sharpshooters may have the most impressive back line in the division. Led by their assumed net minder P.Delli Colli taking care of the cage, the Sharpshooters may have two of the top active defensemen of the division. D.Greco and J.Teresi will quarterback, dictate and help provide all the offense that is required in order to win. Their big challenge will come down to how to slow down players such as J.Mandracchia, M.Carpentier and Payam Assadi just to name a few.

Thursday August 3

Fatal Demons put up a fight but fall short in shootout loss to Horsemen

(4)Fatal Demons vs Horsemen(5) S.O

That is what you get when you cant score against a side that played the trap throughout the entire game. The Fatal Demons worked a simple but efficient game plan to remain neck and neck versus a deeper bench. Although they never had the luxury to play in front, the Fatal Demons were able to tie the game on four straight occasions only to drop it in a shootout. The Horsemen had many chances to put this thing away but kept getting trapped trying to dissect a very structured defense. They could have regulated matters in regulation time if they could have killed off twenty more seconds. Instead, the extra attacked provided the possession required in order to generate once last attempt at evening the score. That’s when M.Mavroudis benefited on a nice feed in front of the net-from C.Stamadianos where the forward re directed the ball right behind the Horsemen’s net minder. The two sides went through a cautious overtime frame making sure to avoid any costly mistakes. With neither side able to get it done, a three man shootout was all that was left over to maybe determine a winner. Only one player scored out of the six total attempts. V.Pandza came through as the Horsemen’s captain capped off a solid regular season by netting the shootout winner.

Rated R nip Krazy Train in overtime

(5)Rated R vs Krazy Train(4) O.T

After a thrilling back and forth affair, A.Stamiris scored his second in overtime to provide Rated R an exciting end to their regular season. It was one of those games where the two sides had their strong moments along with some let downs. Its expected for it to be this close when teams are evenly matched. Often, it comes down to mental mistakes or simple bad bounces. The Krazy Train were able to force overtime thanks to their relentless power forward. S.Marricco notched his hat trick to level the score with just under five minutes remaining. Just like in the previous encounter, this contest also needed the extra time before it was settled. Once teams hit the sudden death frame, its all about trying to seize the right moment while avoiding to be responsible for any blunders. In tonight’s particular case, A.Stamiris came up big once more by netting the winner. The active d-man also scored his clubs lone goal in the third period before bagging his second for the winner.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Andrew Stamiris of Rated R. Twice he delivered at crucial points during the game which enabled his side to edge out a close 5-4 overtime win.

One season ended, and another one is yet to begin . The E Thursday division will resume next week with all four teams battling it out in what will be a grinding best of three playoff series. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Horsemen vs Krazy Train(4) Yes the Horsemen finished first with seven wins, and yes the Krazy Train are in fourth place with only two wins. If both teams come with a full line up, then take those stats and shove them in a shredder. Once the ball drops, none of it will matter as both sides will have to battle it out and go through the motions of what it takes to win at this stage. The Horseman will have their hands full on defense as they’ll try to contain a bigger and perhaps a more lethal offense. A few factors will need to come into play for the Horsemen if they are planning to move forward. All three lines have to commit on playing well defensively, mistakes need to be limited, and M.Vinciguerra wont have a choice to continue playing well in net like he’s shown all season.

(2)Rated R vs Fatal Demons(3) It will be a coin toss series that have so many good elements about their overall game. The way both sides play collectively while having some special talented players suggests that anything can happen. The depth will be there, fire power up front wont be much of an issue and neither should be the goaltending. Like in most match ups that don’t have a clear cut front runner, the little things will play out over the coarse of a lengthy series. That involves winning the one on one battles, limited trips to the penalty box, and of coarse the goaltender that shines his leather on a consistent basis.

Monday July 31

Degenerates bounce back to split series with Classics

While the Degenerates didn’t play bad by any stretch, the bounces just weren’t their in their opener with the Classics. The games were going to be close as expected leaving all but some little details to make the difference between winning and losing. In the case of the first encounter, T.Karvouriaris finished off some key plays scoring a pair that included the winner with only three minutes left on the clock. The Classics scored four goals in the 4-2 win that saw C.Gingras involved in every single tally. The second game didn’t quite shape up right away for the Classics as the Degenerates took it them early on three first period goals. Getting the faster start was essential in order to salvage their night. Despite being up by three at one point, this contest was far-from over with the Classics starting to put on the heat. F.Casacalenda scored a late tally on a desperate shot to pull his side within one. With a chance to even the score after pulling out their net minder, the Classics had more than enough time to try and bury the equaliser. Two minutes feels like an eternity if you’re the defending team. And as much as the Classics were putting on some serious pressure, the Degenerates made sure to trap the lanes and pounce on the loose balls while heavily relying on C.Stavriadis to make the saves. Unfortunately for the Classics, the goaltender was up for the task, and the 4-3 score held till the end.

(4)Classics vs Degenerates(2)

(3)Classics vs Degenerates(4)

Snipers respond with character win after a slow start to Dragons

The Snipers were keen on delivering a response. After putting forth a dud in a lopsided set back, the Snipers showed what they are all about by handing the Dragons a 5-2 loss to split their night. The first encounter could have been closer if the Snipers knew how to contain a known threat. J.Mandracchia proved to be a handful as the forward continued his tear collecting a hat trick as part of a five point performance. Two of his tallies came shorthanded where the Snipers should have taken advantage of their power play. Since nothing went well for a team that’s barely shown flaws so far, the Snipers had a chance at redemption after a poor start . Everyone on that bench knew that they would be more determined for a better outing. By far they came ready to play showing a lot more urgency and resilience. Although it wasn’t anything convincing, the Snipers played ahead after the first period ended and never looked back by shutting the door the rest of the way. Ahamad Khanafer provided a huge insurance marker while M.St-Laurent stood firm denying a high octane offense.

(6)Dragons vs Snipers(2)

(2)Dragons vs Snipers(5)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Theo Karvouriaris of the Classics. Often timing is everything when games are extremely close. The Classics took the first contest thanks to a pair of key goals by the steady D-man, who excelled on both sides of the court throughout the two games.

Thursday July 27

Fatal Demons and Rated R remain knotted after see saw affair

(5)Fatal Demons vs Rated R(5) S.O

Giving up a pair of early goals for Rated R was a sign of worse things to come having to deal with a very short bench along with the fact of missing their top guns. For over half the game, they couldn’t score and looked like they weren’t for how sound the Fatal Demons defense was playing.  Rated R needed the coin to flip knowing that a two goal deficit is within reasonable range. By taking the patient baby steps approach, M.Timeo was finally able to get them on board. Not only did they break the barrier, but managed to end the frame stronger than expected by bagging two more tallies. Out  of nowhere, Rated R found themselves ahead entering the final stanza. Despite the let down, the Fatal Demons were able to put it behind them quickly as they searched for that next tally. First, G.DeMarinnis potted his second to tie the game, and K.Araujo eventually regained the lead for the Fatal Demons by capitalising with a man up. Now that the script flipped in favour of the Fatal Demons, Rated R were now the ones chasing again. This time however, it looked as though the Fatal Demons learned-from their previous mistakes. They took all the necessary measures in order to neutralise the opposition. There was no question that the Fatal Demons were on the verge of victory as the single digits on the scoreboard started to click downwards. Unfortunately, one last play by Rated R spoiled their mood once more when the captain S.DosSantos rescued his club with only six seconds remaining. With the pendulum swinging back and forth, this contest was never ready to have a winner. Neither overtime or a shootout was enough to decide the outcome as both teams were stuck settling for a tie.

Horsemen hang on to edge out Krazy Train

(4)Krazy Train vs Horsemen(5)

It wasn’t their best start to the night, but the Horsemen adjusted and made sure to be the better side by the time the game ended. Both sides were able to capitalise on the large part with enough scoring chances to go around. Krazy Train got a few going early on riding three first period goals. R.Varr led the front scoring once while setting up C.Lato and J.Melo. The Horsemen trailed only 3-2 after the first frame which didn’t cause much concern since they were playing the right way. It was just a question of time before they would take control and matters into their own hands. That become apparent in the second period with D.Greco scoring on the power play followed with H.Atoui providing the Horsemen a 4-3 lead on a precise shot. M.Mamoulides was then able to widen the gap by two which barely lasted as M.Cerrone replied quickly for the Krazy Train. By this point, nine minutes to play gave plenty of time for this contest to shift back and forth. Instead, goals seemed to be harder to come by as the net minders made sure to  remain engaged knowing how important that next tally would be. And since both S.Sauk and M.Vinciguerra did their part, the Horsemen were the ones in position to  dictate the terms. They did play with fire in the last couple of minutes by taking a penalty. The Krazy Train had a great chance to even the score after pulling out S.Sauk for the extra attacker for a six on four advantage. Unfortunately, nothing came of it as the Horsemen trapped the lanes while relying on M.Vinciguerra to make the timely saves.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mike Timeo of Rated R. After netting a pair of tallies during the game, M.Timeo kept showing off his skill set by notching a nifty shootout goal.

Monday July 24

HC Jokerit unable to penetrate the Brewers trap

You would have to figure that its an advantage when you’re an army of troops versus a side rotating only one single player. In normal circumstances, the games would end favouring a younger, quicker and more intense side. Not in tonight’s case however as the Brewers used their smarts, experience and the commitment to play lights out without the ball. Although the first encounter was decided in the shootout favouring the Brewers, it was the second game that saw the stingy defense frustrate the HC Jokerit. At no point were the HC Jokerit able to break down the Brewers defense and more importantly the goaltending. M.Tzouvadais enjoyed the lockdown mode in front of him as the net minder felt dialled in making the first key stops. The Brewers scored twice in the opening frame thanks to A.Papazian and G.DiZazzo. Once they pulled ahead, the HC Jokerit were stuck chasing the game in which they just had no solutions on how to dissect a well structured opponent.

(3)HC Jokerit vs Brewers(4) S.O

(0)HC Jokerit vs Brewers(2)

Undermanned Degenerates no match for Snipers

Going up against a stacked Snipers side, the Degenerates did their best considering the circumstances . Surely, the poor start didn’t help their cause, but they managed to bounce back and force the Snipers to earn every inch of the court. The loss didn’t take away any hope of rebounding into the second game. The Degenerates did the right thing by getting on board first on a strong individual effort by L.Folini. Since scoring chances were going to be hard to come by, the Degenerates had to stick to playing hard without the ball. On the large part, they kept the Snipers to the outside, but that game plan could last only so long. They were almost forced to try and get that second goal.  Unfortunately some missed opportunities saw the game tilt the other way. The Snipers eventually got on board early in the second period when H.Awada finally got to C.Stavriadis. From-there, Ahmad Khanafer would double the lead, and Hadi Khanafer would put the match away leaving all but three minutes on the clock. Tonight was a prime example of needing all your elements if you think you can compete with the Snipers. Unless you come prepared, chances are that you’ll find yourself on the short end of the stick.

(5)Snipers vs Degenerates(2)

(3)Snipers vs Degenerates(1)

Sharpshooters and Dragons split after wild finishes

The Dragons did their best due to their empty bench. They managed to take an insurmountable 5-2 lead with half a frame remaining. But the Sharpshooters stormed back with three straight goals after pulling their net minder for the extra attacker. With D.Sarno netting the equaliser fairly late, the momentum was clearly on the Sharpshooters side. It looked like this tilt was going to be decided in a shootout as the clock kept ticking down. Since hockey can be cruel at times, J.Mandracchia was able to beat the clock by only two seconds to provide a wild and crazy win fro the Dragons. Despite the heartbreaking let down, the Sharpshooters appeared to be the more engaged team because of their deeper bench . It would only make sense that they would overwhelm the Dragons heading into the second game, especially after jumping off to a 4-2 first period lead. Everything pointed in the direction for a bounce back game for the Sharpshooters as they had total control of the situation. That’s unless you find yourself taking some unfortunate penalties. Two lengthy visits to the penalty box enabled the Dragons to crawl back into the game. First, G.DeMarinnis narrowed the gap by one, and then J.Mandracchia was there once more to help provide the Dragons another big goal. All of a sudden, the game was dead even at four goals apiece with enough time for another tally. The Sharpshooters didn’t seem to learn-from their mistakes as they kept shooting themselves on the foot by taking another late penalty. Talk about being handed the game on a silver platter if your the Dragons. That being said, the Sharpshooters were able to kill off the last two deadly minutes and take their chances in a shootout. Once they got to the breakaway competition, D.Greco stick handled his way to victory as the only player to figure out the goaltenders. M.Vinciguerra earned the win in net denying three highly skilled players. Both games had the drama of daytime soap operas with so many twists and turns.

(5)Sharpshooters vs Dragons(6)

(5)Sharpshooters vs Dragons(4) S.O

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jonathan Mandracchia of the Dragons. If J.Mandracchia played like a human like the rest of the players on the field, the Dragons would have no chance at competing with a deeper Sharpshooters team. Since he isn’t your average player, the highly skilled forward was simply uncontainable scoring a total of six goals and two assists to help collect four out of a possible six points for the Dragons.

Thursday July 20

Horsemen surrender two goal lead but win it in overtime

(2)Rated R vs Horsemen(3) O.T

After jumping to an early 2-0 advantage, and then squandering the lead, the Horsemen did get the final word by securing the win in overtime.  Everything was hunky-dory in the first for the Horsemen. V.Pandza and H.Atoui had each scored, and M.Vinciguerra was rock solid stopping his fair share of shots. The pace of trying to hang on to a two goal lead with Rated R putting some serious pressure can only bring you so far. Eventually, they were able to convert on their chances with both goals coming by their captain S.DosSantos. The game was knotted at two goals apiece entering the final stanza. Both teams were in a similar situation missing a few players which forced them to be a little more cautious while obliged to make some quick line changes. Since both F.Baratta and M.Vinciguerra were really the main reason why this contest remained low scoring, neither side got it done in regulation time. It took some extra space in the sudden death frame for the Horseman to seize their opportunity and cap it off early on a quick passing play.

Depleted Krazy Train no match for Fatal Demons

(2)Krazy Train vs Fatal Demons(10)

In a word, the depleted Krazy Train falling by a landslide to the Fatal Demons was expected. This was a type of game where the Krazy Train had to keep things very simple. Some patient hockey coupled with solid goaltending could have perhaps given the Fatal Demons a better challenge. Instead, the bad start only made matters worse for the Krazy Train as they were stuck playing behind the eight ball. It was one of those cases when trying to dig out of a hole that you only keep falling in deeper unable to climb out of. The Fatal Demons kept pressing and never slowed down creating a huge gap. Many contributed with J.Bolanakis, K.Araujo and M.Destounis all cashing in twice. The Krazy Train failed to convert early on simply because M.Rodriguez was ready for the task. The net minder blended just well making all the necessary stops in order to help provide a well deserved win.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Miguel Rodriguez of the Fatal Demons. In his season debut with the club, the net minder did not disappoint allowing only a pair of goals while making some key early saves.

Monday July 17

Snipers use size advantage to winning the one on one battles vs HC Jokerit

The advantage of being a bigger and more seasoned team will always come a long way. The Snipers had all the necessary ingredients in order to defeat the HC Jokerit on two occasions on Monday night. Granted, the first game was a low scoring affair, but the score doesn’t really indicate much with the Snipers dictating most of the play. The second encounter proved it with the Snipers able to capitalise on most of their chances They built a comfortable 6-0 lead after one before capping off the night without any resistance. Many contributed offensively while M.St-Laurent was calm cool and collective allowing only one single goal in four periods. The HC Jokerit actually had a decent start despite unable to score. They carried the play and generated some chances only to be snake bitten by St-Laurent. The problem was that they couldn’t continue the pace long enough as the Snipers started to take over and overwhelm the HC Jokerit due to their size and ability to protect the ball.

(2)Snipers vs HC Jokerit(0)

(9)Snipers vs HC Jokerit(2)

Degenerates recover after slow start to Country Club

They played it right-from the start and got rewarded. The Country Club applied a simple plan by waiting for the Degenerates to make a mistake. Once they forced some turn overs, the odd man rushes started to pile on, and the Country Club benefited twice on goals by S.Pilot and J-S Lowe. Playing ahead is always a huge advantage since it forces your opponent to take a lot more risks. For nearly the entire game, the Degenerates were unable to solve M.Dupuis at any point. The net minder kept making save after save while time was starting to wind down. Then, a quick release by J.Courteau cut the lead in half, and the Degenerates knew they were one shot on net to forcing a shootout. The extra attacker definitely came into play as S.Marricco finished off a play to tie the game with just over twenty seconds remaining. And while the County Club hoped for better in regulation time, they did have the final say by taking it in the shootout. F.Proulx took a page out of Nikita Kucherov’s shootout goal to fool C.Stavriadis as the only player to score in the breakaways. The second game saw a different story line. This time, the Degenerates played in front, and used the lead to their advantage. The only time the Country Club got on board was late in the game thanks to S.Pilot. By then, the Degenerates had built enough of a lead to split their night.

(3)Country Club vs Degenerates(2) S.O

(1)Country Club vs Degenerates(4)

RCGT give Classics run for their money after receiving a 7-0 thumping

You are the defending champs, and you just handed the last place RCGT Knights a massive blow ending the game early in the second period due to the mercy rule. There was no question the Classics had a strangle hold going into both games.  And while it was expected that a similar fate was to repeat itself, the RCGT Knights loosened the grip and came out to play. They were able to find some answers giving the Classics a real run for their money. The fact that they came out to compete after an embarrassing finish said a lot about their character. Goals started to come in, the defense was a lot more structured, and T.Sauk wanted nothing less than to bounce back making some brilliant saves. This contest was only decided very late when C.Stamadianos broke a 4-4 tie with less than thirty seconds remaining. To think, only one shot on net was the difference between winning and losing for a side that didn’t have much expectations going up against the division front runners. The RCGT Knights may have lost, but could take the second encounter as a win for how close they got. C.Guerin was the catalyst behind their offense scoring three goals and an assist. As for the Classics, the number 97 filled every column of the score sheet as C.Gingras was his usual self collecting points on all five goals.

(0)RCGT Knights vs Classics(7)

(4)RCGT Knights vs Classics(5)

Evenly matched Sharpshooters split their night with the Brewers

Both games were that close. The two teams kept trading chances forcing the goaltenders to come up big every time. While M.Vinciguerra captured the first win by denying two shootout attempts, S.Orazio was able to return the favour for the Brewers in the ensuing match. The second game had its moments as both sides battled hard with plenty of intensity. Sometimes, by giving too much may result in some penalty trouble. Plenty of minutes were played with an odd amount of players on the field. The Sharpshooters scored a shorthanded goal thanks to D.Sarno, but it was the Brewers that owned the special teams department with D.Verta converting with the man up and a man down. Another key play came by T.Michalidis, who ripped a perfect slap shot that just got by the Sharpshooters net minder. That tally made the score 4-2 fairly late. Although J.Teresi did respond for his second shortly after, the Brewers would sum it up when G.DiZazzo fed the empty cage.

(4)Sharpshooters vs Brewers(2) S.O

(3)Sharpshooters vs Brewers(5)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Danny Verta of the Brewers. In a close tilted affair with the Sharpshooters, D.Verta scored a big shorthanded goal along with a power play marker collecting a total of four points in both games.

Draft Tournament July 15, 2023

Oilers edge out the Flyers 7-6 in the draft tournament finals 

Oliers get out of the gate early taking a 4-1 lead, 3 of those goals coming off of the stick of T. Nardelli.  The Flyers managed to come back in this game making it 4-4, but in the end Oilers take it home 7-6.

Oilers got 2 goales from E. Charbonneau and T. Settino while leading the way for the Flyers was D. Greco 3 goals and T. Angelis 2 goals.  Shout out to both R. Testa and P. Kassaris on an excellent tournament.

Thank you to all who played, reffed, worked, or came to encourage see you all next year.

Thursday July 13

Rated R shows resiliency on limited roster

(2)Krazy Train vs Rated R(4)

Throughout every period, the intensity ratcheted up, and Rated R were able to stun a Krazy Train team that felt should have done better. It was one of those games that proved by playing hard and confident will bring you a long way. Rated R entered tonight’s tilt without many key components and somehow managed to compete with a deeper Krazy Train team. It looked like resiliency was engrained in their identity. Of coarse goaltending has to play a main factor as Pedram Assadi faced the challenge by limiting only two goals after receiving some lethal scoring chances. As long as the game remained close, Rated R smelled blood knowing that the game was there for the taking . Their best moments occurred in the final stanza winning the frame on three consecutive goals. Its not a coincidence that G-C Pisanelli was honoured the player of the night only a week ago. In all of his clubs four goals, the highly skilled forward was influential once more setting up three teammates while netting one himself.

Fatal Demons score 4 unanswered goals in double up win over Horsemen

(2)Horsemen vs Fatal Demons(4)

Despite being down 2-0, the Fatal Demons never really needed a wake up call. It wasn’t like they weren’t doing the right things in order to battle back. The only difference was that the Horsemen capitalised on some chances, and that M.Vinciguerra was there to save the day, at least in the first half of the game. When your caught chasing your opponent for some ball possession, it often becomes only a question of time before the other team will find the lanes or the right scoring chances in order to get on board. The Fatal Demons barely took a shift off-from the drop of the ball, and eventually found their scoring touch once M.Mavroudis finally figured out Vinciguerra. There was way to much time left over to try and defend if your the Horsemen. They almost had no choice but to try and get that next goal. Unfortunately, the tides started to really shift when A.Argiroudis  evened the score later in the second period. Still, the game was close entering the final frame which should have suggested for an entertaining finish. However, only a minute had gone by for K.Araujo to provide the Fatal Demons its first lead of the night. Now that the Horsemen found themselves behind, something had to give if they planned on evening the score. That opportunity came mid way through the frame when awarded a power play chance. Not even an extra man on the playing surface amounted to much. The Fatal Demons did an exceptional job keeping things to the outside which made R.Ranieri’s night easier than it should of. Eventually, N.Katsifolis drifted off to the other side of the court, and capped off the night on a nifty move to slide the ball right under the Horsemen’s net minder.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Pedram Assadi of Rated R. Battle tested throughout the entire three periods, the net minder was focused and firm allowing only two goals against a highly skilled opponent.

The ISBHF and USA Ball Hockey are excited to announced the host venue of the 2023 ISBHF World Masters Championships, held between August 30-September 3, 2023.

The Men’s & Women’s Over-35 event will be held in the RiverWorks Complex, in Buffalo, NY. 

Monday July 10

Country Club settle for split after giving up late tally

The Country Club had all but 37 seconds to even their night with the Brewers. With their goaltender pulled out for the extra attacker, P.Karigiannis took not one but two hard shot attempts before ripping a cannon to even the score. The ensuing shootout wouldn’t settle much with both net minders stopping every single attempt. M.Dupuis shared the tie in net with his counter part M.Tzouvadakis of the Brewers ,who was just as sound in what was a low scoring affair. The Brewers had the overall night advantage after grabbing the earlier win thanks to their special teams. M.DelGaudio scored a power play goal, but it was C.Siconolfi’s shorthand marker that ultimately made the difference. That goal put the Brewers in front 3-1 with just hand full of minutes remaining. S.Pilot did strike shortly after for his second to reduce that gap by one, but that was all they generated as the Brewers went on to feed a yawning cage on two occasions to close out the game.

(2)Country Club vs Brewers(5)

(2)Country Club vs Brewers(2) S.O

Sharpshooters adjust in second game despite dropping the shootout

Sometimes its better how you finish than rather how you start. The Sharpshooters didn’t have much to right home about after a very slow start to their night. The Degenerates caught them off guard, and handed them a thumping on scoring efforts by five different players. Sometimes you just have to write off a bad performance and use the right mind set heading into your second match. The Sharpshooters took the right approach knowing that they are confident in their abilities to respond. This time, the tables were slightly turned as the Degenerates found themselves trailing rather than playing ahead. Luckily enough, the deficits were only by one goal which didn’t alarm the panic button to go off. That being said, the end result was somewhat of a heat breaker if you were the Sharpshooters. Six little seconds was all they needed to kill off in order to capture the win. Instead, a desperate shot managed to find its way through traffic, and C.Lato was able to force the shootout for the Degenerates. The breakaway competition didn’t really matter how it ended as both sides did most of the main work prior. But for statistical purposes, the Degenerates did win that department on goals by T.Settino and S.Marricco while C.Stavraidis stopped two of three attempts. Both wins came as a collective team effort with on one having to stand out more than the other.

(2)Sharpshooters vs Degenerates(5)

(4)Sharpshooters vs Degenerates(5) S.O

Classics depth overwhelm Dragons

For a rivalry match up, both games didn’t live up to the hype. The Dragons had no choice to have all their reinforcements if they stood a chance at competing with a deep Classics roster. All they could have done was to try and slow them down while keeping the game as close as possible. Unfortunately, nothing went right, and the Classics simply overwhelmed them on a pair of easy wins. It didn’t take much for the Classics to jump all over the Dragons errors. With the first game decided rather easily by a 5-1 result, the second match did have the Dragons put up more of a fight. The problem was that they were stuck chasing the entire game. At least they did find their scoring touch with G.DeMarinnis striking twice along with Y.Derohannessian scoring on the power play to narrow the gap by one. Unable to carry the momentum, A.Kakivelis cut it short by responding almost immediately for the  Classics. There was no question that tally discouraged the Dragons, who couldn’t bounce back as the Classics put it away on a pair of empty net goals.

(5)Classics vs Dragons(1)

(8)Classics vs Dragons(4)

RCGT Knights run out of steam after some back and forth action with the HC Jokerit

It came as an incredible win for a team that didn’t have much expectations riding only one change up to their bench. The RCGT Knights were understaffed while going up against an army of well oiled runners. You would expect that the RCGT Knights had no choice to build a lead if they had any hope of stealing a game. Somehow, they defied the odds by overcoming a 3-1 deficit before forcing an eventual shootout. No matter how you want to look at it, the HC Jokerit needed to do a better job at not enabling their opponent to bounce back.  The overwhelming body count of players versus a depleted roster should have translated into an easy win, especially after being up. But the RCGT Knights went about their business and kept pushing the pace in hopes of getting rewarded. To their credit, they had a huge second frame posting four goals while edging out the HC Jokerit by the shootouts. C.Guerin and D.Tzimopoulos combined for nine points in the win, and T.Sauk was influential as well making enough key saves along with stopping both shootout attempts. While the opening game was somewhat of a let down for the HC Jokerit, they did get their act together in the ensuing match. This time, they grabbed a lead, they built off it, and never allowed the RCGT Knights to respond. J.Grant and B.Grant each scored twice while H.Correia went on to record an easy shutout.

(6)HC Jokerit vs RCGT Knights(8) S.O

(4)HC Jokerit vs RCGT Knights(0)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Dino Tzimopoulos of the RCGT Knights. Playing practically the whole time while contributing with five points along with the shootout winner as a defenseman says something about you performance. The veteran was a major reason why the undermanned RCGT Knights stole a game on Monday night.

Thursday July 6

G-C Pisanelli incredible goals lead Rated R past Fatal Demons

(7)Rated R vs Fatal Demons(5)

Its amazing how G-C Pisanalli is able to pick up speed to separate himself-from being closely checked. Even though you tell your players to stay close to him, Pisanelli is just to fast in order to keep up with when trying to contain him. Two of his goals mirrored each other that would have easily made the highlight reels. By cutting-from east to west near the offensive blue line, the skilled forward was able to position himself for a hard and precise wrist shot that had R.Ranieri guessing both times how it went in. Its always nice to have some unique talent when teams are evenly matched. The Fatal Demons were stuck with a slower start, but managed to hang in there making Rated R work for their money. The problem sometimes is that one player makes an entire difference. Apart-from his two brilliant goals, Pisanelli set up Rated R’s first three tallies to help get the ball rolling. A.Stamiris struck twice, Payam Assadi made three sweet passes, and F.Baratta battled through some nasty heat in order to capture the win in net.

Ali Khanafer five point night stands out in win over Krazy Train

(9)Horsemen vs Krazy Train(4)

Many things need to go right if your going to defeat the Krazy Train. Some bare basics involve a strong start, solid goaltending and a collective team effort. In Thursday nights 9-4 win, the Horseman checked all three boxes in order to accomplish their mission. It was one of those games that the lead was never safe if you were the Horsemen. The Krazy Train kept responding narrowing the margin so close only to keep falling short of an equaliser. To their credit however, the Horsemen battled through the push back by simply making the best of their next shifts. Surely it helps when some players step it up. With Ali Khanafer registering five points, and M.Kardum finding his scoring touch, the Horsemen got the necessary production up front in order to keep playing with the lead. Even though the score suggests for a one sided affair, this contest was extremely close until the mid way point of the third period. The Krazy Train just didn’t have the man power to keep up long enough. Despite losing the game, R.Varr and his troops aren’t overly concerned as key players were absent.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to G-C Pisanelli of Rated R. It was simply a masterpiece performance by the Rated R’s winger. After setting up three straight tallies ,G-C Pisanelli froze time and space by bagging two identical goals.

Monday July 3

M.Carpentier unstoppable as Dragons beat Country Club both times

When certain players are at their best, they become nearly impossible to stop. M.Carpentier proved it on Monday night as the power forward had the Country Clubs defense wondering on how to contain him. The Dragons scored a total of twelve goals in both games with Carpentier potting eight of them. It was one of those cases where one player was highly influential in determining the results. The Country Club were able to go head to head with a stacked Dragons team only to be beaten by one particular player. Things looked fine early on with G.Dumont scoring two goals to put the Country Club in front. Once the second period hit however, M.Carpentier and the Dragons decided to take over, and the Country Club fell a short step behind unable to recover. B.Daniele was also a nuisance using his incredible reach advantage to help set up six goals while netting one himself. When the Dragons come out fully loaded on a deep roster along with P.Assadi doing his part in net, look out if you are the opponent. It will take a collective team effort along with solid goaltending and perhaps a specific game plan in order to defeat them.

(2)Country Club vs Dragons(5)

(3)Country Club vs Dragons(7)

Brewers use two late tying goals to salvage point with Degenerates

Just when the Degenerates hoped to close out their second game, the Brewers fought back twice to even the score. Nothing was close to being decided as both sides battled to a low scoring 1-1 game heading into the final stanza. At one point, the Degenerates got their chance to pull ahead on a lengthy four minute power play. If not for G.Platanitis, the second encounter would have resembled the first game with the Degenerates scoring a multiple of goals. Instead, the net minder gave the Brewers all the outs necessary to try and even the score. Eventually, T.Settino managed to snap the 1-1 tie leaving less than two minutes to kill off. The slight lead didn’t last long with N.Chiminian using a hard low wrist shot to beat B.Bellini short side. Both sides must have been thinking that a shootout would stand in the way to determine a winner. But ball hockey can be crazy at times, and tonight’s ending was a perfect example of it. It took about thirty second or so for no other than S.Marricco to regain the lead for the Degenerates. The power forward had just scored his fifth of the night, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Surely the two sides must have felt that this game was in the books with so little time left over. By then, the Brewers had only a few seconds to try and put a simple shot on net and hope for something good to happen. To their credit, they did just that with A.Papazian picking up a loose ball that somehow found its way behind the net. Somehow, a late 1-1 tie turned quickly into a 3-3 tie in what was a thrilling ending to an unpredictable game. Nothing much transpired in the shootout except for the two goaltenders stealing the show. All six highly skilled players got denied unable to find any openings.

(6)Degenerates vs Brewers(3)

(3)Degenerates vs Brewers(3) S.O

HC Jokerit put forth much better effort but still come out short against Classics

The second game felt like progress despite falling short for the HC Jokerit. This time, they were able to generate offense scoring six times after being held to only one goal in the earlier 6-1 defeat. S.Amaral was the real menace for the HC Jokerit collecting a hat trick while setting up J.Grant both times. Unfortunately, they just fell short after some wild back and forth action. Its understood that hockey is a team game, and that every moving part has an influence on how things shape out. And while the Classics have a well rounded team, they do have a deadly weapon at their disposal. Its safe to say that both wins stemmed-from C.Gingras’s incredible skill set. If he isn’t taking you one on one , he will make you a perfect pass. Or if he isn’t using a perfect wrist shot with a player in front of him, he will turn an innocent play into a scoring chance. No matter how hard you try to play him, he will find a way. Maybe the HC Jokerit didn’t pay enough attention on guarding Gingras. You wont keep him off the score sheet, but you can limit the damages. The Classics scored a total of fourteen goals in both games. And guess what? Gingras had his had in thirteen of them.

(1)HC Jokerit vs Classics(6)

(6)HC Jokerit vs Classics(8)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Maxime Carpentier of the Dragons. He might have been in a little funk, but that all changed on Monday night as the power forward broke through scoring a whopping eight goals in both his clubs wins.

Thursday June 29

Rated R battle back on two late goals, but fall short on D.Greco’s fluky winner

(6)Horsemen vs Rated R(5) O.T

Rated R injected life when things were looking bleak on two late goals only to find themselves on the short end of the stick. The two late tallies did come with an extra player on the field courtesy of J.Rabchuk and M.DelGaudio. That surge was then punctured by last weeks hero. By racing into the open space-from his own end of the court, D.Greco slid the ball on a deceptive shot that had P.Assadi moving into the wrong area of his crease. That’s what happens when you throw the ball toward the net with the goaltender unable to track it. While the ending of this contest had its thrilling moments so did most of the encounter. Both sides kept trading chances while taking some visits to the penalty box. Rated R had a great opportunity to put a serious strangle hold in the first period after being up 2-0 along with a power play chance. Instead, M.Merone scored shorthanded, and the Horsemen were right back in it. Even though the score suggested for a very close game, this contest could have easily spiralled out of control if not for M.Vinciguerra . The Horsemen net minder had a busier time compared to his counter part Pedram Assadi. If not for some jaw dropping saves, Rated R would have walked away with an easy win. It was one of those games that may have been frustrating for Rated R, but not disappointing as they did plenty right only to hit a wall in net.

Big second period lifts Krazy Train to win over Fatal Demons

(5)Fatal Demons vs Krazy Train(8)

Perhaps, its no coincidence that when the intensity ramped up on Thursday night, so did the Krazy Train’s play. Admittedly, they did not get off to the grandest of starts as they trailed the Fatal Demons early in the second period. But when the urgency started to ramp up , the Krazy Train began to perk up, outscoring the Fatal Demons on three consecutive goals to end the frame strong. Its the kind of momentum you want heading into the final stanza. Although only a two goal deficit, the Fatal Demons didn’t quite have the extra step required in order to battle back. Giving up two power play goals didn’t help either. J.Russo toke advantage late in the second period scoring his first of three goals on the night with the man up. S.Marricco netted the other power play marker for his second. The Krazy Train use a relentless fore-checking style which forces the defence to make quick decisions. Even though the Fatal Demons are pretty secured on their back line, its very difficult to keep making the right and quick decisions every time. J.Russo and S.Marricco will often put that kind of pressure to cause the turn overs, and it showed as the two players did most of the damage combining for five straight goals.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Johnny Russo of the Krazy Train. By pressing the way he does, the power forward will often make you pay. Tonight. J.Russo went on a late tear scoring three goals to help decide a fairly close game.

Monday June 26

Sharpshooters take advantage versus depleted RCGT Knights on two blowout wins

It was no surprise that both games weren’t going to be close at all. The Sharpshooters showed up in full gear while the RCGT Knights were stuck having to rotate only one player to their bench. And as expected, the two games ended in a landslide. Players don’t have the motivation after falling behind by a few goals early on. The Sharpshooters got the starts they wanted, and kept the ball for as long as possible resulting in many chances. Nobody had more than two goals in the first 7-0 thumping. In their second game, D.Greco and P.Carone did collect a pair each while many chipped away. The RCGT Knights didn’t have anything home to right about expect for maybe C.Guerin scoring his clubs lone tally to spoil one of two shutouts by P.Delli Colli. Basically, the RCGT Knights were punished for their lack of body count which just wont cut it at this level.

(7)Sharpshooters vs RCGT Knights(0)

(8)Sharpshooters vs RCGT Knights(1)

Late comeback win by Brewers evens series with Classics

Sometimes, all it takes to win a game is a well timed response, and a powerful celebration. After dropping the earlier contest 6-3, the Brewers looked down and out for as a second straight game trailing 3-1 by the mid way point of the final frame. The Brewers were on the brink of coming out empty handed, but that all changed in almost an instance. It took only two minutes for three straight goals to go in that involved all hard and precise shots. A.Papazian riffled his second, A.Angelis capitalised on a turn over using a perfect wrist shot, and finally D.Verta blasted his without hesitation. Out of nowhere, the Brewers were playing ahead. That sequence did hit a wall when T.Karvouriaris responded moments later to even the score. Since hockey has its twists and turns, the game was now up for grabs with time winding down.  It was really a question of who would get there first. In this particular case, the Brewers found a way to jump back in front on another blistering slap shot, this time by L.Bavellas. Two minutes of playing time is an eternity when trying to kill off the clock versus the Classics. To their credit, the Brewers committed to getting in the lanes where they had to block shots by putting their bodies on the line. Eventually, they killed it off, and took the satisfaction of getting the final word versus a lethal opponent.

(6)Classics vs Brewers(3)

(4)Classics vs Brewers(5)

Dragons bounce back after dropping shootout loss to HC Jokerit

As long as the HC Jokerit use their speed and quick pace, they’ll often be fine and compete with anyone. Defeating a team like the Dragons isn’t an easy feat. However, the HC Jokerit believe in their capabilities, and were able to take the opener thanks to a lone shootout marker by S.Amaral along with a stellar performance by H.Psaroudis, who denied three high end players in the shootout. Not much changed heading into the second tilt. The HC Jokerit continued to push the pace and benefited four times in the first period to take a slight 4-3 lead. Everything was going according to plan up until the Dragons decided to get serious and turn it up. All it took was for three players to start clicking and reveres the coarse of this contest. Y.Derohannessian was perhaps the catalyst behind it all as the slick forward scored two timely goals as part of a four goal splurge. During that sequence, Payam Assadi and S.Mirolla were there to complement his line mate by chipping in with a pair of points each. Throughout three entire periods, the HC Jokerit did an overall fine job competing with a side that can burn you at will.

(6)HC Jokerit vs Dragons(5) S.O

(5)HC Jokerit vs Dragons(7)

Country Club finish strong to salvage their night with Snipers

Up until the final frame of the second game, the Country Club seemed a step behind having to deal with a relentless opponent. The Snipers meant business right away as they stormed out of the gate running up the score on five first period goals. Five different players found the back of the net, and C.Malkoun wasn’t overly busy thanks to his sound defence. The bad start did leave the Country Club in a bit of a shock for what just happened. Even though the hill was to high to climb, they did send a strong message that things weren’t going to be easy the rest of the way. N.Smith collected a hat trick in the loss, and the Country Club wanted nothing more than to reset heading into the second game. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the start they wanted as the Snipers took charge on two goals in only a minute span. N.Atoui and H.Salman got the better of M.Dupuis capping off another solid frame up 2-0. Still, the lead wasn’t an unreasonable one to overcome if you’re the Country Club. It really came down to how they wanted to approach the situation. To their credit, they kept working at it knowing that the game was still up fro grabs. All they needed was that one tally to spark life throughout their line up. Since he was riding a hot hand, it was only fitting that N.Smith would be behind it all as the forward helped set up G.Dumont before bagging the equaliser with only 30 seconds left in the game. That late tally helped the Country Club salvage their night by taking it in the shootout. G.Dumont was the only player to score during the breakaways while M.Dupuis stood firm denying three Snipers.

(7)Snipers vs Country Club(4)

(2)Snipers vs Country Club(3) S.O

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Samuel Amaral of the HC Jokerit. He’s fast, shifty and highly skilled which explains why S.Amaral had a total of seven points that included also the shootout winner in the opening game.

Thursday June 22

Horsemen recover after poor start

(6) Fatal Demons vs Horsemen(7) O.T

For prolonged stretches Thursday night , the Horsemen let the Fatal Demons run circles around them. Actually, more so Y.Derohannessian causing havoc as the forward kept sneaking his way behind the defense resulting in a first period hat trick. Though, the Horsemen recovered with some solid play down the stretch. At no point did they ever lead expect for when it mattered the most, in overtime. All it took was two brilliant plays-from the very same D.Greco. First, the d-man anticipated cutting a pass which sent him home alone to finish off a nifty move to tie the game late. And then, D.Greco put the final finish on a somewhat fluky goal by trying to pass the ball which hit something on its way before trickling behind the goal line. Prior to the strong finish, the Horsemen looked lost without the ball and let the Fatal Demons take advantage almost every time. The only way they were able to recover was due to their extra pace which enabled them to dictate the play. The Fatal Demons were hanging on to their slight lead, and had no other option but to wait for some counter attacks. It just went to show how a shorter bench in muggy weather can slow down the pace of a team. Maybe a  couple of extra players would have changed the tempo of this game. However, that wasn’t the case as the Horsemen worried about their own situation by taking advantage of a tired opponent.

G.Pisanelli late response lifts Rated R past Krazy Train

(5)Rated R vs Krazy Train(4)

No one could have really known where this contest was headed with both sides all tied up 3-3 heading into the third period. At first it looked as though the Krazy Train would pull ahead after being awarded a lengthy four minute power play chance. Instead, it went the other way with S.DosSantos loading up a cannon ball-from his hockey stick giving the net minder no chance unless it him directly. Since the game kept going back and forth with plenty of action, it come to no surprise that the Krazy Train found a way to tie it late thanks to their captain R.Varr finishing off a nice passing play. His tally came with less than two minutes remaining which more often than not should suggest for some extra time. Nope, that wasn’t the case as G.Pisanelli killed the momentum once more by bagging his second shortly after giving Rated R a lead that they would not falter. The Krazy Train did apply some late pressure after pulling out their net minder, but couldn’t beat a very combative F.Baratta. Despite whoever won this in the end, this contest had everything you hope for in a game consisting of speed, great plays at both ends of the court along with stellar goaltending by B.Bellini and F.Baratta.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Daniel Greco of the Horsemen. It took two very big plays by D.Greco to turn a late one goal deficit into the eventual overtime winner.

Wednesday June 21(Final)

Hurricanes out pace depleted Stars to earn championship of Wednesday Draft division

(6)Stars vs Hurricanes(10)

In sport, playing in a final is the pinnacle, but losing a final is awful. They say there are no prizes for second place, that’s not entirely true, but a silver medal isn’t much of a consolation. The losers would often prefer to be forgotten. However, this particular final should have both sides be proud of what they achieved. Of coarse if your the Hurricanes, the accomplishment of winning three consecutive playoff rounds as the underdogs is a feat in itself. The Stars, although falling short did a fantastic job pushing their opponent to the limit having to play with no changes to their bench. They did the best thing by starting the way they did. Nine minutes in, and the Stars stormed out to a 4-0 lead. Despite a ton of time left over for the Hurricanes to regroup and finally start playing, the Stars now had the luxury of conserving there energy. The question became how long can they hang on and make things difficult for any sort of comeback. As time continued to unwind, the two teams started to sense that the tides were turning simply on how much more ball possession the fresher Hurricanes side was getting. With T.Angelis having the time to shoot the ball more and  more, chances started to occur, and the Hurricanes would eventually start putting up the numbers. You sensed that the anxiety was creeping in for the Stars, who couldn’t slow down the pace brought forth-from a more committed side. More specifically, they couldn’t contain N.Macri. The power forward took over by using his strong front net presence which translated into five consecutive goals. It seemed no matter how the defense tried to slow him down, N.Macri would overpower them while using his quick hands to bury his chances. There was nothing that the Stars could do as they were stuck watching in disbelief. Even though they trailed by a pair with some time left over, they wanted nothing more than for the clock to hit zero. The Stars were completely spent, gassed, tired unable to keep up anymore. To their credit, they gave the Hurricanes a real fight for their run, and could have gotten their if not for a depleted line up. But tonight the praise belonged to a team that finished second to last in the standings that was able to prove all the critics wrong. The Hurricanes had a phenomenal run winning two of their three rounds on incredible come-from behind victories while knocking out the first place Golden Knights. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to the Hurricanes for winning the Wednesday night Draft division.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Nick Macri of the Hurricanes. With his team looking down and out, N.Macri provided much of the support for the comeback win by netting five straight tallies to overwhelm the Stars defence and net minder.

Monday June 19

F.Proulx  late tally leads to shootout win for Country Club sweep over Sharpshooters

It was a game that they hoped to capture, but unfortunately the Sharpshooters were stuck enduring two straight losses versus the Country Club. Seven little seconds were needed to kill off for the Sharpshooters opening game to kick start their night on the right foot. Instead, F.Proulx took an innocent shot toward the net, and the game was decided in a shootout where the Country Club took it in the end thanks to C.Gosselin’s lone tally along with M.Dupuis stopping all three attempts he faced. Since the game went to the wire, the second tilt suggested for another very close encounter. However, that wasn’t the case with the Country Club appearing to have more energy and pace to their game. It looked more like the Sharpshooters were a step behind trying to gain some possession. With S.Pilot netting back to back tallies to finish the frame strong, the Country Club knew they had this one in the bag for how much constant pressure they were applying. J-S Lowe would create a bigger gap right before feeding an empty net to put things out of reach.

(3)Country Club vs Sharpshooters(2) s.O

(7)Country Club vs Sharpshooters(1)

Strong final frame fuels Brewers to take down HC Jokerit on two occasions

You often want to save your best for the last. That was exactly the case for the Brewers pair of wins over the HC Jokerit. After a period of relatively a close game, the Brewers found their gear in a two minute span with N.Chiminian and B.Burns converting for a 4-2 lead. You don’t want to fall behind when playing a team like the Brewers. Once they take the lead, they’ll suffocate you by eliminating time and space. The second encounter had a similar type of storyline. The only difference was that the Brewers led slightly after the first period. Then, N.Chiminian used another key goal early in the final frame followed with A.Papazian widening the gap moments later. Similarly like in the earlier contest, the Brewers relied on another strong finish by boxing out the HC Jokerit. The only player they had a hard time with was A.Alfonso, which creates problems for every defense and goaltender in the division. The highly skilled player did all he could collecting six out of a possible six points for the HC Jokerit.

(2)HC Jokerit vs Brewers(4)

(4)HC Jokerits vs Brewers(6)

Degenerates and Classics split after two close encounters

When your the team to capture the first of two wins, the mind set is to go for the kill in trying to sweep the mini series. The Degenerates positioned themselves with that opportunity, and nearly got their if not for a late serious push back by the Classics. After failing to convert on a four minute power play chance, the Degenerates had about four minutes to kill out the clock carrying a 4-2 lead. Up until that point, they did an excellent job containing the entire squad, especially C.Gingras, who can change the game on a dime. The problem was that how long can you keep him in check. The answer was not long enough as he collected three straight points turning a deficit into a lead. Out of nowhere, the Classics were now in front for the first time in the night. The lead left less than a minute on the clock, which was killed off when M.Mavroudis fed a yawning cage. Overall, the Degenerates did a fine job containing a lethal offense. C.Stavriadis was sharper than razor blade, the defense was highly committed to winning lots of battles, and finally the forwards scored when they had to.

(2)Degenerates vs Classics(1)

(4)Degenerates vs Classics(6)

Snipers force Dragons to earn every inch of the court

It wasn’t perfect, and it didn’t come easy, but the Dragons managed to squeeze out a pair of close wins over the Snipers. This mini series looked like could have been a complete miss match for how deep the Dragons were compared to an undermanned Snipers team. When playing with less players, you have to play a certain way. And to the Snipers credit, they did a more than exceptional job keeping both games going till the very end. The first contest was only decided in a shootout after M.St-Laurent of the Snipers and P.Assadi of the Dragons kept a perfect score sheet. The Dragons did however get the edge on shootout goals by Y.Derohannessian and J.Mandracchia. Hoping to carry their momentum by rotating more players, the Dragons continued to struggle on how to figure out the Snipers coverage along with M.St-Laurent protecting his cage. Both sides were deadlocked 1-1 with time staring to wind down. It almost looked like a second shootout game was looming since the defense kept it stingy. Then, Payam Assadi cracked the code breaking the tie, and J.Mandracchia followed up on two quick tallies to avoid the breakaway competition. While the Dragons are glad to get some results, the Snipers should take the mentality of being proud of what they put forth having to deal with missing players versus an established hockey team.

(0)Snipers vs Dragons(2) S.O

(1)Snipers vs Dragons(5)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Pedram Assadi of the Dragons. Needing to get back on track, the net minder helped provide two wins for the Dragons by allowing only one single goal in two games that included a pair of shootout saves.

Sunday June 18 (Final)

Kings rout Islanders, winners of the Sunday night Draft division

(17)Kings vs Islanders(5)

The Kings poured in the goals Sunday night to hand the Islanders a heavy defeat with an astounding 17-5 rout to claim a well earn championship. The onus was on the Islanders to get the better start, or to try and hang around as long as possible if they had any sort of chance. Instead, they had the worse possible start, of because of it, the Kings cruised the rest of the way. The Kings had much more space, and were able to take advantage superbly which only breaks your opponent as the goals kept pouring in. Only sixteen minutes had gone by, and C.Decotis was able to rattle off a hat trick to provide a 6-1 lead. Despite the amount of time left over, no opponent will be able to overcome such a deficit against a side that doesn’t give much. Your only chance is to  play a sound defensive game and keep it close as long as possible. The Kings learned their lesson-from last weeks poor start, and made sure to not repeat it again in their most important game of the season. Once they built their momentum, there was nothing stopping them. All that was really left over was to patiently bleed out the clock and hit the buffet table. While it was expected for many to chip away when scoring seventeen goals, F.Mastrocola and C.Decotis are the fuel that runs the Kings offense. Together, they combined for a whopping thirteen points. Its not a coincidence that a team with only one loss all season made it this far. The Kings are built with a ton of experience for playing together which explains the chemistry and the will to play for one another. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Sandro Fabrici, and the rest of the Kings for winning the Sunday night Draft division.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the night goes to Claudio Decotis of the Kings. It wasn’t a game that needed anyone in particular to make the difference, but C.Decotis did set things in motion by creating some early offense which trickled down throughout his entire line up.

Thursday June 15

Krazy Train out muscle Horsemen on backs of S.Marricco and D.Lombardi

(7)Krazy Train vs Horsemen(4)

It was all going fine until the last three and a half minutes of the game. The Horsemen often played ahead, and stayed engaged with their opponent making them earn every inch of the court. Ali Khanafer made an immediate impact collecting two goals, and the Horsemen looked to have everything going for them. Then, S.Marricco happened, and the Horsemen got runned over by a freight train going at 100 miles an hour toward the net. In the short span of only two minutes, the power forward rattled the Horsemen on three straight goals. No matter how you try to contain a player sometimes, there isn’t much any defensemen can do. In order to try and slow down S.Marricco and D.Lombardi, who also notched an earlier hat trick, it all comes down to how to position yourself without the ball in order to try and stick check them. If you get to close, they will over power you and finish the job. Both players were a nuisance all game long and the Horsemen paid the price unable to stop them. These are lessons that will be taken at a good time during the young season. The Horsemen didn’t quite have all their guys like the case for the Krazy Train, but will be very competitive when flooring a complete line up. Even though they lost, this contest could have gone either way which is a good sign for V.Pandza and his troops.

S.DosSantos snaps third period tie to outlast Fatal Demons in penalty filled game

(3)Fatal Demons vs Rated R(5)

It was not one that you would bring a copy of to your next Pee Wee practice as an instructional how-to. But it was highly entertaining. And ultimately, Rated R eked out the win thanks to their captain S.DosSantos snapping a third period 3-3 tie. It was a penalty packed game in large part due to the lack of discipline-from the two sides along with some internal drama. It was almost like watching a soap opera at times. After all the smoke cleared, Rated R were glad to escape with the win. The Fatal Demons never led, but managed to even the score twice. K.Kavan had scored late in the second period before tying the game early in the third courtesy of a power play marker for the Fatal Demons. Considering the body count miss match, the Fatal Demons were able to keep up versus a stacked opponent. It become only a question of who would capitalise on their chance since time was winding down. In this particular case, S.DosSantos came through for his side after receiving a nice feed-from G.Pisanelli. Rated R would ultimately put the game to rest shortly after when E.Caccavale added an insurance marker.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Sandro Marricco of the Krazy Train. Just when it looked like his team was down and out, the power forward took over on three late goals to flip the script on its head.

Wednesday June 14(Semi finals)

Full of confidence, Hurricanes down division leaders to advance

(6)Golden Knights vs Hurricanes(7)

Playoff success is an extremely difficult thing to obtain, and once you’ve got it, its even harder to sustain. The Hurricanes entered the post season viewed as a team that probably wont accomplish much. They finished almost in last place, and were facing a team that barely had foes during the regular season. Take all that’s happened in the past, and put it in the garbage bin because the Hurricanes are proving that it isn’t a fluke that they just took out the Golden Knights after winning only a week ago versus the Ducks. You have to wonder how a team with a back line consisting of T.Angelis, J.Teresi and K.Labelle along with a sound net  minder in B.Verducci had the type of regular season they did. Whatever the root causes were, it doesn’t matter anymore as they just climbed the ranks as a side that can be crowned champions. Tonight, they showed a lot of heart, and a ton of resilience by often winning the one on one battles. The Hurricanes made it a point to always play in front since the Golden Knights kept battling back to even the score. At one point, it looked like this contest was headed to overtime when T.Settino bagged his hat trick late in the game. Unfortunately, one bad break shortly after saw K.Labelle take advantage with his second to put his side in front for good. So many things went well for a side that never gave up. The defensemen were supporting the offense, N.Macri was a force that kept finding his way to the net, and finally B.Verducci had to make some remarkable saves in order to keep his side playing ahead. Just like a perfect storm, things appear to be falling into place for the Hurricanes.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Kevin Labelle of the Hurricanes. Not only did the d-man notch the huge winner toward the end of the game, K.Labelle was breaking up so many plays that turned into an offensive transition for the Hurricanes.

Stars resilience keying playoff success

(5)Senators vs Stars(7)

Hanging around. That’s something the Stars have done in recent games due to a very short bench, weathering pushes, erasing early deficits and generally finding ways to win. Tonight was the latest example, as the Stars were stuck rotating one single player having to go against a side that’s very complete with speed. The Stars looked to be in tough falling behind on three straight occasions, but still managed to respond every single time. You always want to try and play in front when your bench looks like an empty parking lot. Once B.Sorice potted his second to even the score 4-4, M.Braun barely wasted time to put the Stars in front 5-4. Surely the lead was promising, but the game still have twenty minutes for plenty of things to happen. However, the Stars understood the situation they were in, and made sure to adapt to it. B.Sorice played his role the way a two way centre man needs to when occupying both sides of the court. He made sure to hang back and support the defence while breaking up plays to generate the offense. By playing caution and simply waiting for their chances, the Stars scored the games next two goals thanks to G.Charron and N.Boctor. It was apparent that the Senators kept getting frustrated unable to generate in close scoring chances. They had no choice but to shoot-from far while hoping something would go in. The problem with that plan is that T.Sauk has eyes of an eagle and the agility of a cheetah which makes it extremely hard to beat him. There was no question that the goaltending played a huge factor in this result. He may not have been happy to lose the game, but S.Sauk was definitely proud of his son on the flip side of the court for outduelling him.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tyler Sauk of the Stars. It was a game that your net minder needed to be sharp and stellar. With the Stars having to deal with a very short bench, T.Sauk delivered keeping a very good offense to a limited amount of goals.

The D Wednesday Draft division is now down to its final two teams. Despite the Stars having a better regular season record, this final is shaping up to be tightly fought. B.Sorice will be the catalyst behind the Stars offense and will chew up plenty of minutes since they are undermanned. The Hurricanes will also be without some key pieces, but have shown that they have the will to compete after eliminating two teams so far. It will come down to a game plan-from the two sides on how to try and neutralise the oppositions threat. Since both teams wont have their full line up, smart and quick changes is essential, and of coarse goaltending will play a huge factor as well.

Tuesday June 13

F.Gagnon posts shutout as Black Knights edge out Team Greece

(0)Team Greece vs Black Knights(2)

F.Gagnon gave the Black Knights just what they needed on Tuesday night. The net minder stopped every shot he faced, and the Black Knights couldn’t have played a better sound defensive game. Clearly, it took a hard, grinding, effective effort against the rival Team Greece in order to defeat them. While the goaltending was exceptional-from the two sides, the limited offense came in the first period by J.Velenosi and J.Mandracchia. The Black Knights had the luxury of using the lead to their advantage by taking less risks. With Team Greece trying to open up a little more, they just couldn’t find a way to penetrate the defense along with F.Gagnon, who was stellar stopping some high end chances. In order to blank your opponent at this level, it takes everyone to support one another while buying into a game plan. The Black Knights seemed to have the confidence as the game went on by doing all the little things right in order to capture the win.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Fred Gagnon of the Black Knights. The goaltender held his club in it needing only one goal for how stellar he was recording a well earned shutout.

Monday June 12

HC Jokerit tighten up after getting shelled by Sharpshooters

The beauty of playing two games in a row against the same opponent is that you can forget a terrible outing and adjust better to salvage your night. Although the HC Jokerit fell twice in the loss column, the second match resembled nothing like the first encounter. This time around they were smarter with the ball and more engaged defensively making sure that H.Correia got all the support he needed. The 1-1 finish needed a shootout where the Sharpshooters took it on goals by D.Greco and V.Orsini-Boyer. While that game went the distance, the first one was a complete domination by the Sharpshooters. At one point, they scored three goals in less than a minute en route to an easy win. M.Moisin, V.Orsini-Boyer, K.Cazeneuve all scored twice while D.Greco backed the offense on three helpers and a goal. The HC Jokerit got their expected production by A.Alonso, who participated in three of his clubs four goals. P.Delli Colli had his hands full in the second game having to kill off an important penalty along with two shootout attempts. 

( 8 ) Sharpshooters vs HC Jokerit(3)

(3)Sharpshooters vs HC Jokerit(1) S.O

Classics forced to settle for a split after convincing opening game with the Snipers

Polar opposites. That was the best way to describe both games that took place between the Classics and the Snipers on Monday night. After earning a big 5-0 win to kick start their night, the Classics dropped the second encounter in a similar fashion. Of coarse you would have expected C.Gingras to get the ball rolling for the Classics. By the time the first period ended, C.Gingras converted twice to put the Classics in front 2-0. Both his goals came with the help of M.Destounis, who often proves he can be just as threating at times. The lanky winger produced four points along with Gingras to help blank the Snipers 5-0. The shutout was credited to S.Morante after facing nearly twenty shots. Entering the second match, the Snipers clearly weren’t pleased on how things ended. For a solid period, they stayed neck and neck with the Classics tied 2-2 after the first period. Even though they didn’t have an advantage by then, one single frame was still available in order to split their series. As the final stanza started to unwind, it was evident that the Snipers wanted it more. Maybe it was desperation of trying to return the favour or maybe the Classics were running out of steam. Whatever the reasons, the Snipers played with much more purpose as they steamrolled the Classics on four unanswered goals. Hadi Khanafer scored twice during that stretch while M.St-Laurent stood his ground in net shutting the door against a potent offense.

(0)Snipers vs Classics(5)

(6)Snipers vs Classics(2)

Country Club surge with a pair of wins over the RCGT Knights

No question the Country Club had an edge on the way they played both games versus the RCGT Knights. They were balanced and it showed. When everyone is in the right spot, it makes it easy to play that way. The Country Club were connecting, defending and pretty much dictating the pace throughout the entire four periods. After taking the opening tilt 4-1, the Country Club took a wild first period up 5-3 before tightening the bolts in the final frame. What makes both results gratifying is that the Country Club don’t rely one any particular player rather than depending on each other to get the job done. Also, its nice having M.Dupuis as your last line of defense. The net minder is a gamer and gives his side always a chance to win hockey games. Although four different players scored in the first game, N.Smith did have his fingerprints on all four goals. As for the second encounter, F.Proulx tallied twice while J.Boudreau, N.Smith and R.Salera collected three points each.

(4)Country Club vs RCGT Knights(1)

(6)Country Club vs RCGT Knights(4)

Brewers adjust after slow start vs Dragons

The Brewers didn’t get the start they wanted in their first encounter with eth Dragons. Some limited scoring and the presence of D.Lombardi of the Dragons summed up the story as to why they lost. The sniper produced three goals in the second period to help solidify a 4-2 victory. Its not like the Brewers don’t have the artillery to not produce. Sometimes, it takes a few shifts to get going which was somewhat lacking in the first game. Once they reset heading into the next encounter, a different Brewers team was able to flip the script and return the favour to the Dragons. D.Verta and N.Chiminian made much of the noise as the two players proved to be a handful for the Dragons defense and net minder. The two forwards shared four points each imposing their will throughout the entire game. G.DiZazzo used a big shorthanded goal to put the Brewers on board and even the score 1-1 rather than risk falling behind by a pair. From-there, the Brewers started to take over adding three more tallies before the first period ended. With momentum clearly on their side, the Brewers never gave the Dragons a chance to battle back.

(4)Dragons vs Brewers(2)

(3)Dragons vs Brewers(7)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Nicolas Smith of the Country Club. In his teams two wins over the RCGT Knights, N.Smith fuelled much of the offense participating on all four goals in the first encounter while adding three  more points by the time the second game ended.

Sunday June 11(Semi finals)

Kings overcome early deficit to advance in final

(7)Kings vs Kraken(4)

The Kings certainly weren’t at their best early on, but managed to escape anyway by eliminating the Kraken on Sunday night. Scoring three goals in the first twenty minutes alone put the Kraken in the drivers seat despite plenty of time left over. The key for them was to try and play in front rather than chasing the game going up against the heavy favourite Kings. It was the type of start required in order to have a chance if you’re the Kraken. But winning a hockey game at this stage of the season entails a lot more than just a strong start. In order to close out a team like the Kings, you need to continue to do all the little things right. Some of those details require defending well, solid goaltending and capitalising on more chances. Unfortunately, some missed opportunities along with some hiccups in their own end of the court came to haunt the Kraken in the end. The Kings were able to calm things down by calling a timeout. At 3-0, they used the pause to regroup, refocus and just go back out there and chip away. That message to calm everything down proved to be the antidote for the Kings to pull off the comeback in their 7-4 win over the Kraken. Something had to change, and it definitely did when J.Cerrone coupled a pair of goals in only three minutes. Eventually, the Kings would level when A.Carelli scored after being awarded a penalty shot. Now that the game was all tied up at four goals a piece, both sides along with the packed crowd felt that the Kings were going to take over. It looked more and more like the Kraken’s offense was stalled like a rusty Ford Pinto. All it took was a couple of minutes after for S.Fabrici to help provide his clubs first lead of the game. The slight 5-4 lead turned into a two goal cushion courtesy of F.Mastrocola, and the Kings would never look back en route to a hard fought victory.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Johnny Cerrone of the Kings. When things aren’t going your way by trailing 3-0 early on, sometimes it takes that one tally in order to spark your bench. In the case for the Kings, J.Cerrone did one better by bagging two quick goals to put his club back in it.

Islanders pull through in thrilling high scoring affair versus Blackhawks

(9)Islanders vs Blackhawks(7)

Someone forgot to tell the Islanders and the Blackhawks to bring their defense and goaltending on Sunday night. The two teams had a goal scoring frenzy that lasted throughout the entire game with no one really sure how it was going to end. The contest needed for E.Nardelli to bury his second in an empty cage in order to determine the outcome for the Islanders. You normally expect this in a regular season, but the two sides decided to trade chances since the offense was rolling. No one really led the charge in that department for the two teams. The Islanders saw B.Monette, T.Passarelli and E.Nardelli notch a pair each while G.DeStefano was the only player to score twice for the Blackhawks. Just when the Blackhawks thought they had something going for them when Ari Daghlian levelled by the forty minute mark,the Islanders would immediately respond with two quick goals by T.Passarelli and B.Monette. Still, the game was far-from over despite little time left over. M.Danesi was able to pull the Blackhawks within one after awarded a penalty shot. That goal left over three minutes on the clock, enough time for a shot on net to even the score. The Blackhawks would have no choice to pull their net minder for the extra attacker. In hopes of catching one more break, it was E.Nardelli closing the chapter by feeding the empty net.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tristan Passarelli of the Islanders. The young forward proved that he likes the big moment with so much on the line. His two goals and two assists led all players helping send his team to the final.

With the regular season champs advancing along with the Islanders out lasting the Blackhawks, the stage is now set to see who will take all the marbles. Many will predict the Kings for coming out on top simply because they dropped only one game all season long. That being said, the Islanders want nothing more than to prove that they are the deserving of the two teams. Teams that are under the radar and have gotten this far is because they are doing many things right. The Kings will need to continue and put forth their best hockey in order to take them out. If they play to their identity, and get the necessary goaltending by S.Sauk, then they’ll likely prevail. The Islanders have now one more step to prove everyone wrong, in which they  have the confidence going for them after playing some incredible hockey in recent weeks.

Thursday June 8

Horsemen win by committee to kick off regular season

(3)Rated R vs Horsemen(7)

Just when it looked like the Rated R were starting to find their groove, the Horsemen had a response riding three straight goals right before the second period ended. A 2-0 lead right past the four minute mark of the opening frame put the Horsemen immediately into the drivers seat rolling three solid lines. Defensively, they didn’t give up much, and M.Vinciguerra was there anyway to make the saves. However, the Rated R did back out as they scored twice on goals by D.Kanastamaris and G.Pisanelli to even the score. The Horsemen weren’t pleased, but felt they had the tempo going for them, and it was just a question of time before things fell into play. As soon as J.Teresi regained the lead, the Horsemen added two more tallies before the second period was over. Although no lead is ever secured, the Horsemen felt very good about their chances for how well they were pushing the pace. The effect of the three lines makes a world of difference since everyone comes out harder knowing that they have enough time for a breather. Rated R didn’t have much room to do much in their effort to battle back except for a power play goal by P.Doulis, which just wasn’t enough. This came as an encouraging win for a team that had to assemble plenty of new faces into the line up. With nobody really standing out, seven different players found the back of the net, which suggests that the Horsemen are well balanced.

Fatal Demons win seesaw game on a crazy finish

(4)Krazy Train vs Fatal Demons(5)

The Krazy Train knew they had a tall order in trying to defeat the Fatal Demons on Thursday night. Unless you manage to grab a lead and adjust to a certain style, it becomes very difficult to challenge with only two change ups to your bench. The Krazy Train couldn’t quite grab that start and fell behind 3-0 by the mid way point of the match. Any betting person would have kept their money on this one unless you figured that the Fatal Demons were going to prevail . And although the end result favoured P.Santullo and his club, the Krazy Train did something quite remarkable by overcoming such a deficit before finding themselves ahead thanks to C.Lato snapping a 3-3 tie. His goal came with only four minutes left in the game. The Fatal Demons couldn’t believe what had happened with a deeper bench and the fact that they led 3-0 at one point. You had to figure that the Krazy Train were going to close this one out after an incredible push back. Instead, hockey games often throw you curve balls, and tonight’s tilt was a perfect example of it. It took only seconds after for Y.Der-Ohannessian to even the score. Then, with what seemingly was headed for overtime was cut short thanks to G.Demarinis beating the clock by half a minute. Out of nowhere, the Fatal Demons crushed the Krazy Trains momentum, and took over right on time to erase what was going to be a tough loss. While the Fatal Demons were glad to get the end result, R.Varr and the Krazy Train will be very pleased for how well they responded on a short bench.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Gino DeMarinis of the Fatal Demons. With his side stuck enduing a sudden collapse, G.DeMarinis immediately put the Fatal Demons back on track by setting up the tying goal while providing the game winner only moments later.

Wednesday June 7(Playoffs round 1)

B.Sorcie puts stamp in round 1, carries Stars to semi finals

( 8 ) Stars vs Oilers(3)

B.Sorice’s fingerprints were all over the Stars 8-3 win over the Oilers giving them an unstoppable push into the next round. The centers brilliance was on full display having to do it with only one spare to their bench. It showed that he and the Stars were determined to defeat a younger and quicker Oilers team. Things weren’t really settled until a seven minute stretch where B.Sorice decided to turn it up bagging three consecutive goals. That sequence put the Stars up 6-3 with less than twenty minutes remaining. Since they had the shorter bench, it was all about coverage-from that point on. The Oilers couldn’t find enough open lanes since they were trapped having to deal with a player in front of them. Eventually, the Stars would put the series to rest on a pair of late goal by G.Charron and M.Braun, who had a sound defensive night collecting two goals and an assist. But the real story was the presence of B.Sorice, and what he brought to his club. By the time it was said and done, the skilled forward produced a whopping four goals and two assists to help lead his club into the semi final round.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Bruno Sorice of the Stars. The forward was able to raise his play by making plenty happen out there accumulating points on nearly every goal his team scored.

Ducks blow late lead, Hurricanes desperation kicked in just in time

(3)Ducks vs Hurricanes(5)

Up 3-1 over the Hurricanes with only five minutes to go, the Ducks seemed destin to take out the Hurricanes and punch a ticket into the next round. But a quick release by A.Farina along with T.Angelis netting a pair of quick tallies turned into a collapse for the Ducks. There was no question that the Ducks had their opponent on the ropes. Up until that point, they played a sound defensive game while getting stellar goaltending by G.Kanaras. Maybe all the Hurricanes needed was that one goal in order to spark their bench. Once A.Farina narrowed the gap by one, the Hurricanes went into full gear in search of that next tally. Surely, they ended up getting there by pushing the pace. It seemed as though the Ducks ran out of gas with so little time left over. Losing in such a fashion isn’t easy, but the Ducks don’t have any reason to keep their heads down. They played it right-from the beginning that lasted nearly the entire game. At certain points when they were up 3-1, they missed out on a pair of golden opportunities to widen the gap. Instead, B.Verducci was there to keep it close, and the Hurricanes fed off it eventually on a strong finish.  

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Angelis of the Hurricanes. In a fairly low scoring game, goals are hard to come by, but T.Angelis was able to score three of them which were extremely vital for his team to move on to the next round.

The Draft Wednesday division is now down to its final four teams. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Golden Knights vs Hurricanes(5) In order for the Hurricanes to have a shot at taking out the Golden Knights, it will require for everyone to buy into a focused coverage game. That’s at the very least since it will also take a jaw dropping performance by B.Verducci to steal the show. The Hurricanes have some nice pieces that can produce, but can they defend long enough against a well rounded Golden Knights offense ? Time will tell.

(2)Senators vs Stars(3) The Stars most likely wont be able to cut it this time with only one spare against this opponent. At the very least, they’ll need some more pieces in order to keep pace with a fast and lethal Senators offense. If both sides come full pin, this series will be a close one to call. B.Sorice is riding a hot hand and the focus will be on him while for the Stars, a close attention needs to be paid on the quick and deceptive shot by M.Lafleur. Definitely a game worth watching.

Monday June 5

Closely matched games end in shootouts between Sharpshooters and Country Club

The Sharpshooters came up short in both games to try and close it out against the Country Club. S.Bourdin was able to score with just over a minute left in the first game to level, and G.Dumont evened the score in the second encounter toward the last portion to send the contest for a second straight breakaway competition. Neither team came out victorious as both sides traded a goal apiece. However, the second time around, the Sharpshooters did manage to edge out the Country Club thanks to D.Greco’s finish along with M.Vinciguerra denying all three attempts. Throughout most of the four entire periods there weren’t many notable differences between the two sides. One can argue that the Country Club had a little more ball possession which made sense going up against a shorter bench. The two goaltenders often enough made that first save which took a rebound or a screen shot to beat them. M.Dupuis along with his counterpart M.Vinciguerra did there part in net enabling their clubs to get the edge over the other. Overall, just an evenly matched night between two teams that didn’t really have an advantage. The Country Club relied on some balanced scoring while the Sharpshooters looked to their captain P.Carone to take care of the scoring. The sniper had a solid outing bagging three of his clubs six goals.

(3)Sharpshooters vs Country Club(3) S.O

(5)Sharpshooters vs Country Club(4) S.O

Brewers get back on track to defeat the RCGT Knights on two occasions

The Brewers achieved a pair of desired results to get themselves in a better frame of mind after a bad start only a week ago. After edging out a close encounter in the shootout, the Brewers had a very satisfying finish scoring three unanswered goals in the final frame to beat the RCGT Knights for a second time. N.Chiminian had collected two earlier points before scoring a hat trick and an assist in the second match. The Brewers knew that they were going to cash in having some very skilled players in their line up. Some key additions along with sticking to a game plan came a long way. Everyone was activated, from-the defence to the forwards and the goaltending by G.Platanitis. In the perspective of the RCGT Knights, when looking back at this, only one really bad period stood in the way. The Brewers had that extra stride in the final stanza that gave them the edge in capturing two straight wins after being blanked only a week ago.

(3)Brewers vs RCGT Knights(2) S.O

(6)Brewers vs RCGT Knights(2)

Degenerates rout Dragons in back to back games

There are a lot of small details in a hockey game that can go for you if you come prepared. The Degenerates understood the challenge ahead of them, and had no choice but to buy into playing a near flawless game. First and for most, box out your opponent and then make the best with your chances while hoping that C.Stavriadis will bail you out. For the entire four periods, the mission was accomplished as they did what they needed to do in order to defeat a strong opponent. It helps having players such as O.Valiquette, J.Courteau and S.Marricco to occupy your offense as all three players proved to be a burden for the Dragons defense and net minder. The three players did most of the scoring combining for eleven goals. While the offense was in full gear, the defense did a fine job staying with their man while breaking up many plays. And finally not to be forgotten, was the stellar goaltending display put forth by C.Stavriadis. Overall, just a good night of hockey for one side and not for the other. That being said, the Dragons were without some scary key components missing. Once they sign in to play, the dynamic of the team will change and so will the end results.

(6)Degenerates vs Dragons(2)

(7)Degenerates vs Dragons(2)

Snipers put defense first, M.St-Laurent stellar blanking out Classics in second game

The Snipers play a defence first system, and prove of it was their ability to shutout a team like the Classics in the second game. Prior to the 1-0 shutout victory, the two sides went back and forth in the opening contest trading goals, and were forced to try and decide matters in a shootout. Still, no one was able to edge out the other as only M.Destounis of the Classics and F.Nasser of the Snipers got the better of the goaltenders. The second encounter got a little messy with the two teams taking some trips to the penalty box. Normally, the open space would suggest for some goals going in, but that was far-from being the case. With both sides playing extremely well on the defensive side of the ball, it was only a question of time before the ball would end up in one of the two nets. In this particular case, Ali Khanafer was that player to crack the barrier on a power play goal. The captain was having quite a night bagging two earlier goals before netting the lone tally to help defeat the Classics. In order to shut out a team that has C.Gingras in it, your goaltender has to play a major role. M.St-Laurent was brilliant keeping a clean score sheet in what turned out to be a satisfying night for himself and the rest of the team.

(4)Classics vs Snipers(4) S.O

(0)Classics vs Snipers(1)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Nicko Chiminian of the Brewers. A huge part of the Brewers offense came-from the heads up plays of N.Chiminian. The forward was involved in nearly every goal to finish off with a total of six points.

Sunday June 4( Quarter finals)

Favourite Kings outlast Wild in high scoring affair

(11)Kings vs Wild( 8 )

This was one series where the regular season standings really didn’t mean much. Even though the Kings captured top seed of the regular season while the Wild were stuck in the basement  with only one win to show for, both sides knew that this wasn’t going to come easy, especially if you were the Kings. The two sides kept going back and forth throughout the entire game which explained why this contest wasn’t settled till the very end. It was very difficult to play a structured defensive style with so much fire power up front. The Wild have a lethal unit when M.Destounis is on with anyone playing by his side. The Wild saw their top got get practically involved in every single goal expect for one accumulating a whopping seven points. As long as the game remained close, the Wild felt good about their chances. P.Santullo levelled the game 8-8 by the 33 minute mark for the Wild. The Kings must have felt the pressure of trying to overcome some adversity since they were the ones holding a near perfect regular season record. It was a question of how a team deals with having their backs to the wall, and how your top end players react knowing that they need to make the difference. To the Kings credit, C.Decotis and F.Mastrocola proved to be gamers when things were on the line. While it was A.Carelli perhaps notching the biggest goal of the game to snap the tie, F.Mastrocola went on two add a pair of insurance markers to solidify the win.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Claudio Decotis of the Kings. He may not have scored, but C.Decotis made many players around him find the back of the net. The forward kept making the right and simple pass that led to an impressive seven point night.

Blackhawks remain hot as they make it two playoff wins in a row

(6)Panthers vs Blackhawks( 8 )

There’s never a bad time to go on a hot run, but there might not be a better time to gain momentum if you’re the Blackhawks. For a team that looked like they lost confidence dropping four straight that saw three end in a landslide and turn it around by winning two in a row is quite remarkable. Maybe it was just about getting organized and playing with more purpose. The Blackhawks have the right attitude in the locker room to address what needs to be done. Then, it becomes a question on if they can execute it on the field. For a second straight playoff game, it doesn’t appear to be a coincidence anymore that they mean business when the games count. They made it a point to start off on a bang bagging five goals in the first fifteen minutes. Although the Panthers weren’t impressed and bounced back with a pair to narrow the gap by one, they couldn’t get one more in order to even the score. Instead, it was the Blackhawks turn to take over on goals by E.Gabrielli, E.Colella and Gabrielli’s second that came on a penalty shot. By then, the Blackhawks built a fairly comfortable 8-4 lead in which there was almost no way that they were going to let it slip away. There are to many old school experienced players on the defensive end along with a dialled in A.Zardarian protecting the cage to ride it out. The Panthers did attempt a late push on a pair of goals, but the damage had already been done. Again, the Blackhawks played a simple meat and potatoes style game that didn’t require any fancy Dijon mustard or drinks prepared with mini umbrellas in it. For them, it was just about getting the job done.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mario Danesi of the Blackhawks. Not only did he buy into the game plan, but M.Danesi added more spice to his game scoring twice that included a penalty shot goal along with a pair of helpers.

M.DaSilva plays overtime hero, Kraken move on after marathon finish with Sabres

( 8 )Sabres vs Kraken(9) O.T

Back and forth they went, the Sabres and the Kraken playing a game that seemed destined to have no end while leaving legs growing wobbly with each passing minute. One has to wonder how do two teams trade eight goals during a game and then go through a scoring drought in the sudden death frame that lasted about a half hour. Then, add to the fact that overtime is played four vs four which is open for more scoring chances with the amount of room available. Maybe the answer to that is the commitment of two teams that wanted nothing less than to make a mistake while playing their hearts out. Of coarse goaltending is a huge factor as well. With M.Rodriguez stuck facing shots coming-from nearly everywhere along with J.Sanoudakis forced to remain focused for the Sabres can explain why the crowd got their moneys worth. For anyone watching-from a distance, you felt that the Sabres were the ones that may have escaped with this win due to the extra ball possession primarily because of their deeper bench. The Kraken looked a step behind, but made it a point to simply follow their player and wait for a chance. After going through a gruelling half hour or so of relentless hockey, that moment finally came when M.DaSilva picked up a rebound and used a sweet back hander to  bury his chance. The Kraken could have avoided all this if they could have killed off 19 seconds in regulation time. Instead, P.Desforges riffled his second late, and the Sabres had some hope of passing though this round. Credit to the Kraken for just sticking with it however. M.Rodriguez was stellar in net facing a ton of shots, T.Settino finished a 75 kilometer tour de l’ile prior to the game, and looked like he could have done another, and finally the rest of the unit that kept battling until it was all said and done.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marc DaSilva of the Kraken. His heroics late in the game enabled the Kraken to move into the semi final round. M.DaSilva was at the right place and at the right time to decide a thrilling overtime period.

Predators fall apart late, Islanders save their best of last

(10)Islanders vs Predators(7)

Up 6-4 with about fourteen minutes to go, the Predators must have liked their chances of advancing. And why not when you have M.Braun leading the charge up front with four goals, and B.Verducci standing firm between the pipes. Then, all that changed as breakdowns with a lack of focus started to happen for the Predators. Its as though they deviated-from a game plan that was working smoothly. Surely, you can give all the props and credit for what the Islanders did in the latter stages, but that doesn’t excuse such a massive let down if you’re the Predators. Sometimes, things just fall into play when desperation kicks in. There was no question that the Islanders dug deep inside as a unit in order to flip the script and rattle their opponent on the games next six of seven goals in such a short span. It wasn’t like it took one single player to do it on his own rather a collective group that was totally in sync. T.Passarelli did have a nice little stretch scoring once on a penalty shot followed with a couple of more points. Prior to the big response, E.Nardelli collected a bunch of early points before adding his second for the game winner. Definitely a nice way to close out a game if you’re the Islanders, who quietly keep advancing into the next round.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Emerson Nardelli of the Islanders. Highly involved in the Islanders offense, E.Nardelli kept making a ton of big plays that resulted in a productive two goal and three assist night.

The Sunday night Draft division is down to its final four teams. The match ups are as follows;

(1)Kings vs Kraken(9) Look for a chess match between these two teams. Both sides will pay close attention to each others threats while using a bunch of shot attempts to get the offense going since there will be little space to make some plays. The two goaltenders will be busy and need to be up for the task if they plan on reaching the big dance. M.Rodriguez will need to duplicate another brilliant performance after an enduring series with the Sabres while S.Sauk will have his hands full as well trying to slow down players such as T.Settino, L.Bavellas and S.Sicuso just to name a few.

(4)Islanders vs Blackhawks(7) Here we have two teams that know what it takes to win hockey games. The Islanders may be a little more well rounded up front, but the Blackhawks have a nice solid back end that can tighten the screws defensively. If both goaltenders play up to expectations, than expect this one to be very close with no clear cut favourite.

Thursday June 1

Mtl Machine cruise for an easy win over the Bengals

(7)Mtl Machine vs Bengals(0)

It didn’t take long for the Mtl Machine to completely dominate the Bengals in the first period, raining goals on them to dash any hopes for a comeback. The Bengals remained clueless in the face of the Mtl Machines powerful attack surrendering six tallies in the first period alone. Goals came-from five different players with J.Morina and P.Heroux sharing two each. For a five minute stretch or so, J.Morina had his hand in four straight goals for the Mtl Machine setting up P.Heroux and S.Morello while rattling a pair himself. The Bengals knew after one period that they were done, but tried to remain competitive in hopes of avoiding an embarrassing loss. Unfortunately, it was just a bad night as P.Heroux was able to close it out with his second and end the game earlier than expected due to the seven goal mercy rule. On the few shots he faced, C.Fortin was able to record the shutout.

The SalumiVino player of the game goes to Johnny Morina of the Mtl Machine. A good chunk of the offense emerged from the quarterback defenseman. Four out of the seven tallies stemmed-from J.Morina, who scored twice while setting up a pair of teammates.

Wednesday May 31

Balanced scoring lead Ducks to 9-6 rout of Stars

(9)Ducks vs Stars(6)

Thanks to some balanced contribution throughout the entire line up along with a strong goaltending effort by G.Kanaras, the Ducks closed off their season on a positive note. By all means it didn’t come easy as the Stars kept hanging around until the final stretch where the Ducks created themselves some breathing room. The newly additions helped get the job done with M.Kardum and T.Acheson combining for five goals. The Stars entered tonight having two games left in their regular season. They trail the Senators in the standings by only one point for an important second place finish. If they fail to grab points against the Golden Knights in their second encounter, they’ll miss out on getting a first round bye and will be stuck playing an extra round. In order to get that chance , they’ll have to play much better against a well rounded rested team. There is no question that the absence of B.Sorice played a factor in the opening game of the double header. As for the Ducks, this contest didn’t effect them in anyway in the standings as they are stuck in fourth place with a first round date with the Hurricanes. Tonight was just about keeping the rhythm going for the Ducks, as they look forward to a looming post season.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Gerry Pendino of the Ducks. Not known for his flashy style, the solid d-man was occupying both ends of the court by breaking up plays while jumping into the rush. At one point, he used a wicket shot to get one by the Stars net minder causing a celebration throughout his bench.

Oilers take high scoring affair on late goal by M.Santoro

(7)Oilers vs Hurricanes(6)

Goaltending was optional in the first twenty minutes between the Oilers and the Hurricanes. The counterparts combined for nine goals with the Hurricanes up by a slight 5-4 margin. By that rate, this game would have looked like a football score but things eventually started to settle as both sides decided to play better without the ball. K.Oliveira tied the game five minutes later, and the next tally didn’t come until fourteen minutes after when N.Macri bagged a hat trick to snap the tie for the Hurricanes. You hope to feed off such a huge marker if your the Hurricanes, especially with about nine minutes remaining. The problem was that it took all but twenty seconds for an immediate response by S.Todd to level the game once more. Since the two teams went back into safe mode, this contest looked like it was headed for overtime with neither side scoring for a good stretch. Then, one break led to a golden opportunity for M.Santoro, who made sure to bury his chance and provide the Oilers a huge confidence booster heading into the playoffs.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Santoro of the Oilers. Already with three points during the game, M.Santoro couldn’t have scored at better time, giving the Oilers a rare win right before the post season begins.

Strong five goal comeback attempt not enough for Stars, Golden Knights pull away late to cap off a solid regular season

(12)Golden Knights vs Stars(7)

In an incredible comeback attempt, the Stars scored five straight goals in the middle of the game, but was unable to overcome the Golden Knights offensive performance in the first portion, ultimately falling behind 12-7. The game had a see saw effect with the Golden Knights owning the first and final part of the contest. Once the Stars started to put on some heat, the Golden Knights went into an urgent state where they took over with more purpose taking advantage of a team that just played an hour earlier. When a player gets nine points in one single game, its because he’s really that good ,and also because there isn’t much attention toward him. T.Settino had all the time and space out there to do his thing. The skilled forward scored twice while setting up seven goals making his teammates look good because of his precise passes. E.Dedominicis and Marie-Eve each had hat tricks due to some nice looking plays. On the flip side of the court, M.Braun was the Stars forward causing the most fits for the Golden Knights defence striking on four occasions. Unfortunately for the Stars, they couldn’t grab a couple of points in either of the two games which would have avoided an extra playoff round. Instead, they will have to regroup and take on a resilient Oilers team in a week-from now.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the gam goes to Tony Settino of the Golden Knights. Its not a coincidence that his nine points in one single game handed him the Wednesday night Draft league scoring title. The forward finished with an impressive 18 goals and 30 assists to lead all players.

With the Wednesday Draft regular season coming to an end, all six teams will be prepping up for the most important time of year. The top two seeded teams will get an automatic pass to the semi final round while the third place seed will take on the six place seed and the forth seeded team will challenge the fifth seeded team. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Golden Knights first round bye

(2)Senators            first round bye

(3)Stars vs Oilers(6) If momentum means anything when your season ends, than the Oilers are looking mighty fine having won their last regular season game while the Stars dropped both their encounters in a heated double header night. That being said, it wont matter much once the ball is dropped. The Stars do have some key elements up front which will force the Oilers defense to adjust. If the Oilers don’t play a systematic game, then look for the Stars to take them out.

(4)Ducks vs Hurricanes(5) Both sides will need to approach this one by playing simple hockey. You want to avoid giving up as many scoring chances as possible. If the Ducks and the Hurricanes take that right and simple approach, this mini series could be decided late with solid goaltending being a big factor. B.Verducci will be difficult to beat for the Hurricanes and G.Kanaras will make sure to live up to the task by playing a sound game as well for the Ducks.

Tuesday May 30

Team Greece use flurry of late goals to beat GK Lite

(6)Team Greece vs GK Lite(2)

Back with a bang. Team Greece was able to erase a sour taste after losing their season opener only a week ago by taking on the GK Lite on Tuesday night. They addressed many concerns that arose during that game, and it showed as a reactivated Team Greece led the charge. It all began in the first period with P.Arkalis and C.Gingras igniting the offense. Up 2-0 entering the second frame, Team Greece wanted nothing more than to let the GK Lite back into the game. Your almost stuck having to search for the next goal rather than trying to keep a lethal offense off the score sheet. S.Pham didn’t wait long into the second period to finally get his side on board. From-there, the GK Lite waited a while to post their next tally, but they did get there first to even things up thanks to K.Kuczmarski. All of a sudden, this contest was knotted at two goals a piece with the GK Lite gaining momentum. While the GK Lite wave of offense started roll, it was P.Arkalis to take the bull by the horns once more as the forward riffled his hat trick to regain the lead for Team Greece. That tally created an effect throughout Team Greece’s line up as three more consecutive goals were scored in a very short span. P.Arkalis had a monster night collecting his fourth, all with the help of C.Gingras finding him. Every time the GK Lite would press, C.Ekonomakis was there to bail out Team Greece. The net minder was stellar as expected stopping some high quality chances that could have easily beaten him. This was definitely a feel good victory for a side that has the potential to make some noise in this division.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Peter Arkalis of Team Greece. The GK Lite defense and goaltender had no answers on how to slow down P.Arkalis, who struck four times while setting up two teammates.

Monday May 29

Much better Country Club in second game still fall short to Classics

When playing two games against the same team, you can afford to have a bad game, especially going up against the Classics. The Country Club went through a very bad start in the opening tilt, but showed some signs that they can keep up despite dropping the encounter by an 8-4 result. T.Langiano was a handful striking five times to kick start the season for the Classics. You had to figure that the Country Club were going to have a better response for how things ended. This time, they avoided a slow start looking fully engaged. F.Proulx and N.Smith got the Country Club two goals each, and the Classics looked more and more tired as the game went on. Unhappy with the way the game was going, C.Gingras used a timeout at about the mid way point of the final frame to settle things down. The Classics knew they had more than enough time to bounce back and steal this game. It took all but a span of a minute and a half for C.Gingras to strike twice followed with M.Arkalis’s big power play goal. Out of nowhere, the Classics woke up-from the dead, and were finally in front of a side that felt they deserved better. For most of the second game, the Country Club won many of the one on one battles while generating the better chances. S.Morante played a big role as to why his side pulled it off. The net minder was brilliant to earn his second win of the night.

( 8 )Classics vs Country Club(4)

(6)Classics vs Country Club(5)

Flurry of late goals propel RCGT Knights in opener, Dragons able to bounce back despite short bench

A quick four goal burst by the RCGT Knights late in the first game took care of the Dragons on Monday night. B.Travisano tied the game, J.Azoulay provided the go ahead marker, and C.Guerin capped it off on a pair of insurance tallies. The Dragons could have used that first one under their belt knowing that they had a short bench to deal with. Entering a second match under those circumstances makes it that much more difficult to compete at a high pace. To their credit however, the Dragons had the much better start winning the opening frame 4-2. Y.Derohannessian was an absolute force keeping the ball glued to his blade for long stretches. The shifty forward was taking on players one on one before finishing off some highlight reel goals. Just like in the previous match, the Dragons found themselves ahead in the final stanza. They would enter their fourth straight period with only two changes to their bench. This time, they managed their minutes much smarter, and were mindful for avoiding another breakdown. Y.Derohannesian didn’t miss a beat as the forward continued to carry the play adding one more goal for his hat trick along with setting up N.Goncalves for a third time. The two players did most of the damage sharing hat tricks while the rest of the team supported each other by keeping it simple. Somehow, the Dragons were able to trade wins despite being outnumbered by a two to one margin.

(7)RCGT Knights vs Dragons(4)

(4)RCGT Knights vs Dragons(7)

C.Henriquez records back to back shut wins for the Snipers on identical scores

Its not the easiest thing to achieve, but C.Henriquez was remarkable keeping the Brewers off the score sheet throughout both games. The net minder faced a total 35 shots that couldn’t get through him. The Snipers know that when building a lead they can systematically shut you down. Defensively, they are stable and well organized which makes it very hard for most teams to try and bounce back. The Brewers had no breaks in both games as they kept facing either a wall in net or a Sniper player starring them straight in the eye. After dropping the first encounter by a 4-0 score, the Brewers gave up an early goal in the second game and trailed 1-0 for nearly the entire time. It was only by the nine minute mark of the final period that the Snipers got their second goal. A. Sayed was the one to double the lead which came on a power play. Then, shorty after, F.Nasser also struck with the man advantage followed with his second to cap off another 4-0 win. Just prior to the Snipers second goal, P.Karigiannis had a great opportunity to level the game. Unfortunately, his wicked shot hit the post, and the Brewers took an untimely penalty shortly after which ultimately doomed them for a second time. What’s nice about the way the Snipers won both encounters was that it entailed an overall team effort. Unless you count C.Henriquez denying every shot he faced, nobody stood out as many contributed in their own way.

(4)Snipers vs Brewers(0)

(4)Snipers vs Brewers(0)

Degenerates finding ways despite playing on their heels

The Degenerates had to accept the fact that the HC Jokerit were going to get to the loose balls first on almost every occasion. The HC Jokerit are younger , faster and have a deeper bench rolling at least three lines compared to the Degenerates two lines. Basically, the Degenerates had to keep it simple for as long as possible .The game plan wasn’t complicated. Box out your opponent, trap a play for a counter attack, and hope that C.Stavriadis is there to make the saves. On the larger part, they managed to apply the fundamental principles which translated into a tie and a close victory in the second game. The first encounter saw the Degenerates take four leads that kept getting answered. T.Settino and S.Marricco each scored twice for the Degenerates while B.Grant was there to tie the game on three straight occasions. Neither side was able to get it done in the shootout in largely because C.Stavriadis of the Degenerates and H.Correia were sound stopping every attempt. In the second game however, a potential shootout was avoided when S.Marricco snapped the late tie on a brilliant effort in front of the net to bury the winner.

(4)Degenerates vs HC Jokerit(4) S.O

(2)Degenerates vs HC Jokerit(1)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to C.Henriquez of the Snipers. Stopping every single ball you face in four periods is a clear indication that you were on top of your game. C.Henriquez was stellar, facing 35 shots to earn two consecutive shutout wins.

Sunday May 28 (Playoffs Round 1)

Comeback attempt falls short as season ends for Red Wings

(9)Predators vs Red Wings(6)

Unfortunately for the Red Wings, a comeback attempt fell short as the club dropped a 9-6 decision to the Predators on Sunday night. The Red Wings spotted the Predators a 6-3 lead at one point, battled to try and erase the deficit, and then the club saw its season come to an end unable to complete the comeback. Z.St-Martin did more than his fair share in the loss providing for four goals for the Red Wings. In their defense, the Red Wings were stuck playing with a shorter bench giving a clear advantage to the Predators for outlasting them. At one point with about ten minutes to go, Z.St-Martin bagged his fourth to make the score 7-6 in favour for the Predators.  It was shortly after that the Predators sighed an air of relief thanks to F.Bchara and M.Braun scoring only a minute apart. The two forwards were heavily engaged throughout the entire game combining for an impressive eleven points. While the Red Wings made some mistakes early on, this was a strong effort that they just couldn’t cash in late in order to tie the game. Maybe that extra body or two could have changed things. Regardless the reason, the Predators are the ones who prevailed, and will look forward to next weeks test.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Predators. It goes without saying that production is essential for winning games. M.Braun delivered plenty of it by notching a hat trick along with three assists.

Flyers couldn’t stop the bleeding in elimination game vs the Kraken

(7)Flyers vs Kraken(15)

You would hope that jumping off to an early 2-0 lead would encourage the Flyers for doing something right against the Kraken. Instead, it was nothing more than wishful thinking as the Kraken put on a clinic scoring multiple goals at will. Nobody on the Flyers was able to stop the Kraken once they seized the momentum. Goals came-from everywhere, and in every which way. L.Bavellas ripped some hard ones early on,.G.Papadakis riffled as many as five-from her office,  and of coarse T.Settino would get at least three when your team scores as many as fifteen. Its safe to say that G.Kanaras didn’t have his best outing. The net minder, although faced too many decent scoring chances, wasn’t able to stop the bleeding which only dropped the moral of his bench. The Flyers felt defeated after looking at the scoreboard reading a score that they wished was a correction. There was barely eighteen minutes played and the Kraken had already put nine behind the Flyers net. It was a night that the Flyers simply felt powerless. It showed clearly in their game unable to play with enough spunk and energy to try and battle back. Once the Kraken had built such a convincing lead, both sides went through the motions of riding out the clock. What didn’t help the Flyers either was that they had a difficult time trying to beat M.Rodriguez. The goaltender did receive some chances and shots toward him, but was able to stop many of them to enable the Kraken to play in front with comfort. Overall, just a strong game-from the Kraken, who had everything go well on this particular night.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Miguel Rodriguez of the Kraken. While the goaltender did get plenty of support-form the offense, M.Rodriguez got his fair share of good chances toward him, and did a fine job keeping the Flyers out of contention.

Wild dynamic duo between M.Destounis and C.Arnoldo lead the way

(7)Bruins vs Wild(12)

You can look at the standings all you want, but when its playoff season, it means absolutely nothing. The Wild have only one win in ten games entering tonight’s bout with the Bruins, and it didn’t show at all that they were this years bottom dwellers. Many have to wonder how having a player like M.Destounis concluded such a poor regular season. Maybe it was just a lack of urgency since there isn’t much on the line. But with the stakes being higher at this point, the Wild made it a point to come out better prepared and with much more purpose. M.Destounis has the best ability to make every player around him much better. And if you have that skill to put the ball behind the net, your numbers will rise. C.Arnoldo understands this better than anyone as the sniper benefited six times with most of the help coming -from Destounis. The two players were in a league of their own as both of them combined for a ridiculous sixteen points. On the large part, the Bruins were always in the game and only a couple of plays away -from turning the tides. They got balanced scoring, a pair of penalty shot goals and a very good start jumping out to a 3-0 lead after only six minutes. Ultimately, it was the lack of attentiveness toward M.Destounis and C.Arnoldo that did them in. If there was a little more focus on how to play both those players, maybe the Bruins would be playing next week. Instead, the Wild used their strengths to their advantage and will live to play an extra round.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marino Destounis of the Wild. Its simple, when M.Destounis decides to turn it up, he is arguably the most dangerous player in the division. Even though the Wild finished last, you never know when you have a player in your line up that can get you nine points.

Blackhawks get hot at the right time

(6)Blackhawks vs Canadiens(4)

You just came off a four game losing  streak in which three out of those for games were decided in a landslide. If you’re the Blackhawks, you probably don’t feel great about your chances unless you get serious. E.Capalbo made it a point to gather a short meeting before the game, and execute the right game plan if they planned on doing anything right. Surely enough, they did just that by prioritising a very disciplined man on man game. As long as your net minder gives you that basic first save, and that your forwards run back to pick up their guy, then you’ll always have a chance to be competitive, and get the result . The Blackhawks did all that and more by capitalising on some chances in the first half of the game. Four different players had scored before Aren Daghlian and E.Colella riffled their second. The Blackhawks had built a nice 5-1 lead by nearly the thirty minute mark. Rather than throwing in the towel, the Canadiens kept battling hard and eventually were paid off on three goals that included two on penalty shots. The problem was that there wasn’t enough time to catch up. As much as the Blackhawks had to endure a bitter stretch down the line, winning this one playoff game will help boost a ton of confidence moving forward.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to A.Zardarian of the Blackhawks. Stellar goaltending is often required during playoff season. Luckily enough for the Blackhawks, A.Zardarian was feeling it on this night allowing only four goals on 29 shots.

With these results, the Draft Sunday division is down to eight teams. The quarter final match ups are as follows:

(1)Kings vs Wild(12) It would appear that the Kings are the clear cut favourites. And perhaps there is many arguments to be made as to why. The Kings have been together for a long time, loaded with years of chemistry and enough talent. The regular season record is a clear indication why they will be a hard out. Can the Wild cause the massive upset? It will take more than M.Destounis working his magic if you’re the Wild. A defensive ,patient game along with stellar goaltending can give them a chance. If not, look for the Kings to advance in this one.

(2)Sabres vs Kraken(9) Loaded with an abundance of offense along with the smarts of defending, the Sabres will out pace the Kraken. It will come down to the Kraken playing a collective defensive game along with some sound goaltending by M.Rodriguez in order to cause the surprise. Very doable, but difficult as the Sabres aim for higher goals rather than exiting this early.

(3)Panthers vs Blackhawks(7) Here we have two teams that are fundamentally based on players with plenty of years of experience. Strategy will come into play as both sides will play a stingy style of hockey. However, the Panthers might have a quicker team up front which will make the Blackhawks defence work that much harder. But with E.Colella, E.Capalbo and G.DeStefano guarding the back line, you never know, especially after they took out the Canadiens in their first round match up.

(4)Islanders vs Predators(6) Very difficult to predict. In many ways these teams are similar just based on there season record. They both have some decent game changers up front. B.Verducci and T.Kotsisris often do the job in net. Perhaps the one area favouring the Predators is there ability to defend better. If they neutralise some of the Islanders top guns, they’ll likely pull through.

Wednesday May 24

Ducks disappear in second half of the game, Senators pull away in convincing fashion

(10)Senators vs Ducks(5)

On Wednesday evening, the Ducks had their hands full versus the Senators. For about half the game, they hung neck and neck with them, but ultimately crashed and burned in the second portion. Talk about nothing going right for a side hoping to do way better. When you cant get to the ball first or run back to try and slow down a rush, you’ll often pay the price. The Senators did an excellent job boxing out the Ducks while excelling on their transition game. It seemed like everyone was touching the ball before somebody would go on to score. At least five players collected three points or more with R.Kilgour and M.Lafleur sharing the most with five points apiece. There was no question that the Ducks couldn’t match the pace of a quicker and more engaged team. The lanes just kept opening up for the Senators, who have enough quality to bury their chances. This is a good result for a side that seem to have all the elements to go very far into the post season.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Richard Kilgour of the Senators. Always responsible at both ends of the court, R.Kilgour was glad to have a very productive night collecting two goals and three assists.

F.Girard and B.Sorice set the tone for Stars thumping over Hurricanes

(5)Hurricanes vs Stars(12)

Its hard enough to stop one player, but when two are playing at the height of their game, it becomes that much more difficult. Twenty minutes had gone by and the Hurricanes were late to receive the memo on how to slow down F.Girard and B.Sorice. The dynamic duo made an early mess combining for five goals that saw F.Girard complete a natural hat trick in only five minutes. Its never pleasant falling behind by such a large margin in a fairly short period of time. The Hurricanes did show some character despite the awful start by getting involved more offensively thanks to T.Angelis’s hat trick. Still , they were too far behind, but took it upon themselves to remove their net minder for the extra attacker after trailing 9-4. Surely, it was a desperate move trying to overcome a five goal deficit with just over ten minutes remaining. Eventually, the Stars would close out the deal for good when N.Boctor-Awad and P.Carone each fed the empty cage. This victory for the Stars was an important one as they’ll need only a couple of points with two games remaining to try and capture a top two seed which would give them an automatic first round bye.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Fred Girard of the Stars. It took him only five minutes to score a natural hat trick that helped provide a 6-1 lead only twenty minutes into the game. The forward went on to notch a total of five goals and a helper.

Ducks challenge much better in second game despite dropping it late to the Golden Knights

(9)Golden Knights vs Ducks(7)

Considering how the Ducks looked earlier in their loss to the Senators, this contest was a lot more promising for how they played it out. They actually looked like the less tired team as they often got to the ball first. Unfortunately, a bad start and a heart breaking finish saw them fall short. The Golden Knights got the ball rolling right away netting two early goals as it looked like it was going to be another long night for the Ducks. However, that didn’t change the mind set of just keeping at it. Even though the Ducks fell behind 6-3 at one point, they kept battling back by applying some serious pressure. Eventually, that hard worked appeared to pay off when D.Galloro evened the score at seven goals apiece with less than a minute remaining. For sure the thought of heading into overtime crossed everyone’s mind. But with about thirty seconds left to go, T.Settino made a brilliant move to release a back hand-from the slot area that beat G.Kanaras top corner. That was T.Settino’s seventh point of the game sharing the same amount with T.Nardelli. The Ducks may have dropped a game that they felt they deserved better, but wont be overly disappointed considering it was their second match, and that it could have easily gone either way.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Monika Estrela of the Golden Knights. Throughout the entire time, M.Estrela kept making the right play. Her passes kept getting through, and four goals stemmed-from the smart and gritty forward.

Monday May 22

Dialled Snipers respond in second game to split with Sharpshooters

The Snipers knew after their loss to the Sharpshooters that they truly didn’t show up the way they needed for an opening game into the regular season. Scoring only one goal on barley enough scoring chances just wont cut it. That did eventually change in the second game where the Snipers offense came to life. And who other than your captain to lead the way. Ali Khanafer used one sequence to collect two big goals in a minute and a half, and the Snipers had the luxury of playing in front carrying a 3-1 lead. You never want to fall to behind against the Snipers. The Sharpshooters realised it as they were unable to find enough room out there to generate some decent chances. Ahmad Khanafer widened the gap by three mid way into the final frame, and the Snipers bounced back to even their night after closing it out on a pair of empty net markers. Both goaltenders were influential in their respective wins. P.Delli Colli allowed an early goal in the first encounter before shutting the door the rest of the way. As for M.St-Laurent, the net minder returned the favour by allowing only one goal as well in the ensuing match.

(1)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(3)

(6)Snipers vs Sharpshooters(1)

Country Club looking in sync , HC Jokerit need to find answers after slow start to season

You always want to get a good start to your night. Since anything can happen during a hockey game ,the Country Club made sure to get the momentum right away. They scored three unanswered goals in the first period, and M.Dupuis  was able to stop everything in sight. On both power play opportunities, J-S lavoie and P.Dupuis made sure to bury their chances. The HC Jokerit didn’t like that they fell on the short end coupled with the fact that they couldn’t get at least one to spark some life. Although they finally got on board in the second match, the end result mirrored the opening game. The Country Club did most of their damage by the final frame where they ignited on four goals. Nobody scored more than once out of the total six tallies which suggested that everyone was bought in what was a collective team effort. Of coarse you need your goaltender to deliver. M.Dupuis had one of those nights that kept frustrating his opponent. After facing a total of 31 shots in both games, Dupuis allowed only two goals in the four periods.

(4)Country Club vs HC Jokerit(0)

(6)Country Club vs HC Jokerit(2)

Degenerates prevail in tight checking tilt

Goals by S.Marricco and D.Charbonneau, plus a 16 save shutout by C.Stavriadis along with the special teams working propelled the Degenerates to a 2-0 victory to kick off their regular season. If you’re the RCGT Knights, searching for that first goal becomes a priority after seeing your offense go dry. That moment finally came when C.Gurian used a blistering shot to beat C.Stavriadis. Unfortunately some penalty trouble enabled the Degenerates to bounce back and take the lead on two power play goals by M.Chenier and P.Paikopoulos. Although a slight margin, the Degenerates used the lead to their advantage by eliminating a ton of time and space-from the RCGT Knights. Most of their chances had to come-from far shots which enabled C.Stavriadis to see the ball and make the necessary saves. Rather than taking the gamble of trying to protect a one goal lead, J.Melo was able to increase the margin with just over two minutes remaining. The Degenerates, looking back felt that both games should have been decided by a larger margin. But with T.Sauk in net guarding the cage, the RCGT Knights were always in it due to his stellar performance. Maybe some more game changers up front will position the RCGT Knights to be a lethal threat. They do have the defense and goaltender to solidify those areas which leaves perhaps a goal scorer or two to be more competitive.

(0)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(2)

(2)RCGT Knights vs Degenerates(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Mathieu Dupuis of the Country Club. Primed and ready to preform, M.Dupuis captured a shutout in the first encounter while enabling his side to take the second game by allowing only two goals.

Tuesday May 23

The start of the Dek Elite regular season has finally arrived. With the ball about to be dropped, every team has high hopes for their upcoming season. Whether its the GK looking to defend their title or for the rest of the teams to de-throne them, there is plenty of optimism throughout the entire league. The regular season kicked off with its first two games on Tuesday night.

Sitting Bulls use five unanswered goals to stun Black Knights

(6) Sitting Bulls vs Black Knights(4)

The Sitting Bulls started off their season in a thrilling fashion, scoring five unanswered goals to stun the Black Knights. A strong finish to the first period sent the Black Knights into the intermission with a 3-1 lead, but the Sitting Bulls eventually got their comeback cooking. All it took was one minute for things to turn around in a hurry with J.Sirois scoring two quick goals to complete his hat trick. The Sitting Bulls were able to hit the Black knights with some serious pressure where they did most of their damage in such a short period of time. Once they fell behind, the Black Knights  had no answers on how to recuperate. C.Placentine would go on to add his second, and S.Patel rebounded with a solid second period making some nice key saves. In the perspective of the Sitting Bulls side, its not the right way to start a game finding yourself down 3-1 after one period. But to their credit, they stuck with it, and played with enough purpose and belief to overcome the hurdle. The problem was more so for the Black Knights inability to close out the deal along with the inability of scoring at even strength since all four tallies came on the power play. Since its only the first game of a young regular season comprised of many new faces, losing in this fashion wont be a big deal as the players look to gel together and grow as a team. Chemistry takes time, but the Black Knights do have the right pieces in order to put it together.

Team Greece torched in loss to Mtl Machine

(0)Team Greece vs Mtl Machine(7)

Once J.Lulic opened the scoring, the Mtl Machine would continue to dent the scoreboard cashing in four times in only seven minutes. M.D’Ettore was perhaps the master mind behind the madness as the skilled forward helped set up three of the fours goals that saw J.Forese benefit twice. While the Mtl Machine seemed to have no issues on how they played out their season opener, the same couldn’t be said for a side that has to be wondering what went wrong. Team Greece were outplayed for most of the game, and couldn’t generate much up front with zero goals to show for. Even if your stuck heading into the final frame down 4-0, you try to make the best of the final frame despite it being a difficult task to overcome. Instead, things continued-from where they left off with the Mtl Machine showing no mercy. M.D’Ettore added a goal to his point total while P.Gendron and J.Morina added some comfort tallies to end the night earlier than expected. No doubt it was a disappointing start to the season if your Team Greece, but its only one game and things will  get better as they’ll nourish the roster with more quality players.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jimmy Sirois of Sitting Bulls. With his side looking down and out, J.Sirois was the catalyst behind the comeback bagging three goals that included two to break the lead and provide an insurance marker.

Sunday May 21

Flyers barely hang on after better start vs Kraken

(7)Flyers vs Kraken(5)

The Kraken gave up some early goals, and were stuck playing catch up the rest of the way. The Flyers kept up the pressure as they slowly built themselves a nice 4-1 lead by about the mid way point of the game. E.Allen set things in motion by scoring two goals while taking care of his own end by breaking up some plays. While it seemed like the Flyers were on their way to an easy night, this game had more in store, with the Kraken showing more bite in their game. A dormant offense finally got to work as they eventually got to M.Savoro a few times . At one point, the Kraken pulled themselves within one when G.Papdakis scored with only two minutes left on the clock. Knowing that it takes only one shot on net for an equaliser, two minutes is enough time when riding such a momentum. Unfortunately, the comeback effort eventually came to a halt thanks to D.Galloro’s second of the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Errol Allen of the Flyers. He showed right away to his teammates that the slick defenseman came ready to play. E.Allen set the tone on two early goals, and was a force throughout the time carrying much of the play.

Panthers picking a terrible time to end season, Sabres looking in fine form for what’s ahead

(4)Panthers vs Sabres(9)

They have reached the end of the regular season, and both these teams wanted nothing less than a positive finish. Even if it involved losing, as long as it’s a close game that could have gone either way. Sadly for the Panthers, they picked the worse time to play this poorly. Too many things went wrong for a side that’s aspiring to make a legit run into the playoff season. The Panthers look to pride themselves on how they play without the ball, but tonight they were clearly schooled by a side that looks ready and primed to cap off a strong and successful season. Just past the mid way point, the Sabres were smooth sailing riding a 7-1 lead. As expected, the father son tandem between C.Zafiropoulos and A.Zafiropoulos were there to pop a couple each. M.Tzouvadakis kept the Panthers offense honest making some key saves early on. Three goals came due to penalty shots for the Sabres with J.Martuccio, L.Bavellas and A.Zafiropoulos getting the better of B.Allahwardeyan. Its just not the way you want to end your season knowing that you have the potential to go far if you’re the Panthers. For a third place team, this loss has to cause some concern for how out of sync they were. With two weeks to put it behind them, the Panthers will have to dig deep and regain their confidence in order to compete well enough in the playoffs. Its not like they don’t have the players, but a question of putting it together.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to M.Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. Maybe he wasn’t influential for the win, but the net minder made it easier for his side to built a huge gap by allowing only one goal after thirty minutes of play.

Bruins getting hot at the right time in rout of Canadiens

( 8 )Bruins vs Canadiens(4)

You always want to have a strong end to your regular season. For the Bruins, they strung three consecutive wins, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. However, the same cant be said for the Canadiens, who looked flat footed and a step behind in the first portion of the game. They only got on board passed the mid way mark which saw them down 4-1 by that point. Sometimes, you just need that first tally to spark some sort of life. Rather than things getting better, the Canadiens couldn’t make ground as the Bruins would reply a couple of times in order to maintain there lead. A.Zakarian and N.Macri were to much for the Canadiens defense to handle. Both players have a strong front net presence which makes it hard for most players to contain. By the time it was said and done, the two power forwards had each scored twice while chipping in with some assists. The Canadiens could have used some of there guys to get going early on but only started to be more engaged when the game was perhaps out of reach. R.Santosuosso had a strong performance in the losing cause as the forward bagged three of the four goals scored by the Canadiens.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Alex Zakarian of the Bruins. When A.Zakarian is on top of his game, watch out if you’re the opposing defence and net minder. The power forward will use his size and strength to release some heavy shots that only a ready and focused net minder will have a chance to stop. Tonight, he riffled a pair while setting up a couple of teammates.

Kings outlast Wild in high scoring affair

(7)Wild vs Kings(10)

A thrilling, high-scoring affair between the Kings and the Wild came down to its final minutes, where the Kings ultimately  prevailed thanks to a pair of tallies by A.Amicone. This contest looked like the Kings had the potential of thumping their opponent after mounting an early 4-1 lead. But that was only part of the story as the Wild had other plans. Powered by C.Arnoldo’s back to back tallies along with a collective push back, this game turned into a back and forth barn burner with no indication of who was going to prevail. Both sides have no shortage of talent up front, and looked completely disinterested on trying to help out their goaltenders. It really came down to who would apply that last wave of pressure. The score was all evened up at seven goals apiece before A.Amicone seized the moment converting on two occasions in a very short span. Since time was now a factor, the Wild knew that there night was over. Depending on how both teams look at this end result, you almost have to wonder who was pleased with the overall game. Are you glad if you are the first place Kings that needed the final couple of minutes to defeat the bottom dwellers Wild ? In the perspective of the Wild, this loss felt like a victory knowing that they can challenge the front runners. As for the Kings, no matter how nice a 9-1 record is, nothing will come easy in the post season.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Angelo Amicone of the Kings. In what was a crazy finish to a wild and high scoring affair, A.Amicone was there to put the final seal by notching two consecutive goals that snapped a 7-7 tie.

Blackhawks cold heading into playoffs, Predators in opposite direction collecting third straight win

(2)Blackhawks vs Predators(11)

Its one thing to be cold heading into the post season, but the Blackhawks look like rock hard icicle sticks with no heat in sight heading into the playoffs. They have to be asking how does a team that started off with a 5-1 record lose four consecutive games by a landslide. Its so bad that every area of their game is talking a hit. The offense, defense, goaltending, trying to create offense, trying to defend properly. None of it is coming together, and the Blackhawks need to start figuring things out soon if they plan on sticking around . Tonight was another blunder filled with a comedy of errors. While its obvious that the Blackhawks are dealing with their issues, the Predators have to be pleased with their overall game. And why not when your controlling most of the contest that resulted into eleven goals for and only two conceded. Many chipped in offensively with F.Bchara leading the charge with five points. Somehow, M.Braun couldn’t get at least one to go in, but was able to set up four instead. After facing close to thirty shots, B.Verducci wasn’t overly busy allowing only two goals. Overall, it was a gratifying way to end the season if you’re the Predators, who strung three consecutive wins together.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ben Verducci of the Predators. Unless you beat him good, the net minder will deny you. The Blackhawks saw only two players figure out a solid dialled in B.Verducci.

The Sunday night Draft regular season came to an end. In a division of twelve teams, everyone will participate in the playoffs. The top four seeds will skip the first round and be placed automatically into the quarter finals. The first round match ups are as follows:

(5)Bruins vs Wild(12) Despite being in last place, do not count out the Wild. This team can surprise with some key components. Since the Bruins are coming off a hot streak, this opening series should be a close one even if the Wild have only one win to show for.

(6)Predators vs Red Wings(11) Both sides just came off landslide victories to cap off their season. When reaching this stage, it will be important to grabbing that good start to your game. Neither team has a significant advantage over one another sharing a similar goals for and goals against differential. Its playoff time and anything cane happen. The Red Wings will rely on some of their speedy players up front while the Predators have some goals scores that need to be contained.

(7)Blackhawks vs Canadiens(10) If the Blackhawks don’t shape up, they might as well not even show up for this one. The Canadiens have a coupe of players that can score on a regular basis and will look to exploit a fragile Blackhawks team. That being said, there is too much leadership for the Blackhawks to simply cave in. The game plan is simple, play tight in your own zone since it doesn’t involve much running, and patiently wait for your chances.

(8)Flyers vs Kraken(7) Too much pride on the line for these two teams. Both sides know each others tendencies very well and will need to exploit the weaknesses. Some strategy will be involved as the Flyers will look to put the right players together in order to keep the Krakens weapons in check. It will come down to how much influence T.Settino will have throughout the entire game for the Kraken.

Wednesday March 17

M.Lafleur 4 goals powers Senators over Hurricanes

(7)Senators vs Hurricanes(3)

Senators forward M.Lafleur produced a game winning performance against the Hurricanes on Wednesday night, turning a tied game into a comfortable 7-3 lead with four straight tallies. The tie was broken with M.lafleur using his patented release on a penalty shot. That was the beginning of the end for the Hurricanes, who simply got beaten by one player surrounded by a solid supporting cast. They never had the chance to adapt and prevent M.Lafleur-from shooting the ball. His power and precise shot got the better of the Hurricanes net minder on four occasions. While he was no question the catalyst behind the end result, the Senators did have M.Lauzon and F.Decoster produce also as the two players combined for seven points. The Hurricanes had a decent start to the game scoring three times in the first twenty minutes. It was-from that point on that the contest shifted in one direction with the Senators taking over on four unanswered goals. S.Sauk went through almost thirty minutes without conceding a tally to frustrate an attack that couldn’t figure him out anymore.

The Allo Mon  Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mathieu Lafleur of the Senators. With the game levelled at three goals apiece, the sniper went on a barrage bagging four unanswered goals.

Abysmal start sabotages Oilers comeback attempt

(4)Oilers vs Ducks(7)

The Oilers might have had a chance if not been for their painfully bad start to the game. They looked miserably flat footed-from the start allowing five consecutive goals in the first seventeen minutes alone. The Ducks were clearly ready and caught the Oilers off guard getting a pair of tallies by D.Galloro along with some balanced scoring. It almost appeared that the Ducks were going to blow out the Oilers in a very lopsided tilt. Instead, things started to settle down offensively as the two net minders took over the show keeping the score at bay. With only one goal to show for after 33 minutes, the Oilers started to catch some breaks in the latter stages scoring three times to at least keep the score very respectable. They would often create odd man rushes simply because they were in search of trying to score while the Ducks didn’t have the urgency of keeping their unit on the defensive side of the court. At one point, the Ducks felt they had to adjust their game better without the ball for how much pressure the Oilers were putting on. Once they stuck to that formula, it became a question of just riding out the clock. Sometimes teams get caught off trying to keep good habits going. D.Galloro had a monster game controlling much of the play-from the back end collecting a few points. E.Charbonneau provided a huge penalty shot goal for the Ducks while T.Sauk was sound in net to earn a well deserved win.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Danny Galloro of the Ducks. If you wanted a nice pass, a precise shot on net, a few dazzling moves along with the ability to read and break up plays, D.Galloro did all that for the Ducks, and was a big reason why they got a positive result.

Golden Knights roar in second portion to top Stars

(5)Stars vs Golden Knights(11)

It was a case where one team continued playing while the other found themselves a step behind. The first half didn’t really indicate where this contest was headed. The two sides traded about the same scoring chances and shots on net, and the score was slightly favouring the Golden Knights. Then, the wheels fell off for the Stars and the Golden Knights went on a complete take over scoring a ton of goals at will. No matter how much the Stars tried to defend well, the Golden Knights had to many weapons to their disposal which translated into a barrage of goals. Of coarse T.Settino had his hand in it, but it wasn’t only the skilled forward that made a mess up front. Other notables include players such as T.Nardelli and L.Bucci with both players collecting five points each while J.Pizzuco and S.Sicuso did a fine job in the back end combining for seven points. The Golden Knights happened to floor a very nice roster on Wednesday night with the replacement of some vital pieces. They had two strong lines that gelled right away. Even though the final score suggests two unbalanced teams, that couldn’t be further-from the case. The Stars were missing a key element in M.Braun which would have made a difference if he was there to play with B.Sorice. Since its only regular season, this wont mean much if you are the Stars.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Larry Bucci of the Golden Knights. Every so often, L.Bucci will put up the numbers. In tonight’s high scoring tilt, the forward was highly involved scoring once while setting up four teammates.

Sunday May 14

Bruins use strong start to edge out Wild

(7)Wild vs Bruins(9)

The Bruins jumped out to a 5-1 lead after only seventeen minutes into the game, and never looked back despite the Wild responding with a much better effort. The lead played out to be sufficient enough as at one point the two sides continued to trade goals leaving the Bruins in the drivers seat. Maybe, if they were able to slow down G.Charron just a little bit, the Bruins would have been smooth sailing the entire time. G.Charron scored four consecutive goals for the Wild to keep his side within a reasonable margin. It can be argued that the Bruins had a key element as well for why they maintained their lead throughout the entire game. In the short span of only 45 seconds, A.Zakaraian strung two goals to complete his hat trick, and provide a cushion for the Bruins that went on to edge out the Wild. As much as the Wild picked up their game after a sluggish start, the early deficit proved to be costly. M.Destounis, G.Charron and C.Arnoldo fuelled the offense in the loss as all three players shared four points each. The Bruins saw their offense come by committee expect for maybe A.Zakararian, who had a little more spice to his game collecting a hat trick.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Alex Zakarian of the Bruins. With the Wild starting to put on some serious pressure, A.Zakarian halted the momentum by posting back to back tallies in a very short span.

F.Mastrocola, A.Amicone lead the charge up front for the Kings

(6)Kraken vs Kings(8)

The Kings are known to be a strong team. They play hockey the right way, and are very difficult to stop. However, the Kraken could have maybe taken advantage of a side that saw half their regulars sitting out. That’s not to suggest that the replacements cant do the job as it was clearly the case in their 8-6 win over the Kraken. Chemistry always brings you a long way, and the Kraken couldn’t use their current roster in order to take down the division giants. Maybe some close attention to F.Mastrocola and A.Amicone could have helped the Krakens chances on defeating the Kings. The two players were again a significant reason why the Kings earned their eight win in only nine games. F.Mastrocola went on a rampage scoring three goals and three assists while A.Amicone was productive as well scoring twice as part of a four point night. Looking back at this result, the Kraken could have done much better if the focus was on trying to slow down the dynamic duo. Instead, they took the approach of opening up, and play a run and gun game which didn’t quite go their way.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Mastrocola of the Kings. What more can you say about a player that produces regularly game in and game out. In his clubs 8-6 win over the Kraken, the skilled forward was lights out again collecting six points that included a hat trick.

Red Wings school Blackhawks in thumping

(2)Blackhawks vs Red Wings(12)

It was hard to see this one coming when looking down the rosters of the both teams. Its not to suggest that the Red Wings couldn’t have defeated the Blackhawks, but to do it in this fashion, not may would have expected it. The Blackhawks have a ton of experienced players that have nice elements on how to defend and play well without the ball. Clearly, they looked lost at times, and appeared to be dragging their legs as a much quicker and more engaged team took it to them. The Red Wings won most of the loose ball battles which only adds up to a ton of scoring chances throughout an entire game. They had stretches where they were scoring every minute or two apart. There is no question that Blackhawks felt discouraged and disinterested on trying compete with a side that simply didn’t stop. The offense was rolling on all cylinders for the Red Wings with your usual suspects leading the charge up front. J.Musi had a monster night notching four goals sharing a five point performance along with M.St-Martin and Z.St-Martin. On there three infractions, the Blackhawks gave up penalty shot goals. The only positive part to their night occurred in less than a two minute span when E.Gabrielli and B.Freitas-Pereira scored for the Blackhawks. Other than that, it was just a night to forget.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Musi. The forward has a nose for the net, and when he gets that time and space, the defense and opposing net minders will often pay the price. Tonight, the sharp shooter tallied four times to merit the honour.

Predators use incredible late surge only to fall short on R.Lendum’s tally

(6)Predators vs Panthers(7)

If you wanted a tale of two hockey games, the match up between the Predators and Panthers provided it on Sunday night. For over half the game, the Panthers looked like they could do no wrong while the Predators appeared to be hanging on to dear life. The only reason why this contest didn’t spiral out of control was because P.Larouche was there to keeping it only 3-0 in favour of the Panthers. The net minder was stopping some nice scoring chances which clearly had an effect on his team in the second portion of the game. Eventually, the Predators started to compete much harder while generating some scoring chances after a dry offense finally came to life. Often enough, your forwards need the support of your defence, and the Predators had the right pieces in order for the transition to happen. M.DoCouto and D.Galloro were the masterminds controlling the back end which created much of the mess for the Panthers defense and goaltender to handle. At one point, the Predators had tied the game with only a minute remaining thanks to J.Tsatsakis hat trick.  It looked like the Predators had completely taken over the match by overcoming a bunch of deficits which left only the opportunity for them to take its first lead of the game. But hockey can be funny and often unpredictable at times. It took only ten seconds -from J.Tsatsakis’s  equaliser for R.Lendrum to put the Panthers back in front. Despite there being still 50 seconds to play out along with a relentless push, the Panthers were able to trap the lanes, block shots, and get the necessary saves by M.Freda in order to squeeze out the nail biter.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Rob Lendrum of the Panthers. The forward made his presence felt early on by getting the games first goal, and more importantly the games last one that ultimately decided what was a crazy finish.

Islanders put it together after slow start

(4)Flyers vs Islanders(7)

Maybe the Islanders started off a little bit slow to their liking, but they did have a good response by netting four unanswered goals. B.Monette had a major hand in it by striking twice  as did T.Kotsisris, who kept a clean sheet in net for a long stretch before M.Porato and M.Barone scored to narrow the gap by one. The Flyers had something brewing with more than enough time left over. In hopes of getting the next goal in order to level the playing field, the Islanders got their first instead courtesy of A.Passarelli’s second. The slight two goal lead was never compromised at that point with T.Kotsisris making sure to shut the door close. After setting up two teammates, M.Kardum capped off the game adding a late insurance marker. Its now three straight games in a row that the Islanders have won, and it couldn’t come at a better time with the post season just around the corner. As for the Flyers, the inconsistencies of playing one good game versus another just wont cut it if they plan on going far. That is where B.Panarello needs to take the bull by the horn and figure something out quick.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to T.Kotsiris of the Islanders. Never phased or rattled, the net minder remained calm and collective making sure his team played in front by the mid way point of the encounter.

Wednesday May 10

Oilers dig deep to end losing streak

(6)Oilers vs Senators(5) O.T

The Oilers must have thought they had the Senators right where they wanted. After all, they built a nice 5-2 lead just past the mid way point, and everything appeared to be going as according to plan. The thought of finally breaking their curse was going through everyone’s mind. Then, two quick goals in only a couple of minutes by C.Arnaldo proved to be a momentum killer. The Senators felt they had something going for them as the tides shifted in the second portion of the game. The problem for the Oilers was that they couldn’t identify the threat that C.Arnaldo posed all game long. The veteran had already collected his hat trick and wasn’t done yet tying the game late with his fourth of the contest. All of a sudden, the Oilers were stuck dealing with the thought of letting this great opportunity slip out of their hands. You never know what can happen in overtime. Often, it takes a break somewhere in order for something to give. Fortunately enough, M.Dibello seized the moment by striking first to end a streak that didn’t seem to want to go away. That was his second tally sharing the same output with J.Gravel, who had posted back to back goals early in the game. The Oilers don’t reflect what their record shows. They have something that many teams cant match which is their speed which often leads to ball possession. Also, they don’t have issues scoring. If they can tweak their defensive game, teams will have a very hard time beating them. Time will only tell as they hope the tides will turn in their favour.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Massimo Dibello of the Oilers. There is no question that M.DiBello provided his clubs biggest goal of the season so far. His overtime winner finally got them out of a slump as they can finally celebrate a well earned victory.

Golden Knights start fast, hang on late in win against Hurricanes

(8)Golden Knights vs Hurricanes(7)

The Golden Knights survived this one by a whisker, taking care of the Hurricanes 8-7 on Wednesday night. They found themselves up 8-4 before surviving three late goals that saw two of them go in with the extra attacker. V.Mancini notched his third to pull the Hurricanes within one leaving still a couple of minutes for an equaliser. When playing on your heels, you hope to win the one on one battles while relying on your goaltender to make the necessary stops. M.Mascitto remained calm and collective knowing that he could still make the difference since the Hurricanes kept applying pressure. But time wasn’t a luxury the Hurricanes had as the Golden Knights protected the house well enough in order to bleed out the clock. It was one of those nail biters that should have never gotten there when being up by a four goal margin. Since hockey has many twists and turns during most games, the Golden Knights will be happy with the end result despite appearing flat for a long duration. L.Bucci got credited the winner on a penalty shot, T.Nardelli bagged a hat trick, and T.Settino had an average night accumulating four points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Pizzuco of the Golden Knights. By carrying his veteran stick, J.Pizzuco is a silent but effective asset to his team. The quarter back keeps it simple making the right decisions which helps create a lot of outlet passes to the forwards.

Ducks looking flat in loss to Stars

(10)Stars vs Ducks(5)

It was one of those games where everything looked off for the Ducks. The offense struggled to string some passes together, and the defense didn’t have the support it takes-from everyone in order to keep the ball-from going in. It wasn’t like that in the beginning so much as compared to the later stages of the game. The Ducks hung in there keeping the game extremely close despite the Stars having the better control of the match. For the Stars, it was just about pushing the pace which would eventually pay off due to their ball control and higher end scoring chances. You started to see that as of the thirty minute mark where they slowly pulled away. B.Sorice riffled a pair followed with three different goal scores to finally distance themselves for good. Overall, the Stars did a great job on executing on their plays. By simply applying themselves harder, they were able to create more lanes and options for generating a lot more chances compared to the Ducks. J.Teresi would often offer an option as a defensemen coming deep into the play to help create odd man rushes. Many contributed offensively for the Stars which is something you want-from a well rounded team. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the Ducks, who will put this one behind them and adjust for the upcoming game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joey Teresi of the Stars. By breaking up plenty of plays in his own end, coupled with the way he was able to jump into the rush, the Ducks looked a step behind unable to keep up with his speed and ability to carry the play.

Monday May 8 (Final Division 1 )

Classics maintain status as Champions of 4vs4 first division

Never losing when hitting the big stage, the Classics have one of the deepest rosters constructed, and can easily be considered a dynasty in the Monday 4vs4 top division. How deep ? P.Karvourias scored four goals in game one, D.Koutavas took charge in game two bagging a hat trick, and of coarse C.Gingras the catalyst behind it all setting up a total of seven goals. Add to the fact that C.Ekonomakis was there to stop a very lethal offense limiting the Dragons to only three goals. It was to much for the Dragons to handle despite having a complete roster to do so. There is no question it was a disappointing end for a team that seemingly had put all the right pieces together. The Classics were able to get here because they are a true championship threat. Star power up front? Check. Solid supporting cast that supports the ball on both ends of the court? Check. Strong special teams most definitely when you have P.Karvourias and C.Gingras out performing their opponents power play. Yup. All of that is scary, and than you add C.Ekonomakis there to making the big saves, you have an unbelievable line up that will bring you all the way. There bag of tricks was seemingly bottomless. They’ll find ways to beat teams in a variety of ways. They could out-skill and out score you. They could out-grind and out-defend you. They could out-goalie you. There were times when teams managed to play the exact game they wanted, and it didn’t even matter because the Classics had the tools to do it better. When it comes to dynasties, the Classics are working on a convincing case. While all the DNA make up is impressive for what they have shown, none of it matters if you don’t have a leader to put it all together. Pat Santullo is the head of operations for putting an incredible group of players together, and deserves full marks for what the Classics have achieved until now. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Pat Santullo and the Classics for defending their title as champs of the Monday 4vs4 first division.

(5)Classics vs Dragons(2) Game 1

(5)Classics vs Dragons(1) Game 2

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carl Gingras of the Classics. No matter how many hockey experts you get to write out a game plan on trying to slow down Cingras, you might as well rip the paper apart and throw it in the garbage. Nothing works against a guy that decides to turn up his game and deliver when the time is right. In the most important night of the season, C.Gingras created seven goals because of his skill and vision put together.

Monday May 8 ( Final Division 2 )

M.Argiris plays overtime hero as the RCGT Knights defeat ETNA to claim 4vs4 second division title

The series between the RCGT Knights and ETNA took a while to get going, with both teams feeling each other out. The first game was very low scoring with the RCGT Knights carrying a slight 1-0 lead courtesy of J.Morina. Eventually, ETNA got there break later in the last frame when J.Cardinal finally got to S.Sauk while pulling the rug right under the RCGT Knights feet moments later on a huge go ahead marker by M.Calabrice. From-a team that looked down and out, now find themselves ahead in a best of three series due to a late surge. While getting that first one under you belt is always a sigh of relief, you still need to capture that second win. ETNA knew that it would take a lot since the RCGT Knights are a deep and experienced hockey team. Just by the way game 2 went, both sides had to figure it would take every inch of the court to get the right result. The RCGT Knights were positioned better on two occasions when D.Guarnieri broke a couple of ties. Unable to close it out, the RCGT Knights kept getting answered which left their fate to their net minder S.Sauk and their selected players in the shootout to get it done. Normally the net minders prevail in this department, but that wasn’t the case at all with both sides scoring a five out of a possible six goals. Luckily for the RCGT Knights, S.Sauk made that one save to preserve the season and give his side a chance to  take it in a do or die game 3.It now came down to a 12 minute period and potentially more for the two sides. This is a stage where the benches get shorter and the adrenaline kicks in even harder. Both teams looked like they were in survival mode for how intense it got. Every single loose ball involved a hard fought battle since ball possession is vital knowing that the next shot on net could end it. P.Delli Colli of ETNA along with S.Sauk of the RCGT Knights were beyond brilliant. They were so good that is was going to be an injustice for whoever would loose the game. Unfortunately , no matter how well you play as a team, it will always come down to that one single play. ETNA thought they had it if not for S.Sauk making a series saving stop, and F.Dominanni cutting a pass that was surely going to the back of the net as a wide open ETNA player was there to feed an empty cage. Instead, the break went the other way, and ETNA were the ones on the short end. Unable to contain a sprawling M.Argiris, the skilled forward was able to cut threw the crease and bury his back hand right under Delli Colli. It was the end of a series that really had the hype for an entertaining finish. Tonight, the RCGT Knights had the stars aligned and deserved what they got. On behalf of Hockey balle.com, congratulations go out to Scott Sauk, and the RCGT Knights for winning a thrilling series.

(1)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(3) Game 1

(6)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(5) S.O Game 2

(2)RCGT Knights vs ETNA(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Johnny Morina of the RCGT Knights. When combining the ton of minutes he played coupled with the fact that J.Morina had his hand in very single goal including the shootouts, the quarterback undoubtedly deserves high marks for what an incredible asset he was for his team.

Sunday May 7

Islanders rally past Canadiens in seesaw, high-scoring affair

(8)Canadiens vs Islanders(11)

It was a terrific game, with lots of ebb and flow and plenty of feeling. At first, the Islanders thought that it was going to come easy jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Then, it was the Canadiens turn to take over with the games next five goals powered by F.Tessier’s two tallies and an assist. You have to think that a response as such will bring you a long way if you’re the Canadiens. Instead, the reverse happened again, and this time the Islanders stormed back on an enormous push with the games next seven of nine goals. Many chipped in with T.Passarelli showing his scoring touch once more by netting a hat trick. C.White was feeling it as well notching a pair, and M.Kardum couldn’t be held back accumulating six points. There was no doubt it was a fun game to watch, and perhaps for the Islanders since they got it done. However, the Canadiens may not feel much of the enthusiasm as they let go of what appeared like a commanding lead after bouncing back-from a slow start.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Vitoratos of the Islanders. Highly involved-from the drop of the ball, F.Vitoratos was the engine that sparked the Islanders offense scoring once while setting up four teammates.

F.Mastrocola and C.Decotis combine for 12 points in rout of Blackhawks

(2)Blackhawks vs Kings(10)

Its not like the Blackhawks don’t have the right type of players on how to try and defend properly. Sometimes you are stuck having to go through a difficult time when nothing appears to going right. But even at that, you just cant give up goals at that kind of a rate. The Kings seemed to be scoring at will on nearly every chance they generated which can only discourage an entire team which was the case for the Blackhawks. All ten of the Kings goals were scored in the span of twenty four minutes. A.Zardarian was the one stuck feeling it more as the defenceless net minder had no control on how his unit in front of him was able to adjust. When it rain it pours, and the Kings struck with plenty of lightning and thunder during that stretch. While many contributed, F.Mastrocola and C.Decotis had identical high numbers by the time it was said and done as both players notched hat tricks while collecting three assists each. Perhaps the only bright moment for the Blackhawks occurred early when Ari Daghlian got the games first goal.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Scott Sauk of the Kings. S.Sauk may tell you himself that he wasn’t overly busy, but that doesn’t deny the fact that the netminder was occupied enough allowing only two goals in nearly an hour.

K.Labelle shines in crazy finish for the Bruins

(7)Panthers vs Bruins(9)

Sometimes it just takes a really good start in order to accomplish your goals. Since winning is the ultimate prize at the end of the tunnel, the Bruins did a fantastic job to catch the Panthers off guard, and build a nice 4-0 lead. All four goals came-from a balanced attack needing no one to be a real hero. You would have to figure such a lead would bring you a long way. It seems often enough that nothing is secured no matter what the circumstances are. Hockey can be cruel at times when things don’t go your way. The Bruins saw everything they had worked for disappear in about a ten minute span. Out of nowhere, the Panthers decided to wake up, and take over rattling off five unanswered goals to take its first lead of the game. M.Paciencia started it off by netting back to back tallies before setting up G.Missakian. R.Marshall would be the one who broke the 4-4 tie for the Panthers, who looked like they could do no wrong. This contest was now far-from being decided as an exiting finish to the night was left to unfold. The Bruins did catch the next breaks to regain the lead, but that barely lasted as the Panthers fought back twice to level with only two minutes remaining. Then, a late penalty by the Panthers set up a golden moment for K.Labelle to shine. And to his credit, Labelle delivered by snapping a very late tie enabling his side to defeat a very good Panthers team.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Kevin Labelle of the Bruins. Not only did Labelle come through in the clutch, the forward had a productive game collecting four points.

Kraken couldn’t hang long enough as the Sabres pull way

(5)Kraken vs Sabres(11)

The Kraken were holding their own for a while keeping it close, but at the end of the day, they couldn’t  insulate M.Rodriguez long enough as the net minder was stuck bearing the burden of shots he faced. You just cant play a style to trade chances with the Sabres unless you have the offense to match them. That was exposed in this game with C.Zafiropoulos, A.Zafiropoulos, T.Angelis and M.Chenier causing fits for the Krakens defense and goaltender. C.Zafiropoulos stationed himself at the right place near the net where he has only to tap in shots that come-from nice crisp passes. You almost have to stay next to him the entire time if you want him off the score sheet. The problem with trying to neutralise one player, you end up leaving other quality guys open which is the case for the Sabres. It would take a collective effort to keep up with them in order to beat them. Tonight, the Kraken couldn’t match them one on one which started to show as the game went on .A.Zafiropoulos racked up five points, A.Angelis had four points, J.Martuccio, M.Chenier along with P.Desforgers all had three points each in the win. As for the Kraken, B.DeIeso and M.Estrela did their part combining for six points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Costa Zafiropoulos of the Sabres. His three timely goals early on set the path to victory for the Sabres as the veteran had another big night collecting seven points that included five goals.

Flyers use late push only to fall short to the Predators

(9)Predators vs Flyers(7)

The Flyers did their best to mount a comeback, trailing 8-3 at one point. But a four goal response would be all the Flyers could muster to try and close the gap as they barely fell to the Predators on Sunday night. Its not like the Flyers will have issues scoring goals this season. The challenge for them is trying to prevent them-from going in. In order for that to happen, everyone needs to buy into playing better without the ball. The Predators exposed the Flyers early on doing most of their damage offensively. S.Marricco, although a temporary addition was perhaps the main reason why his side closed out their chances. The power forward had a field day striking four times due to his front of the net presence. Not even a solid core of defensive guys such as E.Allen, C.Doulis and the infamous B.Panarello were able to contain the goal scorer. After enduring a brunt of the damage, the Flyers weren’t planning on going down that easy. As a matter of fact, they made things extremely interesting in the latter stages of the match. Luckily enough for the Predators, time was on there side as they rode it out just before the Flyers got there.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Sandro Marricco of the Predators. Even if you try and contain him, the power forward will find a way to bury his chances. The Predators took this one with the huge help of his four tallies.

Wednesday May 3

Offensive flood gates open for Stars as Oilers unable to stop the bleeding

(4)Oilers vs Stars(13)

It took some time, but the Stars were in full force handing the Oilers quite a loss. Goals came throughout the entire line up, and the Oilers at one point just couldn’t find the formula on how to keep their opponent in check. B.Sorice is a mastermind up front as the clever and slick forward will make everyone around him a better player while he has the ability to bury his own chances . After stringing two quick goals for a 5-2 lead, B.Sorice  decided to take the approach of finding open teammates that led to a fair amount of chances. J.Teresi complemented the offense just as well sparking a hat trick. While the focus was all on the Stars scoring an abundance of goals, they still occupied the other side of the court with cautious. The Oilers were able to put only four behind H.Gebrayel, who was cool and collective earning a nice win in net. M.DiBello was able to figure her out twice while Zachary and J.Gravel notched the other tallies.  

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Bruno Sorice of the Stars. He makes it look so easy at times that players have a hard time figuring him out. As long as he has a second or two with the ball, B.Sorice will often have a productive night like in this case accumulating five points.

Golden Knights ignite right away in rout of Senators

(12)Golden Knights vs Senators(6)

The Golden Knights had the better start, and even a better finish as they had no issues defeating the Senators on Wednesday night. It looked as though the Senators had found their groove notching three consecutive goals to reduce the gap by two. The score was 6-4 in favour of the Golden Knights by the twenty minute mark of game. It showed that both sides had absolutely no interest on trying to defend leaving their goaltenders out to dry. Unable to make anymore ground, the Senators dug themselves in a much deeper hole with no hope of being rescued. Too many defensive blunders and lapses turned into goals for the Golden Knights. M.Barone and T.Settino were expected to get on the score sheet rather easily as both players shared hat tricks. T.Nardelli chipped in with a pair while setting up four markers. As for the Senators, C.Arnaldo was the most productive collecting three points that included two goals.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mickey Barone of the Golden Knights. From-the get go, M..Barone made plenty happen out there, setting up his clubs first two goals while adding three tallies to complete a hat trick.

Ducks fall flat after mounting a nice comeback

(6)Ducks vs Hurricanes(10)

The Ducks knew they had to be patient and not force the issue to much. Unfortunately, they couldn’t apply the simple game early enough as the Hurricanes came in storming on five goals in the first thirteen minutes alone. The only bright spot for such a disastrous beginning for the Ducks was that they had plenty of time to reset and put forth a much better effort. And to their credit, they did just that riding the games next four goals to eventually tie the game. During that stretch, B.Panarello was the catalyst setting up three of the four goals while able to add one later in the contest. Its one thing to battle back -from a deep hole, and its another to try and push the pace in search for a positive outcome. It looked as though the Ducks spent all their energy on just tying the game since they fell behind almost immediately. The Hurricanes took the life out of them on a quick three goals response. All that work of battling back put the Ducks back to square one. No matter how hard they tried to restore some momentum, it just wasn’t happening against a side committed to not repeating the same mistake. N.Macri was able to work his way through to the front of the net a few times where he buried three for a hat trick. A.Farina converted twice, and B.Verducci was significant for the win as the net minder made some nice key stops when the Hurricanes had regained their lead.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Nick Macri of the Hurricanes. When you go to the net, you’ll often get rewarded. N.Macri used his size and strength to over power the defense striking three times to collect another hat trick.

Monday May 1 (Semi finals Division 2)

P.Delli Colli’s shutout propels ETNA to game 3 victory over Brodie Boys

Unable to close out game one after leading 2-1 with half a frame remaining, the Brodie boys were stuck enduring a heart felt loss. The lagging offense of ETNA erupted late in the final stanza on three quick goals followed with the sealer when J.Tutino fed the empty cage. M.Stoico, J.Cardinal and A.Pitarelli scored within a short two and a half minute span to flip the contest, and cap off an important win to their night. You always hope to close things out when the opportunity presents itself. Sticking with fundamentals goes without saying when playing at this stage. ETNA played with fire instead heading into game two by taking too many penalties and the Brodie Boys made sure they got burned. H.Angelov took advantage by striking with the man up, and the Brodie Boys were extra cautious riding their slight lead. You almost want to search for that next goal rather than playing on your heels in a wide open four versus four format. Eventually, they got their first thanks to M.Gibson, who was able to widen the gap with half a period remaining. A.Mancini, although wasn’t overly busy, stopped the few shots he faced to earn the shutout. As it was perhaps expected, this series was going to be decided in a third and deciding game. The importance of getting that first goal usually tends to go a long way. It took barely a minute into the contest for J.Pimentel to get ETNA on board after a very long scoring drought. That kind of a start came a long way as ETNA were now the ones in control of the situation. Since time wasn’t yet an issue, the odds were good that somebody was going to score. It really became a question of who. Unfortunately for the Brodie Boys, an extra visit to the penalty box enabled J.Alfieri to capitalise, and put a serious strangle hold on the series. By that point, time started to be a concern that the Brodie Boys had no control over unless they sparked some sort of miracle comeback. It was P.Delli Colli’s turn to answer on a huge shutout win after both net minders did an incredible job keeping their clubs in it the entire time.

(5)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(2) Game 1

(0)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(2) Game 2

(3)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(0) Game 3

RCGT Knights overcome game one loss as they bounce back to knock out the Diabetoz Angels

Instead of coming out with more desperation after taking a shootout win, the Diabetoz Angels were listless and never got going the rest of the way. The RCGT Knights set the tone early in game two winning the opening frame rather handily. They led 3-1 after one before adding goals by M.Argiris and A.Provost to secure what appeared to be an easy game two. Every game has its own personality, and despite dropping the second encounter, it was up to the Daibetoz Angels to find answers and respond in a more engaged fashion if they planned on upsetting the RCGT Knights. Maybe they would have taken this deal of being split heading into a fifteen minute or more mini game. If that was the case, than they got what they wanted. The problem was that they couldn’t get anything going as their offense kept running dry. Even though its easier said than done, the first goal could have gone a very long way knowing that they have the right line of defense protecting the house. A.Ekonomakis has shown all season long that he can withstand playing with a slight lead if his players continued to buy into a committed defensive game. But in order to deliver in that situation, you need to score first. Instead, J.Prevost got their quickly for the RCGT Knights, and the Diabetoz Angels were now stuck again trying to play-from behind. It becomes extremely difficult having to bounce back against a team that knows how to manage these moments in a playoff series. The RCGT Knights are confident, experienced and know exactly how to play under pressure when the games reach this stage of the playoffs. Once A.Provost scored to double the lead, the writing was on the wall for the Diabetoz season despite three minutes left to go. J.Prevost would eventually use a late power play goal to cap off the series which at the same time saw S.Sauk record a big shutout.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(4) S.O Game 1

(5)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(1) Game 2

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(0) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Paolo Delli Colli of ETNA. Your chances of winning are good if you limit the Brodie Boys to only four goals in three games. In order for that to happen, your goaltender has to be in the zone. After a battle tested series that could have gone either way, P.Delli Colli was lights out enabling ETNA to take care of business and move onto the big dance.

The second division is now down to its final two teams. It isn’t a total surprise that these two clubs found their way here with the load of depth, experience and talent pool. The final will feature two teams playing hockey the right way. There wont be much room out there which will be expected as the two sides will have to compete hard by winning plenty of one on one battles. Quick and smart line changes, discipline, big key saves and some creative offense is a bare minimum required for whoever will win in the end.  Both sides wont have a choice but to dress all their players as endurance and the will to battle will be key on who will prevail. This series has no clear cut favourite which may just come down to who will get the lucky breaks and or bounces.

Semi final division 1

Dragons trounce Assadi Consulting inc to punch ticket in final

The Assadi Consulting inc didn’t get the starts they hoped for in order to compete with a fully loaded Dragons team. The two losses mirrored each other with the Dragons storming out of the gate grabbing some early leads. Barley five minutes had gone by in the opener, and the Dragons mounted a comfortable 3-0 cushion. Despite a late tally in the first period by J.Courteau, the Assadi Consulting inc were stuck wondering on how to adjust in the ensuing match if they planned to challenge the Dragons. And for a second straight game, it just wasn’t meant to be. This time, A.Mirolla caught the defense off guard bagging two quick goals to send an immediate message that they were the ones headed to the final. S.Mirolla then made the score 3-0 to cap off a solid first period. Not to be out done just yet, T.Bozinakis gave some life by finally getting his side on board. Although the game was still within striking distance, the Assadi Consulting inc were eventually forced to pull out their net minder for the extra attacker. But nothing came of it. Instead, B.Daniele launched a pair of balls to feed an empty cage and solidify a fairly easy semi final win. This series could have been closer than what it was if not for a pair of poor starts. Giving up some early goals only makes it that much harder to battle back against a solid hockey team. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the right time to  have an average performance  with enough talented players throughout your line up. Credit to the Dragons however for showing up on time and delivering a strong message that they mean business this season.

(4)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(1) Game 1

(6)Dragons vs Assadi Consulting inc(1) Game 2

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Guillaume Vermette of the Dragons. The Assadi Consulting inc score way more than what they showed for tonight. And since the Dragons have a solid defensive core, it only made sense that a quality goaltender like Vermette allowed only two goals in four entire periods.

With the Dragons advancing to the final, they’ll be taking on a very familiar Classics team. Kick back, heat the pop corn and put your feet up and enjoy as this series will definitively entertain. There is no clear cut favourite despite the Classics winning the division while holding the title of recent champs. Perhaps the one key element that will make the difference between winning and losing is limiting your mistakes, and that involves avoid taking penalties. Both sides wont have issues in net, defensively and definitely on the attack.  A series so anticipated that TSN 3 is considering airing.

Sunday April 30

Red Wings come close in loss to well balanced Kings team

(6)Kings vs Red Wings(5)

Some good pushes early and through a large part of the game couldn’t salvage the right result for the Red Wings. The Red Wings started off petty good and remained neck and neck with a structured opponent until some late breakdowns saw the Kings take advantage late on goals by F.Mastrocola and S.Fabrici. That’s what happens when a good team as enough time and space with the ball , they end up making you pay. The one key area that the Kings owned over the Red Wings was their ability to shoot the ball coming-from many different directions. Many goals stemmed-from shots that either went in through a screen or for somebody to pounce on a loose rebound and bury their chance. Despite some of the differences, the Red Wings did fairly well surrounded by a group of players that don’t nearly match the number years of experience compared to the Kings. Losing by only one goal often comes down to a single play. Tonight, the Kings stuck with it and eventually got rewarded.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Sandro Fabrici of the Kings. Sound defensively while using his rocket launcher slap shot, the d-man blasted a pair as part of a three point night.

Bruins use four minute stretch to distance themselves-from Predators

(7)Predators vs Bruins(10)

It was a wild one for sure between the Predators and the Bruins on Sunday night. The two sides played some fire wagon hockey early on with R.Marshall jump starting the engine for the Bruins riding three straight goals.  When games remain close, you look for your players to step up and make the difference. The Bruins got that-from their group just past the mid way point rattling off four goals in only six minutes. N.Macri scored during that stretch followed with back to back goals by J.Wong and another insurance marker-from T.Scarpelli. Sometimes those sequences happen when your not focused enough on matching your opponent The Predators felt they worked hard enough in a spirited game where they were able to hang with the Bruins on a large part. Unfortunately,  some missed assignments had them falling behind unable to recover by the time the game was done. There was no question the addition of R.Marshall helped the Bruins get the job done. His speed proved to be a handful as the skilled player accumulated five points. P.Labateya collected a pair, and N.Macri helped set up three goals for the win while S.Fraga and S.Boulerice did more than enough in the loss combining for seven points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ryan Marshall of the Bruins. His three goals in the first twenty minutes alone came a long way for the Bruins who were able to outlast the Predators after a wild high scoring tilt.

Strong start not good enough for Wild as Sabres take over with authority

(6)Wild vs Sabres(9)

It has to be very disappointing if you are the Wild. This isn’t the first time they appear to be ready riding a good start only to keep falling apart as the games go on. You always want the advantage of playing with the lead rather than chasing the game. The Wild had everything going well for them scoring five times in the first portion of the match before disappearing into the sunset nowhere to be seen. Yes, credit should be given to the Sabres for believing in themselves that they can overcome almost any hurdle. That being said, the Wild looked like they didn’t compete hard enough while looking like they spent all their energy early on. Once they fell apart, the Sabres took over on six straight goals.  This wasn’t a case of relying on your high end guys to get the offense going. The Sabres spread the wealth as many contributed with P.Desforges being a little more productive in comparison to his teammates on four points. Two out of the nine goals came on penalty shots by Desforges and M.Chenier. If the Wild expect to be more competitive moving forward, P.Santullo may consider bringing some Wheaties or spinach before the game so that the players can keep up long enough.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Patrick Desforges of the Sabres. After scoring a nice penalty shot early on, P.Desforges had a decent outing setting up three different teammates to help lead his side past the Wild.

Panthers battle back-from three goal deficit, but lose unable to contain F.Decoster

(4)Panthers vs Canadiens(7)

Its shows great character anytime a team finds the will to battle back-from a 3-0 deficit. The Panthers did that right after the Canadiens stormed out of the gate in the first five minutes alone bagging three quick markers. F.Decoster had two of those goals, and the Canadiens were looking like they may have had an easy night. Not to be outdone however, the Panthers weren’t going to go down without a push back. And to their credit, they stormed back to level with the help of three different goal scorers. While its nice to overcome such a hurdle, a team needs to do more than that in order to reach the finish line first. The problem in this particular game was that the Panthers couldn’t identify and address the direct threat that ultimately made the different in the end result. As good as F.Decoster is as a player, you cannot afford to let someone with a heavy shot get his way too many times. Four of the seven goals came by the sharp shooter which made things incredibly difficult for M.Freda between the pipes.  The Canadiens took advantage of perhaps the turning point in the game when C.Khoury snapped the 3-3 tie on a penalty shot goal. That was his first of two of the night, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frederic Decoster of the Canadiens. His wicked shot will often find its way through when he has enough time to release it. Since the Panthers couldn’t get to him in time, the sniper put four behind their net minder and was a big reason why his side defeated the Panthers on Sunday night.

Islanders pull away with the help of a pair of penalty shot attempts

(3)Blackhawks vs Islanders(7)

The Blackhawks couldn’t keep up long enough despite battling back on two quick tallies by Ari Daghlian and Aren Daghlian. Even though the Islanders responded shorty after to regain the lead, the Islanders didn’t do themselves any favours by taking a pair of penalties. With infractions comes the chance for a team to score on a penalty shot. The Islanders had two opportunities, and were able to convert thanks to N.Tsirmbas and F.Vitoratos seizing the moment. This time the Islanders were able to protect their lead with about ten minutes to play. T.Passarelli had already scored earlier while setting up a goal before closing out the night with his second. After starting off slow without a win in four games, the Islanders look like they have turned the corner capturing their third victory in the last four encounters. As for the Blackhawks, tonight was only their second loss in seven games.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tristan Passarelli of the Islanders. Looking like a natural out there, the young talent continues to impress bagging two big goals and an assist.

Thursday April 27 (Final)

Armadillos rout Brew Crew in game 1

(9)Armadillos vs Brew Crew(1) Game 1

If game one is any indication of where this series is headed, than the Brew Crew might as well just pack it in. S.Simitsakos had a hat trick, P.Lapointe cashed in twice, and F.Moshonas couldn’t have asked for a calmer night in net allowing only one goal on twenty shots. The Brew Crew never had a chance. They thought they started off well getting the games first goal, but that was just an illusion as the Armadillos smoked them out of the water the rest of the way. C.Muccino was stuck enduring a difficult time in net as he saw nothing in front of him working. Probably by the five minute mark into the second period did the Brew Crew start to carry the thought on how to adjust in game two. The Armadillos ran up the score making it 6-0 by then, and were no way going to falter such a massive lead. Without out much going for nearly half the game, the Brew Crew had to figure things out in a hurry if they planned on sticking around long enough.

Brew Crew flip the script to even series with Armadillos

(4)Brew Crew vs Armadillos(0) Game 2

On the heels of a disastrous opener, the Brew Crew knew that they had to change something in order to compete with the Armadillos. And what was impressive about it all, was that the Brew Crew bought into a game plan that proved to go a long way. There was no question that they wanted have a good response. What perhaps helped their cause was that the Armadillos started to get frustrated and paid too many trips to the penalty box. The Brew Crew not only scored twice with the man advantage, but had the luxury of playing enough minutes with a man up. Its pretty amazing how-from one game you give up nine goals while in the following encounter you shut the door completely allowing nothing to get by you. That’s attributed to a strong belief that your able to put a bad performance behind you and feel confident in your ability to bounce back. Also, add the fact that the Brew Crew are sound defensively when they need to be backed with the help of their last line of defense C.Muccino. Somehow, the net minder registered zero goals against him versus a team that generally has no issues scoring. All in all, the Brew Crew had the right mentality heading into this encounter knowing that they can control on what’s ahead rather than dwelling on the past. Now that this series is all tied up, the two sides had one more step ahead in what is expected to be a grinding end to the night.

Stunning final moments has the Brew Crew pull off an incredible finish as they claim the E Thursday division championship

(2)Brew Crew vs Armadillos(1) O.T Game 3

In one of the craziest endings you’ll ever see, the Brew Crew trailing 1-0 late in the game scored seconds later to even the score before notching the overtime winner only fifteen seconds into the sudden death frame. It took the combination of C.Moutafis and B.Sansotta to send the shock waves into their entire bench as the two complemented each other on both goals. B.Sansotta was able to even the score, and eventually win it in overtime thanks to C.Moutafis feeding him twice. Talk about a fairly tale ending if you are the Brew Crew. From-seeing your season nearly coming to a close, and to it suddenly turning into championship material is quite surreal. Its obviously shocking for the Armadillos who felt they had it all under control when J.Chiropoulos got them on board first with just over three minutes remaining. Even if killing off three minutes seems likely in most cases, all it takes is one big moment during that stretch to turn things around. The Brew Crew to their credit never kept their heads down and made sure to push the pace in search on an equaliser. Surely, they got their almost immediately to give themselves a chance knowing that the next goal would decide the two teams fate. Any time you enter a situation where the next shot on net can decide your season, you want to make sure to  throw as many balls toward the net when you get that chance. In tonight’s case, the Brew Crew got their first on a quick break which is all it takes when the stakes are this high. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Chris Palermo and the rest of the Brew Crew for taking this one home.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Bruno Sansotta of the Brew Crew. In the Brew Crew’s most important moments of the entire season ,B.Sansotta not only evened the score late to keeping his team alive, but managed to bury the winner early into the overtime period to help claim the E Thursday division title.

Wednesday April 26

Late rally not enough as Golden Knights fall to Ducks

(5)Ducks vs Golden Knights(4)

A late push wasn’t enough to erase a slow start for the Golden Knights on Wednesday night. M.Estrela and Eddy used two late goals, but the Ducks, backed by some outstanding goaltending by G.Kanaras, hung for a close 5-4 win. The Ducks did all of their damage in the first twenty five minutes. F.Bchara and P.Carone did much of the scoring sharing two goals each while E.Charbonneau got the other tally. Looking like they were in fine control of the situation, the ending wasn’t quite what they had hoped for despite getting the result. It looked as though the Golden Knights decided that it was there turn to take over on a relentless push. The charge was led by M.Estrela as the sneaky forward used back to back tallies as part of a three point effort. If not for some key sensational saves, the Golden Knights may have come back to steal this one. Instead, the Ducks hung back, and played out the clock to their advantage.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to George Kanaras of the Ducks. The net minder was firm, sharp an ready to make a difference. After facing a ton of quality chances, the Ducks captured the win thanks to his brilliant performance.

Stars ignite late on character win over Senators

(7)Stars vs Senators(5)

Sometimes you get games where a team is a little bit down and out or not getting the breaks, then all of a sudden, you get one and things start to turn around. That was the case for the Stars as a slow start flipped into a solid finish where they rattled off six of their seven goals in the last twenty minutes. Prior to that point, the Senators took command striking early on three goals by R.Kilgour, A.Rossi and M.Lafleur. It took  the twenty one minute mark before B.Sorice finally got to S.Sauk. Still, the Senators weren’t overly concerned as they stuck with it carrying their two goal lead. And even though S.Chayer narrowed the gap within one, S.Ouellette was able to respond to restore a two goal cushion. It seemed that things started to shift at about the thirty seven minute mark where the Stars lit up riffling the games next four of five goals that eventually put them in front courtesy of N.Boctor-Awad penalty shot goal. Once they went in front, the Stars were able to close things out getting a big insurance marker by M.Braun. This result came as a charter win for the Stars. It involved a come-from behind effort on the backs of seven different players finding the back of the net.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to N.Boctor-Awad of the Stars. Highly influential in the win, N.Boctor-Awad set up three teammates while converting on a late penalty shot that held up for the winner.

Ducks pull away after some early back and forth action with the Oilers

(9)Ducks vs Oilers(5)

Even though the Ducks hung in there early on by trading goals with the Oilers, it seemed as though time would have caught up to a team that played earlier having to go up against a quicker and fresher side. If the Oilers could have pulled in front on getting at least a two goal lead while playing a sound man on man game, they could have gotten there. Unfortunately for the Oilers, it took on strong sequence for the Ducks to benefit on some chances and pull away toward the latter stages of the match. The Ducks knew that they just had to play cautiously without the ball by that point since the Oilers were putting the pressure to try and comeback. Since defending doesn’t involve too much running, the Ducks were more than ok sticking to that game plan. Just for good measure, T.Scarpelli cashed in twice for some insurance ,and G.Kanaras was able to record his second win of the night after some solid goaltending.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Steve Vanpoucke of the Ducks. The mobile d-man backed the offense using three big shots that had eyes finding its way behind the net.

Monday April 24 (Quarter finals)

ETNA able to look ahead after knocking out the Degenerates

ETNA was able to claim their revenge handing the Degenerates two straight losses to advance into the semi final round. R.Ranieri was tested early as ETNA came out flying, tapping into the energy of their bench when J.Alfieri scored an early power play goal. It took only five minutes in for ETNA to jump in front 3-0 which proved to be more than enough to grab the series lead. As the game started to wind down, the Degenerates had only the thought of how to respond and force a third and deciding game.  A better start was a bare minimum required if they planned on extending the series. The Degenerates came out with more purpose, and took advantage of a power play opportunity thanks to O.Valiquette. Despite getting on board first, it was ETNA that carried a slight 3-2 lead after one. That didn’t stop the Degenerates-from pushing the pace in desperate search for an equaliser. Already with a tally , M.Pinheiro struck for a second time to draw even. Now that everything was as all tied up, the pressure started to mount more and more as time was ticking down. ETNA did have the luxury of dropping the contest, but wanted nothing more than to enable the Degenerates to fight another day. In the end, it came down to the three man shootout. With C.Stamadianos keeping the Degenerates alive on a goal that had to go in, J.Cardinal had to be denied for the shootout to continue. Instead, the forward was able to barely sneak the ball behind R.Ranieri to solidify the breakaway competition and enable ETNA to move on to the next round.

(6)ETNA vs Degenerates (2) Game 1

(5)ETNA vs Degenerates(4) S.O Game 2

A.Ekonomakis steals the show through first playoff round

There is an old adage in the game of hockey that all you need for success is a hot goalie. Though it typically takes a bit more than that to ultimately find success, a hot goaltender is an absolute necessity. The Snipers didn’t have that issue in the first game as they took it by scoring four times on A.Ekonomakis with the help of J.Hassan’s three assists and Hadi Khanafer’s pair of tallies. The issue only started to be apparent in the second meeting between the these two clubs. Granted, the game did remain tied 1-1 heading into the final stretch which still gave a great opportunity for the Snipers to close out the series. While things seemingly appeared to be headed for a shootout, M.D’Alessio avoided the breakaway competition by netting a huge game breaking tally with only thirty seconds remaining. That was his second of the contest, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. By this stage into the series, the Diabetoz Angels net minder was getting into the Snipers head. The Snipers felt they had it if not for the brilliant performance set out by Ekonomakis. Still, the night wasn’t done yet, and the Snipers had another shot at getting it right. The  key element was to try and get that first goal. In this type of series, the first tally would have paid huge dividends for either side. The Snipers would have played it to their advantage by controlling the game while the Diabetoz Angels would have relied on their key guy to make the big saves. After only a minute and change into the contest, T.Carperos of the Diabetoz Angels got their first, and the Snipers were now the ones in some trouble despite the amount of time left over. No matter how many tries and attempts they had, A.Ekonomakis wasn’t budging stopping everything in sight en route to a spectacular night.

(4)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(2) Game 1

(1)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(3) Game 2

(0)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(1) Game 3

M.Argiris rescues RCGT Knights after S.Sauk makes series deciding save

Despite what the rankings looked like with the RCGT Knights winning the division and the Country Club occupying the last eight place seed, this series featured some entertaining hockey that needed every inch of the court before it was said and done. Although the RCGT Knights positioned themselves for the sweep after taking the opening game 3-2, the Country Club had other plans, and that was to stick around a little longer. C.Gosselin was to thank for forcing a game number three as the forward was in a league of his own scoring three times while providing the winner in a shootout. There is no better ending for a team to find a way by winning a do or die match up. By this point, it was anyone’s game depending on who would make the crucial play. The RCGT Knights did carry the advantage when D.Guarnieri opened the scoring, but that was eventually answered by the very same C.Gosselin minutes later leaving about two and a half minutes in regulation time. Even it its not officially overtime, the two sides understood that the next tally would have decided their fate. The Country Club had perhaps the most remarkable chance to pull ahead late in the game only to be denied by S.Sauk. In the ensuing play after that incredible save, M.Argiris made sure to bury his chance, and put his side up 2-1 with just a few seconds left over to staple a thrilling series.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(2) Game 1

(4)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(6) S.O game 2

(2)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(1) Game 3

H.Angelov’s lone tally sends Brodie Boys through after thrilling back and forth action packed series

H.Angelov is a highly skilled player that can do many good things on the court. In a short twelve minute game to see who would advance, H.Angelov came through in a prime situation scoring the games lone tally to help advance the Brodie Boys to the next round. For how well G.Scrietta was playing in net for the Branditscan, it took a lot to figure out the net minder. Luckily enough for the Brodie Boys, A.Mancini was at his best as well making a bunch of important saves. It was a series that required sensational goaltending. The two sides are lethal with the ball and create waves of scoring chances because of their skill set. In the first game alone, T.Ferreira happened to have Scrietta’s number lighting him up four times while adding an empty net goal. The Brodie Boys looked to close out the series in two, but the Branditscan had other ideas. With D.Seguin scoring a pair of  brilliant goals along with owning the special teams department, the Branditscan responded well in game two to force a game three. By this point, it was really about getting the first goal. On a brilliant individual effort, H.Angelov came striding in using a quick release that just got by G.Scrietta. Now that the Brodie Boys took the lead, the Branditscan were forced to open up and search for the equaliser. The problem was that they took a four minute penalty which enabled the Brodie Boys to control the power play and run out the clock. This was a series that came to no surprise it went the distance.

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(6) Game 1

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(1) Game 2

(0)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(1) Game 3

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Angelos Ekonomakis of the Diabetoz Angels. With the crowd buzzing on how brilliant the net minder was, the Diabetoz Angels are glad to move forward thanks to his incredible goaltending performance.

Four teams out and four remaining is what’s left over after an entertaining night of ball hockey. The semi final match ups are as follows:

(1)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(7) The pressure will come down to if S.Sauk can deliver between the pipes. The Diabetoz Angels own the goaltending department with A.Ekonomakis guarding the cage, but will it be enough to defeat an experienced and skilful team. The RCGT Knights will have some issues to deal with despite being the favourites. They know that the Diabetoz Angels are quicker, faster and carry a ton of energy. Getting on board first will be vital in this series as both sides will use it to their advantage. If the RCGT Knights get on board first, they’ll try and trap the Diabetoz Angels. If it’s the other way around, the Diabetoz Angels know that A.Ekonomakis can carry them a long way. Time will only tell in a series that isn’t a given.

(3)ETNA vs Brodie Boys(5) This series isn’t for the faint of heart. Expect intensity, grit and the will to battle. Both sides wont make it easier on one another. The one area that the Brodie Boys may have over ETNA is perhaps there overall team speed. Apart-from that, the two sides have a enough quality with a solid supporting cast.  A key factor will depend on trying to avoid trips to the penalty box. Remaining disciplined is a must in a series that can hurt you on the power play.

Sunday April 23

J-C Mansour’s late outburst propels Panthers past Kings

(12)Panthers vs Kings(7)

J-C Mansour was a heck of a player on Sunday night as he paced the Panthers to a late win striking three times in only five minutes. It was the kind of game that took somebody to make a difference. Up until that late surge, the Kings and the Panthers were neck in neck exchanging some slight leads. Although the game remained extremely close, the Panthers pace to the match along with the transition was almost instant which gave them more chances to create offense. Eventually, they buried their opportunities with the help of F.Debs second on a penalty shot along with J-C Mansour’s late barrage. The Panthers demonstrated that they have an overall pair of active units as they never took a shift off. By winning many loose ball battles, they were able to dictate the terms and get rewarded with a nice victory.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player Of the game goes to J-C Mansour of the Panthers. With the game dead even after forty minutes, J-C.Mansour lit up scoring three goals in only five minutes.

Flyers find their game after slow start

(6)Canadiens vs Flyers(11)

For the first fifteen minutes or so of this encounter, the Flyers appeared to be a little lost at times. They had already surrendered four goals looking like a floppy inattentive and disinterested hockey team. Then, suddenly the court tilted, and the Flyers started to play some smart hockey. T.Nardelli sparked the offense collecting his clubs first two of three goals before capping off a very productive night with five tallies. For a good thirty minutes, this game stayed very close with G.Lamothe netting his second for the Canadiens to even things up at five goals apiece. It took barley some time after for T.Nardelli to get to work again. The sniper had a major impact on the same shift posting back to back tallies with the help of M.Lang feeding him twice. Those two goals only fuelled more to come with Marie-Eve and D.Galloro widening the gap by four. All it took was a five minute burst for the Flyers to separate themselves and head off to earn a win. D.Galloro, M.Lang and T.Nardelli buzzed all game sharing five points each for the Flyers while C.Kfoury did the same but in a losing cause.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Nardelli of the Flyers. Every time the Flyers needed something to give, T.Nardelli was able to deliver the goods scoring plenty of goals that came at the right time.

Bruins blasted by Sabres

(9)Sabres vs Bruins(2)

The Bruins let down their goaltender, and let down themselves. They struggled to consistently challenge the Sabres and let the game deteriorate into a lopsided affair. M.Chenier and A.Zafiropoulos each had monster nights collecting five points each while M.Tzouvadakis stood his ground allowing only two goals. The Sabres ran up the score 6-0 at one point before N.Macri was able to stem the damage with his first of two tallies for the Bruins. Its never pleasant finding yourself in such a deep hole with nothing going right on both sides of the court. P.Kassaris had a rough night seeing a ton of traffic and orange balls toward him as the Sabres pounded the net minder on 34 shots. Sometimes when thugs get ugly early on, you look for some moments to restore some control and make a game of it even if it’s a little too late. Unfortunately for the Bruins, they just didn’t have it on this particular night as they’ll have no choice but to put it behind them and look forward to the next game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. The net minder looked in form and was barely figured out with the exception of it happening twice. It took over thirty minutes into this contest before someone finally got to him.

Wild left pulling their hair after deflating defeat to the Kraken

(9)Kraken vs Wild(8) O.T

In heartbreaking fashion, the Wild are glad that its just a regular season game and not the playoffs. You can give the Kraken all the credit in the world for staging a crazy comeback on three late goals, but the Wild really have only themselves to blame. No team should ever let such a lead slip away after playing a decent hockey game. Whether it’s the man converge, the assignment of blocking a shot, winning a battle or making that one extra save there is no excuse. The Kraken needed a few defibrillator’s to regain life as they looked like a cooked eggplant ready to be served. The comeback effort started when G.Papadakis used a quick shot-from her office to pull her side within two. Then, an unfortunate infraction by the Wild led to T.Settino taking advantage of a penalty shot as he used a nifty move to beat B.Mourad. Still, time was an enemy for the Kraken as the seconds kept winding down. Perhaps the most impressive play of the entire game occurred during that final moment of regulation time. That’s when T.Settino decided to rescue his side by winning a one on one battle on his own end of the court before running with the ball toward the Wild’s net only to feed a wide open M.DaSilva to even the score with seven seconds left on the clock. Not only did the Kraken score three times in the final coupel of minutes, they did one better when L.Bavellas decided matters in the sudden death frame. If you’re the Wild, a lesson will be learned when they find themselves up in the near future by never letting go of the gas pedal.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Kraken. There is no question that T.Settino is the engine that operates the Kraken’s team. After scoring his clubs first four goals of the game, T.Settino made an incredible brilliant play to recuperate the ball-from his own end before setting up M.DaSilva’s late tying goal. That sequence happened shortly after T.Settino scored his fifth on a penalty shot to help mount a ridiculous comeback for the Kraken.

Islanders use late goals to edge out Red Wings in overtime

(9)Islanders vs Red Wings(8) O.T

In a near identical situation like in the previous match between the Kraken and the Wild, this contest had a similar storyline to it. The Red Wings appeared to be in good shape up 6-3 at one point with about ten minutes or so. They built a nice lead and defended fairly well while R.Testa was making the necessary saves to keep his side playing in front. All that’s really left was to not get to ahead of yourself and keep playing hard in order to close out the deal. Instead, they just made it hard on themselves unable to slow down a more desperate side. The Islanders to their credit, stuck with it, and got rewarded due to their resilient play along with the help of a few key guys getting them there. Perhaps a vital piece to the puzzle was A.Passarelli, who had an outstanding finish to the game posting three late goals in only a short span of three minutes and change. His third tally had all but fifteen seconds appearing on the score board. Still, the mission wasn’t yet accomplished if you were the Islanders. As much as the comeback effort was nice to be part of, there was still one more step missing in order to complete a gratifying night. That moment did eventually occur for the Islanders, and all thanks to V.Mancini closing it out thanks to a play stemming by B.Monette and A.Passarelli.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Albe Passarelli of the Islanders. Just when the Islanders looked down and out, A.Passarelli had a magical end in regulation time as the forward produced three quick goals to force overtime where his side was able to complete the comeback.

Friday April 21(Final)

Generals backed by J.Brunet’s OT winner in game one win vs United Masters

(3)Generals vs United Masters(2) O.T Game 1

Throughout the entire game, the United Masters showed that they were able to keep up with the Masters 35+ division giants. When your ready to play engaged in a final, expect for everyone to up their game and battle hard the entire time. The United Masters made things extremely difficult by paying attention to many details which is the bare minimum required in order to have a chance and defeat the Generals. If not for giving up an overtime power play goal, the United Masters could have easily taken this encounter and find themselves ahead in the series. Instead, a late costly penalty enabled a power house five man unit to get to work. And who other than your top gun to deliver. Every time J.Brunet shoots-from the point, you can put a good dollar that the chances are good for it go in. The Generals look for that play when its available knowing that his shot usually hits its target. Unfortunately for the United Masters, they couldn’t kill the penalty off in time, and were stuck enduring a difficult loss knowing that they came that close. Although you never want to lose when hitting this stage of the season, the United Masters took something valuable-from the loss which was the confidence of challenging a heavy favourite.

Generals perfect season comes to an end, United Masters turn the tides with shootout win

(5)United Masters vs Generals(4) S.O Game 2

All good things come to an end. Up until this point in time, the Generals didn’t know what it felt like to lose a hockey game . After all, they went perfect all season long making one game look easier than the other as they kept humiliating their opponents. But after a very close encounter in game one, they knew that the United Masters weren’t a push over and were going to make things very hard for them. They did however every get a strong start scoring twice in the first two minutes alone. O.Valiquette and D.Lafleur made the score 2-0 only two and a half minutes in. That kind of a trend may have suggested that the Generals would have smoked the United Masters out of the water. That couldn’t be further -from the case as they just stuck with it on the right mind set. A quick response by the captain G.Missakian cut the lead in half, and the United Masters slowly started to take over winning a huge second period on a pair of goals by the M.Batri. Being up 3-2 heading into the third period versus the Generals is a deal you definitely take. However, the Generals weren’t going to go down that easily as they rebounded early in the frame thanks to V.Lamarche. The two sides were now dead even at three goals a piece with just over ten minutes to play. Usually, these are pressure situations when playing for all the marbles, but not for the United Masters as they felt confident playing as the underdogs. It seemed more like the Generals were the ones playing on their toes wanting to avoid any breakdowns. With regulation time solving nothing, neither did a five minute sudden death. The United Masters season was now hanging on to having to win a breakaway contest. Since both sides have the quality players and more importantly the goaltenders, the hope remained high for the United Masters. C.Stavriadis had no choice to try and deny some high end talent . Apart-from O.Valiquette’s beautiful back hand top corner goal, the net minder was able to stop J.Brunet and J-R Turgeon to edge out P.Blais who, couldn’t stop C.Lato and N.Malkhassian. This result finally gave the Generals their first loss of the season which now came down to a short fifteen minute game to see who would prevail.

Generals repeat as champs on J-R Turgeon overtime goal

(0)United Masters vs Generals(1) O.T Game 3

Fifteen minutes and the potential for more was all the time left over for this series to be decided. With goals hard to come by, the two sides avoided as many mistakes as possible to not fall behind. It was really a question of timing your breaks. The United Masters didn’t change anything about their approach and made sure to eliminate as much time and space. They kept the gaps close, they stuck with their man and waited for break out chances to  arise in hopes of scoring first. But neither team was able to capture the moment, at least not in the fifteen minutes of regulation time. For a third straight game, this series went into extra time where things finally got settled. The strategy is quite simple when you get to this point. You know that any shot on net can potentially make the difference between being crowned champs or falling on the short end. It took only one minute into overtime for J-R Turgeon to use a hard low shot that beat C.Stavriadis short side. As soon as that ball crossed the line, the Generals spilled onto the court in celebration of what just had happened. It came as a joy of relief for a team that had the expectations of winning this division. Throughout the entire season, the Generals barely met resistance and never once had to face any adversity. Finally, they matched up against an opponent that came to play on Friday night. The United Masters believed in their capabilities of giving the Generals a real challenge. They played so well that only a small detail, break or ounce of luck made the difference. Tonight, the Generals made that one single extra play to give themselves the edge. It was a thriller series-from start to finish with lots of twists and turns and emotion. Even though the United Masters fell short, credit to them for pushing the limit versus a side that the odds makers had as heavy favourites. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Olivier Valiquette and the rest of the Generals for completing a dominant regular season, and more importantly a successful post season.

The SalumIVino player of the night goes to Jeremi Brunet of the Generals. The Generals have no shortage of talent, but no one can deny what their main general brings to the table. J.Brunet is a force that’s unmatched and was perhaps a main reason why they pulled it off in a very close encounter with the United Masters.

Thursday April 20 (Semi finals)

Discipline issues hurt Brew Crew

(3)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(5) S.O Game 2

One too many visits to the penalty box didn’t help the Brew Crew in their shootout loss to the Van Doos Hc. Although killing off penalties is apart of the game that any team has to go through at times, the Brew Crew weren’t able to do a good enough job to keeping the Van Doos Hc in check. All three goals came on the three attempts with O.Valiquette saving the Van Doos Hc playoff hopes by riffling his second very late in the game. The Brew Crew saw their three slight leads get answered every time. M.Pace scored twice, M.Nardi was involved on all three goals for the Brew Crew and D.Verta helped set up two tallies. After playing through a scoreless overtime period, the Van Doos Hc were now obliged to try and win the shootout. A.Papazian along with N.Kokovidis came through in their attempts along with J.Liopoulos stopping both Brew Crew’s shooters. The Van Doos Hc were able to even things up and force a third and deciding game three.

G.Nehme strikes early, Brew Crew able to hold off defending champs

(1)Brew Crew vs Van Doos Hc(0) Game 3

Entering a shorter game three fifteen minute game, both sides understood the importance of getting that first goal. For the Brew Crew, they barely wasted anytime when G.Nehme struck just twenty seconds in. You never want to fall behind with so much on the line, but the Van Doos Hc had more than enough time to battle back since it was a very early goal. The problem was that the Brew Crew were able to kill off their lone penalty this time, and made sure to play to their identity by suffocating the Van Doos Hc’s attack. The Brew Crews defence was solid in holding off the looks-from the Van Doos Hc high producers. That’s all attributed to their man coverage along with C.Muccino being the last line of defense. The net minder was sharp-from the start, and denied all seven shots he faced to earn a huge shutout win. Throughout both games, the Van Doos Hc never had the luxury of playing in front despite tying the game on three occasions. They just couldn’t find a way to get that one break they needed in a series that was extremely close. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way no matter how well you play. Credit to the Brew Crew for doing a lot of the little things right maybe with the exception of their penalty kill. In the end, they got it done, and will now move on to the big stage.

Armadillos heat up late in second period, pull away by the third

(2)Fatal Demons vs Armadillos(9) Game 2

The final result doesn’t suggest that this was a close knitted battle-from two teams that went to a shootout only a week ago. For nearly two full periods, it was close and the Fatal Demons were still in it despite being down 3-1. Then, a power play goal by S.Athanasopoulos late in the second period spelled the end for the Fatal Demons as they were nowhere to be seen in the final stanza. It was all and only Armadillos throughout the final stretch . It showed how one team fuelled off the situation of playing in front while the Fatal Demons felt that their season was coming to an end. Goals just kept coming in with efforts-from different players. The Armadillos scored three of their nine goals with the man advantage on their three attempts. After having an impactful game only a week ago, G.Bouchard reminded the Fatal Demons that he wasn’t done yet. The skilled defenseman started-from where he left off by providing the Armadillos their first two goals of the contest. Even if that happened early in the game, the Armadillos knew that it was their night as they managed to blow past the Fatal Demons leaving them in their rear view mirror.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carmen Muccino of the Brew Crew. Look to your goaltender when reaching this stage of the season. In both wins vs the Van Doos Hc, C.Muccino delivered again like he has done in the past winning two straight games that included a nice shutout.

The E Thursday division will  now feature the Brew Crew taking on the top seed Armadillos. Expect this final to be a very grinding series. Neither side will be giving up much space out there. It will be up to the players to be creative with the ball to try and find the open lanes and gaps needed to generate offense. The Armadillos will get that-from their back line which will force the Brew Crew to pay close attention to those threats. Special teams may play a factor depending on if the two side remain disciplined or not. Difficult to predict, this could go the distance for how well structured both sides are.

Wednesday April 19( Final )

Stunned Altius had no answers in game one loss to Punishers

(5)Punishers vs Altius(2) Game 1

In a much anticipated start to this series , the Altius were no match for the tried and true Punishers. There wasn’t much room for the Altius to do much in the first two periods. By then, the Punishers had settled in scoring twice in the first period on goals by C.Kakivelis and P.Karvouriaris while M.Mavroudis increased the margin by three early in the second frame. Not until the final stanza did K.Kuczmarski finally solve C.Ekonomakis, who was sharper than a razor blade. There would be no rally or a fairy tale ending for the Altius as C.Gingras responded shorty after to regain the three goal gap, and pretty much conclude the end result. This should have been a closer battle between two very complete teams, but the Punishers showed once again why they are the recent two time defending champions. You almost have no margin of error, and you definitely don’t want to be chasing the game against a side that will haunt you on the counter attacks. Since it’s a best of three series, the Altius had another shot at it by making all the necessary adjustments.

Altius couldn’t complete comeback, Punishers three peat as champs of D Wednesday division

(6)Punishers vs Altius(5) S.O Game 2

As a playoff final goes, it had just about everything. High-energy, end to end action, big saves, a late tying goal, an overtime period, a shootout, and then a joyful celebration for one team and a heartbreak for the other. The Punishers have been here before and are kind of used to all the drama that comes to winning. Weather its by a slight margin, a blowout or in a shootout, great teams seem to always find ways to win. Its not like the Altius didn’t have the opportunity of extending this series. After all, they forced a fifty fifty situation when P.Arkalis scored very late in the game to force the extra time. Once two teams hit that point in the game, any shot on net will do depending on who gets there first. But it wasn’t the five minute sudden death frame that decided this outcome. With both sides unable to score, the dreaded shootout was left over for the Altius. Unfortunately, they couldn’t win that category when K.Kuczmarski had the opportunity of extending it. Instead, C.Ekonomakis denied him, and the Punishers were able to  soak it in for a third straight season. The entire game lived up to the expectations with the two sides showing their ability to work together as a unit. The Altius scored two power play goals by M.Arkalis and D.Provost-Jarry while the Punishers got one as well-from C.Gingras and a shorthanded marker by M.Levasseur. The Altius were actually able to overcome a pair of deficits  in this one that included that late tally by P.Arkalis. There was no question that this final lived up to the hype. In the end, when everything was said and done, the Punishers accomplished something remarkable by winning it for a third straight season. On behalf of Hockeyballe.com, congratulations go out to Mathias Gagnon and the rest of the Punishers.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Carl Gingras of the Punishers. You can go up and down the Punishers list and name off guys that contributed in a big way. But the Punishers players will tell you how dynamic C.Gingras is on a game to game basis. Tonight was no exception as the skilled forward produced once again accumulating a total of five points in both games.

Tuesday April 18

Oilers on wrong side of high scoring affair

(9)Oilers vs Golden Knights(16)

Its safe to say that the Oilers would have liked a do-over after the first seven minutes of this game. Things weren’t going so well early with the Golden Knights amassing a big 5-0 lead with both sides barely pulling a sweat. Although the Oilers finally started to find their groove by getting on board, they just couldn’t catch up as the two teams kept trading goals. M.Rodriguez and M.Mascitto felt like an abandon ship with no one in sight to help rescue the net minders. There is only so much you can do when the coverage is poor and the defensive commitment is lacking. One area that did work wonders was the offense. The Golden Knights had fun putting up some nice number with T.Settino and S.Sicuso sharing seven points each. M.Salerno and T.Nardelli were next in line with five points apiece, and M.Estrela set up some nice plays on three helpers. As for the Oilers, K.Oliveira led the charge up front bagging a hat trick and a pair of helpers while C.Oliverio and J.Salvo combined for six points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Settino of the Golden Knights. While it was a night that everyone had an input in the scoring department, T.Settino came to no ones surprise that he would dictate the offense by providing three goals and four assists.

P.Carone knows how to hit his target rifling five goals for the Senators

(2)Hurricanes vs Senators(9)

What better start can you ask for if you’re the Hurricanes. In the first five minutes alone, Ari.Daghlian and A.Farina each scored on a penalty shot, and B.Verducci appeared to have things under control as the net minder usually does. It was almost like the Senators forgot to set their alarm. Once the ring tone went off, the sleeping giants woke up and went straight to work. As soon as G.Lamothe got his side on board, the Senators couldn’t be stopped scoring a total of nine unanswered goals. So dominant, it looked like they had more guys out there pouncing on every loose ball. Goals came at a rapid rate with P.Carone showing his capabilities of a natural goal scorer. The sniper was dead on target hitting the bulls eye five times that included a penalty shot goal. Out of the nine tallies scored for the Senators, only three players had the luxury of finding the back of the net. G.Lamothe and M.Lauzon each scored twice while R.Kilgour was feeling generous  setting up four tallies. The Hurricanes did had their fair share of shots on net but couldn’t seem to figure out S.Sauk anymore as the net minder went flawless after surrendering two penalty shot goals.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Paolo Carone of the Senators. The Hurricanes had no solutions on how to contain P.Carone, who was a wrecking crew converting five times.

Monday April 17

Classics punch ticket to final in double rout of Assadi Consulting inc

It might have been a meaningless night for the Assadi Consulting inc since they are locked in with no where else to move, but the  Classics on the other hand had something to play for. You always look to avoid an extra round if its in your control. By simply collecting a couple of points, the Classics got their automatic spot in the final  while the Dragons would take on the Assadi Consulting inc in the extra playoff series. The two wins were nearly identical with the Classics running up the score. The Assadi Consulting inc had the better start to the night, at least in the first five minutes finding themselves ahead 3-1. Then, they couldn’t sustain what the Classics brought the rest of the way. Even if the Assadi Consulting inc are a worthy opponent, they still aren’t a match for the Classics. It will take all their key elements in order to have a chance and steal some games. Showing up with barely two lines easily explains why they gave up eighteen goals in both encounters. There are too many threats coming-from every direction. M.Mavroudis being one of them notched a hat trick in the opening game while many others contributed collecting their fair share of points.

(9)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(5)

(9)Classics vs Assadi Consulting inc(4)

ETNA fair well for three of four periods with Dragons despite missing key players

In what could have been a good measuring stick for ETNA doesn’t really qualify in tonight’s case. Too many key pieces were absent which explains why the Dragons handed them a pair of losses. Granted, the second encounter did go the distance as it was decided in a shootout where the Dragons took that department on goals by Y.Derohanessian and J.Mandracchia. As a matter of fact, ETNA were the ones who let it slip away after carrying a 3-1 lead with just about four minutes remaining. A.Pitarelli set up J.Tutino before netting two of ETNA’s goals. You want as much as possible to avoid visiting the penalty box when going up against the Dragons. That one single penalty enabled B.Daniele to capitalise which now allowed the Dragons a single shot on net to even the score. Unable to kill off a little over a minute, G.DeMarinis tied the game late, and the Dragons went on to overcome their deficit and win in the shootout. The earlier contest remained fairly close for about a period. Once the final frame hit, it was all Dragons as they mounted the score by striking five times. P.Musto created the snow ball effect on back to back tallies which was eventually followed with J.Mandracchia adding  a pair as a well.

(3)ETNA vs Dragons(8)

(3)ETNA vs Dragons(5) S.O

RCGT Knights unable to close out deal vs Diabetoz Angels in second encounter

The RCGT Knights were left wondering what went wrong on Monday night after taking on the Diabetoz Angels. It wasn’t a question of who would prevail but rather on how you manage a situation. After coming off a difficult opening win, the RCGT Knights had their opponent on the ropes by winning a big first period 3-0. The Diabetoz Angels somehow found a way to battle back on an incredible finish to their night. Scoring four unanswered goals doesn’t come that easy, especially against a team that should have done better closing out their opponent. Regardless, the Diabetoz Angels deserve all the credit for mounting their come-from behind win. Already with a hat trick in the first encounter, J.Zervakos was the trigger for his side as the forward notched two straight tallies while setting up Philip for the equaliser. You saw that the wheels fell off, and the RCGT Knights didn’t know how to manage  the situation. They likely would have preferred to test their luck in the shootout since time was running out, and that the Diabetoz Angels had all the momentum going for them. Unfortunately, things only got worse for the RCGT Knights when T.Carperos used a late tally to put his side in front for good. Its not a pleasant way to lose a hockey game, but its better it happened now for a side that has expectations heading into the post season.

(7)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(5)

(3)RCGT Knights vs Diabetoz Angels(4)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to James Zervakos of the Diabetoz Angels. In a huge comeback effort win versus the RCGT Knights, J.Zervakos propelled his side by striking twice, adding an assist right after collecting a hat trick in the first encounter.

Its now official, the regular season of divisions 1 & 2 came to an end. With three teams representing division 1, the Dragons will take on the Assadi Consulting inc while the Classics will wait for the winner of that series. If the Dragons show up full slate, it will be up to the Assadi Consutling inc to figure out the right game plan on how to shut down some lethal weapons up front. Its all about defending well while relying on your goaltender to deliver. Scoring goals wont be the issue, its preventing them that will decide this series.

As for division 2 , eight teams will square off in the first quarter round. The match ups are as follows:

(1)RCGT Knights vs Country Club(8) Too much depth and experience will favour the RCGT Knights in this series. That being said, the Country Club have some good young talented players that can score goals. M.Dupuis has the ability to steal you some games, and the Country Club have the smarts on how to defend. Its all about putting it together.

(2)Snipers vs Diabetoz Angels(7) Despite what the seeding looks like, this series is difficult to predict. In some ways these two teams resemble each other. They both like to move their feet, and rely on  a coupe of key forwards. With the kind of season that A.Ekonomakis has shown so far in net for the Diabetoz Angels, the pressure will be on M.St-Laurent to perform just as well in which he has proven in the past.

(3)ETNA vs Degenerates(6) Here we have a rematch of last seasons final. Memories run long for ETNA as they’ll look for redemption in trying to knock out the recent champs. This time, they’ll be fully loaded and very difficult to defeat. For the Degenerates, its only about keeping it simple. Let the game play out, and simply do the right things and you just never know.

(4)Branditscan vs Brodie Boys(5) Two very familiar teams will look to take advantage of each others weaknesses. However, there doesn’t seem to be too many as both sides are built nicely for what’s ahead. This series will come down to on how the Branditscan will need to try and slow down an opponent that doesn’t stop running. They will need to remain patient while timing their runs that will lead to some scoring chances.

Sunday April 16

Sabres massive comeback effort falls short in loss to Kings

(11)Kings vs Sabres(7)

Twenty minutes in, and the Kings gave the Sabres a clinic sparking six consecutive goals. Talk about a disastrous start to your night if you are the Sabres. That’s what happens when you don’t show up right away to play. The Kings outhustled, out competed and simply out matched the Sabres in every category. By that point, something needed to change in a hurry if the Sabres wanted to avoid an embarrassing loss. With M.Taha finally able to stop the bleeding, the Sabres found lightning in a bottle that saw a massive deficit turn into an eventual 6-6 game in the span of only twelve minutes. It was now the Kings that looked like the Sabres during that stretch unable to keep pace with a hungrier opponent. C.Zafiropoulos helped power the comeback netting three of the six goals that saw this contest all tied up with plenty of time left over. The Kings looked like they were in shambles with no solutions on how to slow down a sleeping giant. The mind set was to figure out a way to slow down the Sabres and get the next tally in hopes of turning things around. Luckily enough, M.Scarpetta got their first, and the Kings regained the lead. There was no question that goal sent a wake up call to their bench as they were able to finish strong on five tallies to recuperate after an ugly sequence. R.Marshall made some big plays to cap off a productive four goal game.

The All Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ryan Marshall of the Kings. Many Kings chipped in with so many goals scored, but R.Marshall did have a huge impact converting four times.

M.DaSilva slick shot gives Kraken overtime winner versus Predators

(5)Kraken vs Predators(4) O.T

Back and forth the pendulum went. Just when the Karaken thought that things would have been secured, R.Ricaurte was right there reminding them that it isn’t over yet. The forward tied the game late, and both sides were stuck heading into overtime. Entering a situation where anything can happen, you always hope for the best opportunity to give your self a chance. For a while, neither side budged up until M.DaSilva used a perfect shot that surprised even himself. Throughout the entire game this contest traded leads. The Kraken got on board first thanks to D.Lipinski. Then, the Predators took over with two quick goals by D.Boulerice and H.Psaroudis. Unable to hold their lead, it was the Krakens turn to respond on a pair right before H.Psaroudis levelled the game 3-3 for the Predators. The two sides would exchange one more tally until M.DaSilva got the most important goal that finally settled this contest. The Kraken saw five different players chip while the Predators relied on Harry and R.Ricaurte for offense as the two players collected three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marc DaSilva of the Kraken. The unlikely hero scored a highlight reel goal to decide matters for the Krakens 5-4 overtime win.

Panthers tried to catch up but couldn’t make enough ground

(10)Blackhawks vs Panthers(8)

Maybe the defence and goaltending wasn’t at its best, but that didn’t bother the Blackhawks to much since they were the ones playing in front. As long as you have control of the situation, than you can decide how you want to play it out. The run and gun style favoured the Blackhawks as their wild horses were let loose scoring almost at will. Many contributed with F.Santone leading the charge up front bagging a hat trick along with three assists. M.Capalbo looked to fit right in as the young talent also buried a hat trick while his mentor E.Capalbo demonstrated how to score on penalty shots by converting twice. While the Blackhawks had the control of playing in front, the Panthers made an interesting late push scoring four times in the final ten minutes. J.Melo showed no quit in his game scoring three of the four late goals. R.Lendrum had a pair of early tallies and F.Debs chipped in with three points also for the Panthers. The Blackhawks were able to do well in the penalty shot department. Apart-from E.Capalbo’s two early goals, F.Santone was credited the winner on a late breakaway that just got by the Panthers net minder.

The Allo Mon Coco ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Santone of the Blackhawks. It was just one of those nights for F.Santone. There is talk that his espresso before the game fired him up giving possibly no other explanation on how he collected an impressive six points that included a hat trick and the game winner.

Wild take over after slow start, end 5 game losing streak

(9)Wild vs Islanders(5)

The Wild were looking to put things in order after last weeks sad state of affairs. Although it didn’t appear to be addressed early on, the Wild slowly but surely took over as the game progressed. This was a contest that the Wild’s big guns needed to show up. Anytime you have a M.Destounis to your line up, expect the offense to roll. Tonight, the slick passer went tape to tape several times that saw five convert into goals. C.Roberts placed himself at the right spot and cashed in three times while S.Tomasetta chipped in with a pair. While some may think that P.Santullo greased the commissioner for his four points, many witnesses testify otherwise as they saw him first hand collect them on merit. There was nothing on the house for his performance. P.Santullo did it himself which is what’s required-from your leader. Finally, they were able to put out a good game that ended a five game losing streak. The Islanders got some of their production-from L.Houle, who scored twice and B.Monette that was able to collect three points.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Marino Destounis of the Wild. When M.Destounis decides to turn it up, than look out no matter who you are. The forward is a magician with the ball, and will make any line mate look like a natural goal scorer.

Draft league legend B.Panarello rescues Flyers with OT winner

(9)Flyers vs Red Wings(8)

If this was just a little bit more than  a 48 minute contest, the Red Wings would have likely prevailed in the end. The Flyers aren’t as quick or in shape compared to the Red Wings, but have enough hockey smarts to do the right plays. Most of their energy was spent in the first twenty one minutes or so where they rattled off six goals. E.Allen, although one of the older players has the stamina and speed of a twenty year old. The veteran was crazy good causing most of the damage that included four goals making one look nicer than the other. The problem for the Flyers was that they had to keep challenging a side that would not stop running along with a nice skill set. Eventually, the take over become more and more evident as they kept dictating the pace which can only lead to a ton of chances. Those quality opportunities translated into five goals in only five minutes. Z.St-Martin was the catalyst behind it as the forward notched three in a row in only three minutes. Once M.Elfara evened the score for the Red Wings, the two sides went on a scoring drought despite the amount of chances generated. S.Morante of the Flyers along with R.Testa of the Red Wings played a major role in net for why this thing ended up in overtime. The sudden death frame is composed of four on four play which opens up the court even more . And considering how the action kept going back and forth, it became a question of who would get there first. That’s when B.Panarello seized the moment by being at the right place to tap in a rebound for the winner.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Errol Allen of the Flyers. Defying natures laws, E.Allen flies like a Boeing 747 making any defence very hard to contain his speed. The Flyers were glad to see him produce six points that saw four come-from his blade.

Friday April 14 (Semi finals)

Generals cruise to easy sweep of Sonic

(4)Sonic vs Generals(11) Game 2

The Generals will make it look easy most of the time. All they needed to do was put Sonic on the ropes, and this series was over and done with. The score was already 3-0 in favour of the Generals after one period. Sonic knew that in order to have a chance, they needed to be the ones playing in front even if it would have been by a very slight edge. Overcoming such a deficit makes it nearly impossible going up against a power house. Granted, Sonic only trailed by three heading into the final stanza. But like its been the case for most of the season, the Generals seem to bring their best for last like in tonight’s case rattling off six tallies. Goals just kept piling on, and the two sides couldn’t wait long enough for this series to end. Its very difficult trying to figure out who to slow down when a team has that many weapons. M.Larin exploded with five goals, J.Brunet riffled a hat trick, and of coarse O.Valiquette got a taste converting twice while setting up four tallies. You almost cant contain that kind of fire power unless you match them in that same category. The Generals are a class apart compared to other three teams of the division. To their credit however, Sonic did make them work hard for at least two full periods of both games. There was no question that they came to play and battle trying to make it as difficult as possible.

United Masters pull off stunning comeback to advance to final

(3)Dirty Scrubs vs United Masters(4) Game 2

It was a game that seemed out of reach. The United Masters trailing 3-1 in the third period, appeared to be on their way to a loss which would have forced a third and deciding game somehow were able to pull it off in the end. Things weren’t looking promising with the Dirty Scrubs trapping the lanes while R.Ranieri kept stoning his opponent with some nice looking saves. Your always looking for a spark somewhere to give if you’re the trailing side. The United Masters were frustrated scoring only once in two frames, but kept at it knowing that it only takes one sometimes. Eventually, that goal came thanks to N.Malhkassian batting a rebound that gave Ranieri no chance whatsoever. Now that the gap was reduced by one, the United Masters looked hungrier and way more engaged confident that they would get there. All it took was for one big shift to flip the script. With the very same N.Malkhassian jumping on his rebound for the equaliser, a wide open C.Lato moments later was able to finally put his side in front for the first time during the night. Momentum swings as such can be a scary thing. Unless the Dirty Scrubs found a clear way to score, there was almost no way that the United Masters were letting go of this one despite having to kill off a late penalty. Wins come in all varieties over the coarse of a regular season or the playoffs. While things were looking grim for the United Masters, credit to them for believing that it was possible no matter how bleak it looked.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Nareg Malkhassian of the United Masters. With goals hard to come by, N.Malkhassian was a big reason why the United Masters got three in a tightly tested contest with the Dirty Scrubs. He scored twice while setting up one that helped overcome a 3-1 deficit.

Thursday April 13(Semi finals)

Brew Crew make statement in game one win over Van Doos Hc

(2)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(5) Game 1

In an exhilarating opening game of this series, the Brew Crew had the formula to take down the recent champs. The first period saw the two sides committed to limiting their mistakes as the goaltenders were well insulted in a scoreless drought. After finally getting warmed up, D.Verta got their first to break the barrier and put the Brew Crew in front just shy of the mid way point of the game. It didn’t take long after that for B.Sansotta to double the lead which put some serious pressure on the Van Doos Hc to try and bounce back. Not to be outdone however, P.Doulis responded almost immediately to keep this thing within a very close margin. Still, the Brew Crew kept the mid set of pressuring rather than sitting back ,and in doing so, M.Nardi restored a two goal cushion that would close out the second period. Even with A.Papazian scoring very early in the third period for the Van Doos Hc, the Brew weren’t going to let this opportunity fade away despite dropping enough leads during the regular season. This time, they made their lead count no matter how close it was. By simply sticking with it, an eventual power play opportunity saw B.Sansotta widen the gap by two, and the Brew Crew knew that they would be able to ride out the clock. There is enough mental toughness in their group that makes them extremely resilient when the games matter more. It showed clearly in this game which now puts the Van Doos Hc in a big test having to deal with the adversity of trying to win two in a row. That being said, you can’t ever count out a team that knows how to win as well. This series has the potential to take a turn unless the Brew Crew decide otherwise.

Fatal Demons unable to hold on to leads in shootout loss to Armadillos

(7)Armadillos vs Fatal Demons(6) S.O Game 1

The Fatal Demons couldn’t keep the ball out of their net long enough, and after blowing a pair of leads, the Armadillos had the final word when P.Musto scored the lone shootout tally. It should be expected when two good teams face off against one another that they’ll have their ups and downs since they are evenly matched. The difference in this case was that the Fatal Demons had more control of the entire situation. First off, they stormed out of the gate mounting a nice 4-2 lead after one period. Yes, they did have a let down for some time since the Armadillos wont refuse to be pushed around as it was expected -from the division leaders. Once the Fatal Demons regained their footing, A.Argiroudis used a big third period goal to snap a 5-5 tie with just over a few minutes left to play. Five minutes is still plenty of time when your one shot away-from tying the game. However, the Armadillos started to feel the walls close in as the seconds were ticking loudly throughout the entire bench. To think that all that was left over was to make one more defensive play, and the Fatal Demons would have cemented a wild and important game one win over the Armadillos. Instead, G.Bouchard was able to beat the clock in time on a huge equaliser leaving all but fifteen seconds on the clock. Now that this contest was all tied up, the two sides could only focus on what’s ahead with the little time they have left over. With a five minute overtime period going scoreless, the final test was left to see who would prevail, a dreaded shootout. This is a department where the individual has to come through at a time of need, especially the two goaltenders. And while F.Moshonas delivered stopping all three breakaways he faced, R.Ranieri was nearly perfect expect for one attempt. P.Musto was the only player to score which proved to be just enough to help provide the Armadillos a big win.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Guillaume Bouchard of the Armadillos. The swift, slick and highly talented defenseman was no doubt at his finest on Thursday night. After scoring his clubs first two goals, G.Bouchard was able to provide a huge third period assist, and an even bigger goal completing his hat trick to force overtime with only fifteen seconds remaining in regulation time.

Wednesday April 12(Semi finals)

J.Provost-Blais and Altius knock out Legacy, punch ticket to final

(3)Legacy vs Altius(4) Game 2

With seven seconds left in the game, Altius forward J.Provost-Blais not only secured the hat trick, but also sealed the series to send his team to the final. Legacy understood the threat Provost-Blais posed after last weeks result. And even if you are aware of it by paying extra attention, sometimes it doesn’t matter on how you try and play a certain player. The highly skilled forward was simply that good, and uncontainable throughout the entire two games. You almost have to rely on your high end players to produce and out gun the Altius if you are Legacy. If not for some unfortunate bounces or bad timing, they could have extended the series for how close it was. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t there night. While many factors are involved in how a game is decided, one area that Legacy didn’t fair well was the special teams department. D.Provost-Jarry used a big shorthanded goal to tie things up early in the third period, and J.Provost-Blais eventually followed up with a power play marker to put the Altius in front.  As unsettling as that sequence was, M.Tvaronas wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the season by evening the score. Ten minutes was all that was left over for the two sides to see who would prevail. It really became a question of who would get there first. Rather then heading into the sudden death frame, J.Provot-Blais was able to avoid it by rattling off his second hat trick in only two games. The end result may be devastating at the moment, but Legacy did what they needed to do by putting it all out there. Sometimes, its just not meant to be for one team in as series that’s very evenly matched.

Punishers out gun Azzuri in final stretch to hit familiar territory

(3)Azzuri vs Punishers(7) Game 2

Maybe for many, the end result was to be expected. For the Azzuri, they still felt they had something to prove and felt confident in their capabilities of causing an upset. And why not when you have the quality and experience to bring you a long way. For well over two periods, nothing was close to being decided. The Azzuri pressed hard, defended well on the large part but couldn’t keep it going long enough as the Punishers eventually took over. All it took was some nice clicking plays that saw C.Genest and T.Therrien score two remarkable goals. That sequence of beauty occurred in only a three minute gap of the third period that essentially put the final dagger in this series. The Punishers looked like the fresher side in the final frame while the Azzuri appeared to be a step behind. If you cant match that pace long enough against a very skilled team, expect to be on the losing end. C.Gingras made sure to close it out on two late goals that included a dirty one that he even felt bad doing. The Punishers have heavy artillery with perhaps no week links throughout their roster. It is why they were able to edge out a strong opponent by using it to their advantage. What’s remarkable is that M.Mavroudis has been dry and they still got it done. If the power forward doesn’t shape up for the final, the Punishers will get on his case. Time will tell as two very skilled teams will square off against each other in next weeks competition. The final between the Punishers and the Altius has the making of an incredible series. The two sides are loaded up front, defend well while having the goaltenders to deliver. It seems like it will come down to who can defend better as the defence will have their hands full trying to contain high end talent.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Joel Provost-Blais of the Altius. For however read this a week ago, this ISNT a carbon copy . J.Provost-Blais scored another hat trick that included a heartbreaker with only seven seconds to decide the outcome of this series.

Wednesday April 12

Wells balanced Ducks backed by G.Kanaras goaltending prevail over the Senators

(9)Ducks vs Senators(3)

In a closely scrutinized measuring stick game, in which the Senators came in with a nice 3-0 record, credit the Ducks for showing up with a strong performance. G.Kanaras weathered some early chances in net, and the Ducks slowly built their lead as the game went on. It was all about creating the gaps and lanes that enabled the forwards to bury their chances. Goals came by many players as the lines were perfectly balanced while supported by the defense. The Ducks capitalized twice on penalty shots while G.Kanaras denied the one attempt he faced. At one point late in the game, the Ducks carried an 8-1 lead before F.Decoster made his wicked shot count by bagging a pair. Most of the Senators players didn’t quite get that time and space they hoped for because of how committed the Ducks were to playing well without the ball. Overall, just a solid game for a side that will seemingly gel in a young season so far.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to George Kanaras of the Ducks. Throughout the entire match, the goaltender was focused as he kept making enough saves to keep his side playing in front.

M.Rodriguez falls short after exceptional goaltending for the Oilers

(5)Stars vs Oilers(4) O.T

M.Rodriguez stopped a ton of shots for the Oilers. He met the challenge in regulation time, but an unfortunate bounce got the better of him in the extra time. Looking back, the Oilers did a lot of good things. They started strong springing out to a 3-1 lead ,and broke a 3-3 tie thanks to S.Todd after surrendering a pair of goals. All that was left  was to kill off a minute. Unfortunately, they couldn’t run out the clock in time. M.Braun had already cashed in twice before adding his third to tie the game and force overtime. You never know what can happen when two teams kept it close all game long leaving all but a shot on net to decide matters. In tonight’s case, the Stars were the ones that were opportunistic thanks to N.Macri. As much as it was disappointing for the Oilers, they know well enough that it could have gone there way. The important thing is that they keep challenging their opponents like they have been doing lately. Surely a little bit of luck helps, but this won’t be an issue since its happening very early in the season. J.Salvo was a spark registering three out of the Oilers four goals while the rest of his side did a fine job as a supporting cast.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Stars. Its safe to say that the forward had a major influence in the result. The sniper carried the load bagging another hat trick that included a late tally to force overtime.

 Monday April 10

Classics and Brodie Boys go the distance twice to settle for a pair of draws

It perhaps wasn’t too much of a surprise that the Classics and the Brodie Boys went the distance in both games on Monday night. The Brodie Boys may have been a little more undermanned, but the Classics were without one of their big guns P.Karvouriaris. Even though the Brodie Boys were a little short, they still had the stamina and pace that would be expected -from a younger side. The game plan wasn’t too hard, follow your man, pay special attention to C.Gingras ,and make the best of your chances. They nearly checked every box except for the penalty kill. The Classics scored both their goals with a man up by T.Langiano and T.Karvouriaris. With neither side getting it done in regulation, the shootout didn’t really solve anything either as both sides traded a goal each. The second match had a different storyline despite it ending in a draw as well. It looked like the Brodie Boys were going to run down the Classics due to their strong start and resilient pace. At one point, they led 6-2 and looked like they could do no wrong. When a skilled and quicker team has that kind of an advantage, you almost have no more excuses for let downs. That being said, the Brodie Boys couldn’t complete the assignment by enabling the Classics to battle back and eventually even the score. You knew that there was going t be a push back by the Classics. And since that was the case, it was up to the Brodie Boys to address it as the game went on. Unfortunately, they had a miserable final frame to their night as they enabled four unanswered goals to force another shootout. During that time, neither side got an edge, and settled for a second straight tie.

(3)Brodie Boys vs Classics(3) S.O

(7)Brodie Boys vs Classics(7) S.O

Snipers take control in second encounter after drawing even with Branditscan

If not for a wicked slap shot by A.Olewinsky in the dying seconds of the first encounter, the Branditscan would have likely gone empty handed in their games with the Snipers. Instead, the two sides took a point each in the shootout after both net minders denied all three attempts. The Snipers didn’t waste time in the next game owning the opening frame on three unanswered goals J.Hassan got the ball rolling converting twice followed with B.Cabral’s beautiful slap shot tally that came on the power play. Now that the Snipers built a nice 3-0 lead, it was up to the Branditscan to start taking some risks. The problem was that they took a four minute penalty which almost inevitably enabled the Sniper to score. Ali Khanafer eventually took advantage of the power play making the score 4-0. With less than half a period remaining, this contest looked to have been easily decided. Still, the Branditscan stuck with it, and actually narrowed the gap by two leaving all but a single minute left over. Unable to get that much needed goal, J.Hassan capped off the night on a wrap around empty net marker to complete his hat trick.

(5)Branditscan vs Snipers(5) S.O

(3)Branditscan vs Snipers(5)

Bad streak finally comes to an end for the United Arms

It may not have mattered in the grand scheme of things, but the United Arms have something to cheer about on Monday night. The winless side finally got the monkey off their back and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The recipe to ending a winless streak is to give yourself a chance by keeping the games close. The United Arms did just that in the first encounter trading a goal apiece while patiently waiting for a good opportunity to occur. With both M.Tzouvadakis and M.Dupuis guarding the cage, both sides had a difficult time getting the next tally. This contest needed a shootout for something to give. And what better opportunity for the United Arms to try and squeeze out a win. S.Jankouzian and K.Kavan used a pair of nifty moves to get the better of M.Dupuis while M.Tzouvadakis was nearly perfect allowing only F.Proulx to get the better of him. There was no question that the Country Club weren’t pleased with the end result. It showed almost immediately in the ensuing match where they stormed out of the gate on three goals in eight minutes. C.Gosselin buried a pair, and the Country club felt good about their chances after carrying a 3-1 lead heading into the final stanza. C.Payette widened the gap on the power play, but K.Kavan responded almost immediately to keep the United Arms within ranch. Despite enough time left over, the Country Club closed out the gaps and the lanes to hold on to the victory.

(3)United Arms vs Country Club(2) S.O

(2)United Arms vs Country Club(4)

Degenerates slowly overcome poor start versus Assadi Consulting inc

The expression its not how you start but how you finish that matters played out for the Degenerates versus the Assadi Consulting inc. Having to overcome a 4-0 deficit is discouraging, but the Degenerates felt they had something brewing heading into the second frame trailing by three. It wasn’t that they were overly dominated . The Assadi Consulting inc had a very short bench and did the smart thing by getting the better start. Knowing this, the Degenerates went about their business in search of that next goal. Once P.Paikopoulos narrowed the gap by two, the bench felt confident that a comeback was in the making. It took only a short span of forty seconds for M.Pinheiro and O.Valiquette to strike and even the score. Now that this thing was knotted at four goals a piece, the two sides played extra cautious wanting nothing less than to make a mistake. For the large part, it appeared to be the case expect for the very last play of the game where N.Kokovidis beat the buzzer by a split second. Surely, it felt like a devastating defeat, but the Degenerates accomplished something by battling back . The mind set-from that point on was to carry good habits in the second encounter. This time, they kept the game honest with neither side having a real advantage. M.Pinheiro did provide the lead late in the first period for the Degenerates which positioned themselves for a better finish versus a tired opponent. However, a couple of penalties didn’t help their cause. After killing off the first one, N.Kokovidis made sure to bury his chance in the Assadi Consulting inc’s second power play opportunity on his patented shot-from the point. Now that the game was all tied up, only an eventual shootout stood in the way. After sending three highly skilled players to try and score, the two sides had to settle for a draw after exchanging a goal each.

(4)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting Inc(5)

(2)Degenerates vs Assadi Consulting inc(2) S.O

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Tommy Ferreira of the Brodie Boys. Collecting a bunch of points against the Classics isn’t the easiest thing to do unless you’re a highly skilled player with a burst of speed to your game. T.Ferreira showed off his capabilities once more and with flying colors as he was able to collect a total of seven points in two games along with a shootout goal.

Sunday April 9

Islanders use their speed to upend the Sabres

(4)Sabres vs Islanders(10)

Sometimes it takes one area of your game in order to get an edge over your opponent. For the Islanders, being first on the ball ultimately made the big difference in this contest. The Sabres struggled to regroup every time they would lose the ball which generated too many chances toward their own net. Many odd man rushes turned into obvious scoring chances, and with that, the Islanders peppered M.Tzouvadakis on a bundle of shots. F.Vitoratos had all the time and space in the world to cash in five times while T.Sauk took care of the other end of the court making all the necessary saves to keeping a gap. Its not like the Sabres didn’t have some decent control trying to generate their opportunities. The problem for them was that the Islanders committed to come back and pick up their man which wasn’t the case for the Sabres when they lost the ball. Just some fundamental principles along with the will to compete harder favoured the Islanders on this particular night.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Vitoratos of the Islanders. The Sabres defense and goaltender just didn’t have an answer for the forward who pretty much had his way bagging five of his clubs ten goals.

M.Braun’s late surge powers Predators past Canadiens

(8)Predators vs Canadiens(6)

M.Braun produced a game winning performance against the Canadiens on Sunday evening, turning a tied game into a comfortable lead with little time left over. This contest had its fair share of twists and turns before it was over. The Canadiens took command being up 3-1 just before the thirty minute mark. Then, the Predators went on a wild spree striking four times in only three minutes before the Canadiens had finally a response by netting two to even the score. Neither side had a gauge on where this thing was headed. The mind set was to just look ahead, and search for that next goal. That’s when M.Braun decided to turn it up by taking matters into his own hands. The sniper broke the tie before adding two more tallies to finish with an incredible four goal performance. Talk about heating up at the right time during a game. Maybe if the Canadiens were more aware of his threat, they could have contained him and keep the game within reach. Instead, goal scorers know how to open up and create their own space which is why M.Braun had a field day in the latter part of the contest.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Braun of the Predators. In a game that had its fair share of momentum swings, M.Braun had the final word on an incredible finish by posting four straight goals.

M.Lang rescues Flyers after a late blunder

(6)Bruins vs Flyers(7) O.T

It looked like the Flyers were well on their way to closing out the game after a strong finish in regulation time. After all, they scored three straight times to turn a two goal deficit into a 6-5 lead. Such a huge momentum swing with barley any time left over normally suggests that you’ll close out the deal. That wasn’t case for the Flyers as a late blunder saw J.Wong tie the game with just three little seconds left over. It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that shouldn’t have happened. Still, the game wasn’t officially over, and the Flyers had a shot at redemption. All it took was to win the coin toss battle of getting there first in the sudden death frame. Luckily enough for the Flyers, M.Lang came to rescue his side with his second to secure the win. The Bruins will need to look back at this one and figure out what went wrong. Throughout forty minutes, they played a sound game playing in front while keeping the Flyers offense in check. Then, it all fell apart in a very short span. You know that a team will get desperate and push the pace like the Flyers did. If the Bruins could have applied a different mind set after being up 5-3, maybe things could have turned out differently. That being said, credit to the Flyers for never giving up and pulling the rug-from their opponents feet.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Lang of the Flyers. While many of the Flyers players had an input on this win, M.Lang was the one to secure it posting his second on a big overtime goal.

Kraken were no match for Blackhawks

(4)Kraken vs Blackhawks(8)

The Kraken suffered a lopsided defeat to the Blackhawks on Sunday night. It was a game thoroughly dominated by one team which had the Kraken often on its heels. Although it was the Kraken who got on board early courtesy of N.Gikas, the rest went all in favour of the Blackhawks. They built a multi goal advantage and found themselves ahead at one point 7-2.Ari Daghlian put up some nice numbers rattling off three goals  while B.Freitas-Pereira was just as influential scoring twice along with an assist. The Karaken didn’t care that they were down by five goals when pulling out their net minder for the extra attacker. In doing so, they actually scored twice to try make the score look a little more respectable. The problem was that it didn’t do much in the end with the Blackhawks netting a pair of empty net markers by M.Barone and M.Papadakis.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Ari Daghlian of the Blackhawks. His three goals in the first thirty five minutes helped set the pace for the Blackhawks deserving win over the Kraken.

Wild collapse after decent start with the Red Wings

(4)Wild vs Red Wings(11)

Just when the Wild thought they had something going, the Red Wings left them in the dust. Scoring three straight times to even the score is a good indicator that you’ll be in fine shape throughout the game . Not in this case however as it wasn’t even close with the Red Wings piling up the score. The real turning point occurred as soon as Z.St-Martin snapped the 3-3 tie. From-there, it was all Red Wings with barely any resistance unless you count C.Roberts second goal for the Wild.  Other than that, the Red wings struck eight more times that saw their offense spread out. J.Musi led the charge in the goals department sparking a hat trick while Z.St-Martin and M.St-Martin potted a pair each. For a good portion things looked ugly for the Wild as they were unable to stop the bleeding . It got to the point that the final buzzer was their only saving grace.  Its not like the Wild don’t have the elements. Sometimes it takes a few adjustments to get things in order. With P.Santullo guiding the ship, the Wild know they’ll  be fine as the season continues to roll along.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Joe Musi of the Red Wings. No doubt J.Musi had his hand in this win. His three goals and two assists helped provide some good offense for a team that was looking in fine shape the entire time.

Friday April 7(Semi finals)

Sonic surrender 2 shorthanded goals in eventual lopsided loss to Generals

(10)Generals vs Sonic(1) Game 1

For nearly two full periods, Sonic couldn’t have asked for a better situation going up against a heavy favourite Generals side. Even though they trailed 2-1, your always content being only a shot on net away -from tying the game along with a pair power play chances to help even the score. Sonic had a golden chance to perhaps level the game and possibly remain tied heading into the third period. That situation would have kept the pulse of the team going harder knowing that they had one single frame to keep pace with the leagues giants. Instead, one short handed goal led to another, and Sonic knew their night was over despite a whole period remaining. The Generals will hurt you in any situation if your not fully prepared. M.Larin and D.Lafleur scored the two big goals with the man less which positioned their side for an easier path to victory. The third period was all Generals with O.Valiquette once again scoring a hat trick. The score may suggest a complete thumping, but Sonic did make things extremely hard for about two full periods which forced the Generals to work hard for their win.

Dirty Scrubs storm back to erase 3-0 deficit but fall short in loss to United Masters

(6)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(4) Game 1

The Dirty Scrubs showed some strong fight in erasing a three goal deficit on Friday night. Unfortunately they were unable to comeback a second time as three quick goals by the United Masters secured them an important game one to the series. While everyone was forced to pull their weight, A.Minassian and N.Malkhassian were the engines that fuelled the offense . The two players were definitely primed for the challenge making a bunch of nice plays that resulted in two goals apiece. It looked as though the United Masters had the control they wanted after building a 3-0 lead by the early stages of the second period. By then, they looked in command dictating the pace while limiting their mistakes. Sometimes, when a team is under the gun, they just try to focus on taking it one shift at a time. The Dirty Scrubs wanted to get on board to try and spark something. Eventually, that goal finally came when T.Langiano squeezed one by C.Stavriadis. Since momentum can be a funny thing at times, the Dirty Scrubs were now the ones in control of the game as they scored two more to even  things up early in the third period. Its never pleasant giving up three straight tallies to put your opponent back into the game. However, the United Masters were confident in their capabilities to regain the lead. Once N.Malkassian broke the tie, the United Masters avoided repeating the same mistakes, and made sure to ride out the third period by winning the frame. This came as an important game one victory in a series that involves two very evenly matched teams.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Anto Minassian of the United Masters. By applying three solid lines, A.Minassian was the one who caused the most fits for the Dirty Scrubs defence and net minder. The skilled forward had a very productive four point performance clicking nicely all night with his two line mates.

Wednesday April 5

Stars kept responding every time the Hurricanes would level

(7)Stars vs Hurricanes(3)

The Hurricanes kept battling back tying the game on three occasions, but always kept falling behind. Almost immediately the Starts had an answer to break the tie and force the Hurricanes to work that much harder. They had no choice at one point to pull their net minder for the extra attacker. In hopes of generating a good scoring chance, B.Sorice didn’t allow it by feeding the empty cage . M.Braun would follow up as well adding another empty net goal, and the Stars held on to a hard fought battle with the Hurricanes. B.Sorice had a major input like he usually does by collecting five points that included a hat trick. F.Girard participated with a pair of tallies, and S.Sauk got the win over his counter part B.Verducci as both goaltenders was stern for their side. Losing is never fun, but the Hurricanes could take positives out of this one. Despite being down three times, they managed to battle back and even the score. Maybe a bounce here or there could have turned things around. That being said, the Stars are deserving for the result as they were able to pick up after themselves almost instantly and regain control of the game.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Frank Guerreri of the Stars. His patience with the ball helped generate a ton of offense for his side that resulted in three nice assists.

Golden Knights and Oilers engage in high octane offense

(9)Golden Knights vs Oilers( 8 )

While many players-from the two teams were enjoying a big night offensively, the two goaltenders were left out to dry thanks to missed assignments and poor back checking. Tonight’s game between the Oilers and the Golden Knights was a test to see if it was experience or youth that would prevail. With youth comes the speed and will to battle for the loose balls which gives your side more ball possession. On the flip side, the Golden Knights have the awareness on how to contain and slow down a quicker opponent while knowing what to do with the ball as well. All those qualities are nice to have and teams will use it to their advantage. After both teams kept trading leads throughout most of the night, the Oilers found themselves ahead 8-7 courtesy of K.Olliveira’s second of the game. Since both sides were engaged in a barn burner, it was almost inconceivable that neither team would score with eight minutes remaining. It was really a question of who and when. For sure the onus was on the Oilers to play it out smart since they were the ones playing ahead. The strategy becomes simple, avoid odd man rushes and time your counter attacks. Unfortunately for the Oilers, they let the Golden Knights come in on some decent scoring chances where they gave up two late goals by E.Dedominicis and T.Nardelli. All it took was a short span of ninety seconds for this thing to flip on its head. Even though the Oilers dropped this contest, the loss will only make them better as a team. They have a lot going for them due to their speed and skill but could maybe work on their play without the ball. Its an area that can easily be addressed if they apply themselves . M.DiBello had a very productive night for the Oilers scoring four straight goals while K.Oliveira and J.Salvo shared three points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tony Nardelli of the Golden Knights. His timely points included a hat trick for the winner and an assist.

Wednesday April 5(Semi finals)

J.Provost-Blais, D.Provost-Jarry and K.Kuczmarski carry Altius past Legacy

(6)Altius vs Legacy(4) Game 1

A sluggish start for the Altius just didn’t matter in the end. T.Bozinakis and P.Musto got the Legacy on board in the first period, and A.Ekonomakis was sound stopping the few shots he faced. The Altus didn’t appear to be overly concerned with the loaded talent they have up front. For them , it was just about getting the next goal knowing that more would follow. That moment occurred early in the second period due to a power play opportunity where D.Provost-Jarry made the most with his chance. Up until that point, Legacy was doing a good job at keeping the Atlius honest. Then, the big guns took over and the Altius momentum started to trickle down their line up. The game would be tied 3-3 after two frames, but you sensed that the tides were tilting in favour of the Altius. J.Provost-Blais was just getting warmed up after tying the game late in the second period. Once the final frame hit, Legacy had no answers on how to slow him down. The next three goals in only a four minute span came because of J.Provost-Blais’s ability to take over a match. The forward added two tallies to complete his hat trick along with an assist to set up D.Provost-Jarry’s second. In that equation, K.Kuczmarski was there behind the scenes setting up four goals.  Now that Legacy understand fully on why they lost, some adjustments will need to be made in next weeks game if they plan on extending the series.

P.Karvouriaris couldn’t be stopped striking 5 times, Punishers out last Azzuri in game 1

(9)Punishers vs Azzuri(5) Game 1

To think that a major reason why the Azzuri dropped this game was because of their own power play. Sure they were down 2-1, but rather than taking the opportunity to level, they found themselves down by three instead by giving up two shorthanded goals in only twenty seconds. Maybe they haven’t gotten the memo to be extremely aware when C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris are on killing the penalty. As they have often proved in the past, the two headed monsters are just as lethal when playing shorthanded.  Speed, anticipation and being strong on the ball led to a pair of quick tallies by P.Karvouriars’s which were set up by C.Gingras. The first period had barley ended, and P.Karvouriaris already bagged a hat trick with the help of Gingras’s three assists. One would think that the Punishers would run away with this contest just on sheer reputation. At one point, they led 7-3 early in the third period with game seemingly in the bag. Not to be outdone however, the Azzuri stuck with it, and got rewarded when A.Ponzo and C.Chirola narrowed the gap to only two goals. With still over six minutes remaining, nothing was sealed as the Azzuri continued to apply pressure. The Punishers knew that nothing was yet settled and started to be more engaged trying to slow down the momentum. Eventually, they capped off the win thanks to their sharp shooter P.Karvouriaris, who put the final seal with his fifth of the game.

The SalumVino player of the night goes to Joel Provost-Blais of the Altius. Legacy isn’t an easy out, and it will require something significant to defeat them. In tonight’s case, J.Provot-Blais was remarkable especially in the third period when it mattered the most. With the game dead evened at three goals apiece, the highly skilled forward did it nearly on his own collecting three points in only four minutes.

Monday April 3

Brodie Boys use their speed to down Country Club in both encounters

The Brodie Boys know that a big part of their strength come-from their defensemen bringing up the ball to push a faster pace with the forwards into the offensive zone. By using that to their advantage , they have kept teams honest and done extremely well. Tonight, that paid off in both their wins versus the Country Club. S.Bordonaro and T.Ferreira did all of the scoring in the first contest bagging a pair each ,and A.Mancini allowed only a perfect top corner shot by C.Payette to beat him. It wasn’t like the Country Club didn’t play poorly to finish on the short end of things. In hopes of rebounding for a better outing, they just couldn’t keep pace with a quicker and crisper opponent. The Brodie Boys never let up, and seemed to only get stronger as the night went on. After mounting a 4-2 lead heading into the final stanza, the Brodie Boys created a much more convincing gap by  striking four times without a response. Many contributed with S.Bordonaro leading the charge up front on three goals and an assist while P.Stroubakis was the mastermind behind the scene setting up four goals.

(4)Brodie Boys vs Country Club(1)

(8)Brodie Boys vs Country Club(2)

Assadi Consulting inc feeling sour unable to close out first encounter with RCGT Knights

Sometimes you just have to find a way to close it out. The remedy to defend a 3-1 lead wasn’t there for the Assadi Consulting inc, who had to settle for a draw instead. Giving up two straight tallies is obviously not ideal but credit to the RCGT Knights for pushing the pace. Both sides had a chance to collect the win in the shootout but the goaltenders weren’t having it. T.Sauk was exceptional denying three attempts for the RCGT Knights while P.Assadi duplicated his counter part stopping three high end players as well. Considering the way things ended, you would have to assume the second game was going to be just as close. Unfortunately, it resembled nothing like the first one with the RCGT Knights dictating the terms. All it takes sometimes is for a player or two to up their game. In the case for the RCGT Knights, J.Morina and T.Sauk stole the show. The Assadi Consulting inc had no answers for the two players. J.Morina was simply to much and couldn’t be contained scoring four of his clubs five goals. As for T.Sauk, the young talent was stellar in net keeping a lethal offense to only one goal on 21 shots. Overall, it was just a good night for a team taking four of a possible six points against a higher division team.

(3)RCGT Knights vs Assadi Consulting Inc(3) S.O

(5)RCGT Knights vs Assadi Consulting inc(1)

Classics outlast Dragons on their depth

The intensity between these two teams is automatic. Even though the odds played in the Classics favour, the games tend to go till the very end, at least in the large part. The opener was exactly what one would expect knowing the capabilities of what the Classics and Dragons offer. Loaded with talent up front, both sides combined for a bunch of goals that was decided by P.Karvouriaris’s late tally. The sharp shooter scored twice collecting four points along with his most valued teammate C.Gingras. The second game started off very well for a team that just suffered a close defeat. With G.DeMarinis bagging his second early in the final frame, the Dragons appeared to be in fine shape. Then, it all fell apart. A big tying goal by M.Mavroudis spelled the beginning of the end for the Dragons. It seems no matter how well positioned you are going up against the Classics, it just doesn’t seem to matter much in the end. C.Gingras and P.Karvouriaris decided that it was time to get serious and take over combining for a ridiculous nine points. Sure, they merit all the praise for how they influence a game, but the Classics do have a solid supporting cast that can hurt you as well. Players like M.Mavrouidis, M.Destounis and A.Argiroudis can be just as lethal and are a big part of the equation. It goes without saying that the Dragons need their full line up in order to defeat the Classics. Despite the missing links, they faired well for three of the four periods.

(6)Classics vs Dragons(5)

(7)Classics vs Dragons(3)

Degenerates save their best for last in split with Snipers

The Degenerates understood that they were going to play on their heels facing off against the Snipers. As long as the danger is kept to the outside, and with R.Ranieri guarding his cage, things tend to turn out fine, at least sometimes. You never want to fall behind if your stuck chasing the ball. The Snipers only got on board as of the second period when their captain Ali Khanafer finally got to R.Ranieri. Two minutes after that, B.Cabral doubled the lead, and the Degenerates knew that they were in big trouble despite the amount of time left over. Not to be outdone, they did crack the barrier courtesy of a power play goal by O.Valiquette. Now that your only a shot on net-from tying the game, this contest was still in reach for the trailing side. The Degenerates desperately put on some pressure while removing their net minder for the extra attacker. Unfortunately nothing came of it as J.Hassan took advantage of feeding an empty cage. The nice part of these two mini game formats is that you have a chance at redeeming yourself after a tough loss. Although noting is guaranteed, the Degenerates were dialled in wanting nothing less than a split with the Snipers. There best moments occurred in the final frame where they won it handily on goals by D.Greco, O.Valiquette and D.Charbonneau. You would have to figure that the Degenerates would be the more sluggish side due to their aging legs. Instead, they found the energy to battle hard, and got rewarded by defeating a resilient team.

(3)Snipers vs Degenerates(1)

(3)Snipers vs Degenerates(5)

Short bench dooms United Arms in losses to Branditscan

When you shoot yourself in the foot ,its very hard to walk, and the United Arms made it very difficult on themselves in both games versus the Branditscan. Surrendering five goals in both starts to your game only suggests that you weren’t ready to play or because you didn’t have enough players to compete. Even if the Branditscan would have likely taken both encounters, the United Arms could have done better to contain them. In fairness however, they didn’t have the body count to go toe to toe, but could have played a better coverage game. D.Seguin got the ball rolling early posting two goals before completing his hat trick late in the game. After collecting four straight primary assists, T.Faucher scored one as well. With a chance to adjust and put up a better fight, the United Arms just couldn’t compete versus a superior opponent. The contest was already decided by the end of the first period that was powered by K.Hopkins three goals. By then, the Branditscan ended the United Arms misery early in the frame netting three quick goals due to the seven goal mercy rule. J.Abruz had scored twice ,B.Makris collected four assists, and G.Scietta barely needed a shower after facing a few shots.

(3)United Arms vs Branditscan(8)

(1)United Arms vs Branditscan(8)

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Tyler Sauk of the RCGT Knights. For a young talent, the goaltender looks like an established veteran making one save look easier than the other. After denying three shootout attempt, T.Sauk limited a potent Assadi Consulting inc offense to only one single tally.

Sunday April 2

Furious rally fall short for the Bruins, F.Mastrocola carries Kings for a 4th straight win

(8)Kings vs Bruins(7)

A furious comeback was not enough as the Bruins dropped a close 8-7 decision to the unbeaten Kings on Sunday evening. The Kings held a 7-3 advantage by the mid way point,  but the Bruins responded with four straight goals to make for an exciting conclusion. K.Labelle started the rally with back to back tallies followed with A.Zakarian and J.Wong getting their names on the score sheet as well. You couldn’t have asked for a better response if you are with the Bruins. But on the down side of a spirited rally was an end to the game that slightly favoured the Kings instead. Despite having fifteen minutes of play remaining, only one goal was scored-from the two sides. F.Mastrocola was projected to be the likely hero for the season he’s been having so far. Already with a pair of goals and an assist, the forward came through at the games biggest moment to snap the tie and give the Kings a lead that they would not falter.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Francesco Mastrocola of the Kings. Look to your key player at a  time of need. The Kings were able to maintain their perfect record so far this season thanks to F.Mastrcola producing once again in a big way bagging three goals and an assist.

Sabres blitz Predators with 5 goals in first 15 minutes

(5)Predators vs Sabres(7)

The Sabres, despite giving up an early marker, lit the lamp with five goals in only fifteen minutes to kick start their night. C.Zafiropoulos set the trend striking twice followed with some balanced scoring involving three different players. Falling that far behind makes it difficult and discouraging for any opponent to try and battle back. That being said, the Predators began to assert themselves , tilting the court in their favour and generating multiple quality chances. M.Braun was the catalyst behind the Predators offense as the sniper didn’t go down without a fight sparking three goals in about eight minutes. It may have come a little too late, but the Predators fought back to avoiding an embarrassing loss. Maybe the Sabres let go of the gas pedal after building such a lead. That tends to happen when a team is comfortable in the drivers seat while the opposition is working harder to make a game of it. Regardless, the Sabres took the right approach by being the better of the two sides early in the game. A.Angelis, M.Chenier and the father son Zafiropoulos tandem were in full form again sharing three points apiece.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Mike Tzouvadakis of the Sabres. While the Sabres were building their early lead, M.Tzouvadais made sure to keep denying the Predators for as long as possible in order to keep his side playing ahead comfortably.

Kraken outlasted by Panthers after back and forth action

(7)Kraken vs Panthers(8)

There was no question that is was a crazy game with both teams pushing the pace. It was everything a clash between two solid teams should be, with back and forth action, a couple of hat tricks, big saves and a roller-coaster ride of emotion. Unfortunately for the Kraken, they came up on the wrong side of an 8-7 decision against the Panthers. Neither team had a gauge on where this thing was headed. Both sides kept trading leads and whoever trailed would battle back and even the score. With D.Lipinski tying the game 7-7 by the thirty nine  minute mark, goals-from that point on would matter more since time was winding down. Somehow, this contest went on a scoring drought for nearly ten minutes. It seemed all of a sudden that they paid more attention to helping out their net minders since that next tally would likely decide matters. Even with little time left over, both teams took the approach that they were already in a sudden death frame. The extra time ended up being avoided when M.Paciencia scored with just over a minute remaining. An innocent play in front of the net saw the forward swipe at a loose ball that just snuck its way behind the Karaken net minder. It was just one of those nights that neither team could have held on to any sort of momentum. It really came down to whoever would make that one big play. In tonight’s case, the Panthers got their first solidifying their perfect regular season record so far.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Rob Lendrum of the Panthers. After collecting three goals, R.Lendrum was the one to feed M.Paciencia for the winner that decided a back and forth high scoring affair.

Canadiens overcome slow start for character win

(8)Canadiens vs Red Wings(5)

It goes without question that teams want a good start to their night. For the Canadiens, they came out with less energy and urgency falling behind 3-1 through the first fifteen minutes. The good part about it is that it was still fairly early in the game and the deficit wasn’t extraordinary. It becomes a question of how you respond. The Canadiens managed to take over by pressuring better, keeping the ball longer, and capitalising on the Red Wings breakdowns. As they slowly took over the game, the Canadiens looked more in sync using their rhythm to over take control of the situation. This wasn’t a case of relying on anyone in particular as many contributed in their own way. Offensively ,C.Kfoury and F.Decoster riffled a pair while in net D.Geishecker-Cote rebounded after a shaky start. The Red Wings saw most of their scoring done early and late having to endure a scoring drought that lasted for about twenty seven minutes. J.Testa, Z.St-Martin and M.St-Martin provided much of the offense for the Red Wings as the three players shared two points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Claude Kfoury of the Canadiens. While many participated in getting the job done, C.Khoury helped make it easier for his teammates by setting up plenty of plays that resulted in a five point night.

Blackhawks thrash Wild after sleepy start

(11)Blackhawks vs Wild(6)

For about twenty minutes, the Blackhawks kept pressing the snooze button on their phones. While that was happening, the Wild were the early birds in this one storming out to a 5-1 lead just shy of the twenty minute mark. What more can you ask for in such a short span of hockey. Your offense is rolling on high cylinders, the defense is ready and primed, and the  goaltending is up to the task. The problem was that it looked like a pack of hungry wolves woke up and decided to have a big lunch. The Wild looked like the prey and the Blackhawks were the hunters as they made their presence felt on what was a complete turn of events. Ten of the next eleven goals were scored by the Blackhawks. Once the flood gates opened, the Wild couldn’t stop the bleeding, and were stuck enduring a difficult time feeling almost defenceless. In order for such a turn over to occur, it usually means that one side simply cant keep up versus a hungrier opponent. The Blackhawks simply outworked the Wild which resulted in a flurry of tallies that kept accumulating. So many players had an input with E.Capalbo, G.DeStefano, E.Gabrielli and B.Freitas-Pereira sharing four points each.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Enzo Gabrielli of the Blackhawks. The forward had the most goals with three that included the winner in what was a complete turn of events.

Friday March 31

Generals use third period outburst to flatten Dirty Scrubs

(1)Dirty Scrubs vs Generals(8)

If there was one time during the regular season that the Generals may have dropped a game, tonight was it. Normally your playing with fire when having to rotate only one single player-from your bench. In normal circumstances, fatigue tends to catch up to you as the game goes on.  The Generals didn’t have that explosive outburst in the first two frames, but managed to build a 3-1 lead heading into the final period. You would have to assume by then that the Dirty Scrubs were going to give the Generals a run for their money. Still, it didn’t matter. Rather than playing on their heels, the Generals made the Dirty Scrubs look like the side that had the shorter bench. Five out of their eight goals came in the final stretch in the span of only seven minutes. But perhaps this wasn’t really an issue of a team that should be tired rather than a side that will burn you on counter attacks. The Dirty Scrubs knew they had to go for it. Unfortunately some broken plays turned into some deadly counter attacks where the Generals usually don’t miss. J.Brunet was a menace bagging four goals while M.Larin and R.Morne collected five points each.

United Masters use strong third period finish to down Sonic

(4)Sonic vs United Masters(6)

So many times the United Masters had chances to increase their lead. Instead, Sonic resisted, and kept battling back to keeping this contest extremely close. At one point they found themselves ahead for the first time during the match when T.Xanthoudakis scored early in the third period. Despite falling back however, the United Masters worked their way back into the game and eventually evened the score thanks to their captain G.Missakian. That tally came with about half a period remaining. Up until that point, the United Masters felt that they could have gone for the kill for how much pressure they were putting on. B.Madonis was keeping Sonic in the game, but could only take so much as the net minder kept making brilliant saves. Eventually, a grade A chance finally got to Madonis when D.Charbonneau riffled a rocket to beat him low. It was a goal that couldn’t have come at a better time for the United Masters, who had all but a minute to kill off and secure the win. 

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Jeremi Brunet of the Generals. Playing practically the whole game-from his back end, the pillar on defence stole the show collecting five points that included four goals.

The Masters 35+ division regular season came to an end on Friday night. All four teams will be battling it out in the semi final round. The match ups are as follows:

(1)Generals vs Sonic(4) Barring a miracle, the Generals are going through. There is just no chance that the Generals will drop two games after a dominant regular season.

(2)United Masters vs Dirty Scrubs(3) This will be a nice hard fought series between two teams that are pretty much evenly matched. Expect a chess match as both sides will make sure to defend well while waiting for their chances to occur. This has the potential to go the distance or at very least the games will be decided by a narrow margin. There in no clear cut favourite.

Thursday March 30 (Playoffs Round 1)

Horsemen just didn’t have it against Fatal Demons

(1)Horsemen vs Fatal Demons(6)

Facing a dialled in R.Ranieri in goal and an inspired Fatal Demons side, the Horsemen had nothing much to show for in their most important game of the season. It didn’t matter that they got on board first and early thanks to D.Gkeivelopoulos because that was all they would generate to beat R.Ranieri. The Fatal Demons executed their turning point later in the opening frame when P.Paikopoulos and T.Langiano each scored to gain the lead. Not even two power play chances were able to rescue the Horsemen’s offense on this night. By not converting with the man up, things became that much more difficult to generate chances at even strength. The same couldn’t be said for the Fatal Demons however as they slowly built there lead by being the more engaged team. By winning more one on one battles while keeping the ball longer will only go a long way. The Fatal Demons carried a 3-1 lead heading into the final period and never let up despite knowing that the Horsemen were going to come out hard. Actually, it was the Fatal Demons pushing the pace rather by converting three times in a very short span. It just went to show how prepared and more focused the Fatal Demons were as a group. Tonight’s win didn’t have to rely on one player or a particular line. With goals coming-from six different players, that just goes to show that everyone stepped up at the right time. This is a type of win that will prep them for a bigger challenge ahead. For now, they’ll celebrate the victory and focus on what’s ahead in a weeks time.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Rino Ranieri of the Fatal Demons. While the net minder was nicely insulted by a collective group, he still had to be sharp at key moments to keep the Horsemen to only one goal.

With this match up now decided, four teams remain in the semi final round. The match ups are as follow:

(1)Armadillos vs Fatal Demons(5) When looking at how both these teams are built, there isn’t much of a difference at how they compare. Both sides are deep with a ton of playoff experience. Maybe you can argue that the Fatal Demons have the slight advantage up front but the Armadillos will make the case that they have a nice defensive core. Regardless the strengths and or weaknesses, expect a nice hard fought grinding series that can go the distance.

(2)Van Doos Hc vs Brew Crew(3) The Van Doos Hc don’t look like last seasons dominating team but still have all the essential elements to go all the way. In their quest to reaching the final once more, the Brew Crew will stand in their way and be a difficult out. It wont be a pretty series as both sides will be grinding it out having to make plays in very tight spaces. Since the will to win wont be an issue, this will come down to who will be more opportunist with their chances.

Wednesday March 29

Senators in cruise control for easy win versus Oilers

(9)Senators vs Oilers(2)

The Senators raced out to an early lead , then kept the Oilers at bay the rest of the way. It wasn’t a case where the Oilers were completely out played. Actually, they had the ball for good stretches, but weren’t able to finish like the Senators did. It seemed like every time they tried to get one, the Senators would be more opportunistic with their chances. J.Fidrilis is no stranger to closing out the deal as the forward led the way scoring three times while setting up a pair. M.Lafleur and C.Arnoldo converted twice with M.Lafleur adding three helpers, and T.Sauk was able to keep the Oilers to only two goals after facing many chances. G.Bardetti and J.Salvo were the only two players to figure out the stern net minder. Throughout the entire match, the Senators kept playing the same way by never taking a shift off. Unfortunately for the Oilers, they just couldn’t slow them down enough and keep the game closer than it should have been.

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the game goes to Tyler Sauk of the Senators. Maybe they still would have won if T.Sauk was average, but that doesn’t deny the fact that the net minder was superb making a bunch of nice saves to keeping his opponent to only two goals.

T.Nardelli early hat trick, five goal performance propels Golden Knights past Hurricanes

(6)Hurricanes vs Golden Knights(9)

The Hurricanes endured the worse possible start that you can imagine in a hockey game. Eight minutes had gone by, and the Golden Knights laid down the hammer rattling off five straight tallies. T.Nardelli was able to expose the Hurricanes right away on three consecutive goals posting a hat trick as early as the six minute mark of the contest. Once M.Barone buried his clubs fifth goal ,things started to settle down with neither side scoring for a decent stretch. There was no question that the Hurricanes needed that next tally if they planned on putting forth some sort of a challenge. And despite the huge deficit, sometimes it takes that one tally to stimulate your bench. Eventually that moment came when A.Gold was able to figure out M.Mascitto. Finally, the Hurricanes had something to build on as it showed almost right away with F.Mastrocola converting twice in only four minutes. What once looked like a one sided affair quickly turned into a tightly contested battle-from a team that was slowly creeping up on the Golden Knights. Unable to make some serious ground however, the Hurricanes endured a similar patch like in the opening stages surrendering four goals in only five minutes. T.Nardelli picked up-from where he left off adding two more to his piggy bank to provide enough of a comfortable lead. It was one of those games that one team came ready to play while the other took some time to get going .

The Allo Mon Coco Ste-Dorothee player of the games goes to Tony Nardelli of the Golden Knights. Scoring three goals in the first six minutes while adding two more by the time it was said and done is quite an accomplishment. The Golden Knights were thrilled to see their forward produce in such a way which was a huge reason why they got by the Hurricanes on Wednesday night.

Monday March 27

Knights offence firing on all cylinders as they sweep the United Arms

The Knights have been fielding different line-ups lately and still yielding the same results.  With so many offensive weapons at their disposal, they usually score by committee and tonight was no different as eight different goal scorers found the back of the net.  The United Arms were still searching for their first points of the season and managed to hold the fort for the majority of the first game, only losing by a goal.  Game 2 was a different story as the Knights stormed out to a six goal first period and never looked back, as the flood gates opened, with D.Guarnieri leading the charge with a five point performance, which included a hat trick. The United Arms did all they could to stop the relentless offence the Knights possess, but to no avail.

 (4) RCGT Knights vs United Arms (3)

 (9) RCGT Knights vs United Arms (2)

Hotly contested games between Brodie Boys & The Diabetoz Angels end in split

As the regular season winds down, and with every team fighting for playoff positioning, every game, every shift, every goal becomes that much more crucial as points become harder to come by.  In what proved to be a stingy low scoring affair, this match-up featured stellar goaltending, high intensity, and timely goal scoring. With plenty of back-and-forth action and with both teams fighting and scraping for every inch, it became that much more important to get on the board first.  Brodie boys captured game 1 on a late tally by L.Velenosi to break the deadlock, with P.Stroubakis adding an insurance marker.  Game 2 featured more drama as the teams were tied late and headed for a shootout until J.Zervakos provided the heroics by scoring with 4 seconds remaining sealing the victory.  There was no love lost between these 2 teams, as both teams gave everything they had. 

 (2) Brodie Boys vs Diabetoz Angels (0)

 (1) Brodie Boys vs Diabetoz Angels (2)

Dragons prove too much to handle as they sweep both encounters

As they have shown on numerous occasions, Country Club will always be ready for any challenge.  They knew they’d be in tough and would have to play a flawless system, to compete with the firepower the Dragons have.  Defending a team like the Dragons is extremely tough as you can’t really focus on 1 or 2 players, since they come at you in waves, with many weapons at their disposal.  Transition play is the Dragon’s specialty, and it was on full display. Game 1 was dictated by their ball possession and high level passing resulting in a 7-1 rout, with A.Mirolla, & J.Mandracchia combining for 9 points. In game 2, the goalies were left high and dry as defense was an afterthought. Credit the Country Club for showing their character and grit, by providing a better effort and narrowing the gap, even if it was in a losing cause.    

(7) Dragons vs Country Club (1)

 (9) Dragons vs Country Club (6)

Strong forecheck and short bench sinks Assadi

The Snipers are a tough team to play against, since they will chase down every ball, and apply constant forechecking pressure by grinding out balls in the corners.  Assadi knew they had to keep it simple and stick to playing a defensive minded game since their line-up was depleted.  Game 1 was a close affair, settled in a shootout, with A. Sayed getting the game winner and M.St-Laurent stopping all 3 shooters for the Snipers.  Game 2 was a different story and with their short bench, the Snipers took full advantage.  Assadi had a hard time being first on the ball and were forced to chase rather than dictate, with fatigue being a major factor.  It was only a regular season game and key elements were missing, but the Snipers showed they can compete and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

(2) Assadi Consulting Inc vs Snipers (3) S.O.

 (2) Assadi Consulting Inc vs Snipers (6)

 Match-up between division leaders favors the Classics

Bragging rights were on the line in this highly anticipated match-up between the 2 division leaders.  This contest did not disappoint, as ETNA held their own vs the reigning champs.  Missing a few key pieces, ETNA had to rely on playing a boring style of hockey if they wanted to contain the Classics.  Game 1 had ETNA grab an early lead only to relinquish it quickly after, with the Classics deploying their usual brand of up tempo, run and gun style lead by the usual suspects.  Captain M.Stoico had a only a few minutes to rally his troops and adjust his game plan.  Game 2 was a much closer contest, with both teams tied heading into the late stages, until M.Mavroudis rescued his club by scoring what proved to be the game winning goal.  Despite missing some valuable resources, ETNA managed to give the Classics a run for their money and will be a formidable opponent in the playoffs.

(2) ETNA vs Classics (5)

 (1) ETNA vs Classics (2)

 SalumiVino: Player of the week: M. St-Laurent, who put on a clinic and stood on his head with his superb goaltending, allowing The Snipers to pick up some valuable points vs a tough opponent