Tuesday December 13(Semi finals)

(2)Smooth Sailors vs Team Finland(4) Game 1

Team Finland remain hot, defeat Sailors for a second straight week

Team Finland showed no plans of breaking up a winning formula in their double up win over the division leaders. While the Smooth Sailors were trying to steady themselves and gain any sort of momentum, Team Finland were the ones in full roar playing with the lead. M.Stinziani led the way nodding a pair that included the game winner. The Smooth Sailors did have their chances and enough shots on net, but kept getting frustrated by J.Lomabradi, who stopped 21 of 23 shots. Although Team Finland knew they could have won this game after defeating the Smooth Sailors only a week ago, this result only added to the confidence heading into an important game two of the series.

(3)Team Finland vs SmoothSailors(2) Game 2

Timely power play goal by M.Raimondo slips Finland through to finals

Suddenly Team Finland can’t lose anymore. M.Raimondo scored the game winner with four and a half minutes on the power play, and Team Finland handed the Smooth Sailors another loss to advance to the final. The game started fine for the Sailors when M.Testolina opened the scoring. That lead held up for nearly a whole period up until M.Stinziani tied the game. Team Finland took their first lead minutes later on a goal by A.Pittana. Still not out of it yet, C.Lato put the Smoot Sailors back on track with a third period equalizer. It was three minutes after that tying goal when M.Raimondo came to haunt his opponent. The Smooth Sailors took a four minute penalty that enabled the golden opportunity to arise. Once that goal went in, the curtains eventually closed for a squad that dominated the regular season with only two losses. Team Finland couldn’t ask to be playing the way they are at a better time during the season. After this two game sweep, the mind set will be nothing less than taking it all.

(6)Icons vs Bramabulls(4) Game 1 S.O

N.Gilbert and Icons open up series with shootout win

Despite being down 2-0, the Bramabulls responded with authority bagging four straight markers only to see their lead evaporate by the third. That see saw effect forced both sides to try their luck in a shootout. After scoring twice, P.Chiotis made the right choice to send N.Gilbert as one of his three breakaway challengers. Gilbert made no mistake to solve G.Follano. The Bramabulls were forced to get at least one by C.Stavriadis, but were unable to do so. The game ended when J.Adamou scored on the Icons third attempt. Knowing that they had the game in their hands, this crushing loss only hurts your morale. The Bramabulls had one hour to digest the defeat and try and put it behind them knowing that their season is on the line.

(1)Bramabulls vs Icons(3) Game 2

Icons power play delivers, C.Tuesday division witnesses second upset

The Icons seem to have a flare for the moment as they used three third period goals to knock out the Bramabulls. On only two attempts, the Icons worked their magic producing two power play goals. T.Provost-Blais opened the scoring early in the third period with the man advantage and S.Hrivnak may have scored his clubs biggest goal that gave the Icons a 2-1 lead with five minutes left to go. But the sealer came only a minute later when C.Stamadianos gave his club a two goal cushion. The Bramabulls pack a ton of offense, and after firing 22 shots, only one got the better of C.Stavriadis. The Icons net minder was key to winning both games after denying two shootout attempts in the previous match and allowing only one goal by R.Dussault. Just like what Team Finland did versus the Smooth Sailors, the Icons did the same against a team that entered as favorites.

Now that the final is set, the Icons will play Team Finland on Tuesday night. If there is one advantage that the Icons have is their ability to roll three complete lines. Team Finland will need to weather the storm at times and wait for their opportunities knowing that they have the skill up front to score.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Costa Stavriadis of the Icons. After remaining firm in the shootouts of game one, C.Stavriadis limited a high octane offence to only one goal in game two.