Tuesday April 25(Semi finals)

(4)Communists vs Legacy(2) Game 1

J.Provost-Blais always finds a way, Communists take series opener

Barely seconds shy of the opening frame, things started to look bleak for Legacy having to trail a Communists team by a 2-0 score. E.Girouard did eventually wake his side up by cutting the lead in half but that still didn’t solve their scoring woes up front. Instead J.Provost-Blais just made things worst with his second right before T-J Ward put an end to it providing a three goal cushion late in the game. While it’s easier said than done, Legacy knew containing J.Provost-Blais was a top priority. However, when a player is that good it’s almost impossible sometimes to do what you prepared for. The Communists did everything right to grab an important 1-0 series lead. After netting two unanswered goals, J.Vrettis felt he got the support he needed and made sure to take care of the rest denying 24 of 25 shots.

(5)Legacy vs Communists (3) Game 2   S.O

Legacy survive to live another game

With neither side able to get it done in regulation time, Legacy channeled their pressure in the shootout. T.Bozinakis closed out the must win with his clubs second breakaway attempt. This came as a huge result for P.Turturici, who needed to be on top of his game in order to force a third and deciding game. Both sides did well with their five man unit that saw the Communists strike twice on two attempts while Legacy scored once thanks to a big goal by J.Rochon. The Communists still had J.Provost-Blais collected a pair of points which is considered damage control for most clubs. The win also came with the help of a veteran that has yet to slow down. D.Bertrand was involved in every single goal that included two assists on J.Belzile and J.Rochon’s power play marker.

(2)Communists vs Legacy(1) Game 3 O.T

J.Provost-Blais haunts Legacy once more, Communists off to big dance

How fitting that this series was going to get decided with the help of one player in particular. Legacy, despite doing an excellent job containing the superstar, J.Provost-Blais still found a way to put up the points. Whenever two teams split the first two games and force an overtime game three, it’s safe to say that the outcome will get determined in coin toss situation. That being said, Legacy will still look back and try and figure out how to have killed 100 more seconds that would have given them a 1-0 regulation result. Instead D.Provost-Jarry leveled the game with the help of J.Provost-Blais’s perfect pass and all of a sudden this series was up in the air. Once the overtime hit, the Communists celebrated their biggest goal yet barely two minutes in. This was a series that came down to all the little details and the hard work put forth by all the players and especially the goaltenders. P.Turturici and J.Vrettis were absolutely outstanding giving their clubs every opportunity to take the series. But in the end, the Communists capitalized one more time over a side that can be argued were just as deserving.

(4)Smooth Sailors vs Capitals(1) Game 1

M.Testolina’s hat trick lifts Sailors over Capitals in game 1

M.Testolina continued his point production splurge recording a playoff hat trick to a 4-1 decision over the Capitals. Two out of his three goals came with the help of the five man unit. The Capitals penalty killers failed to kill off their only two times that they took penalties during the game. If timing is everything, than the Smooth Sailors showed it in this contest taking advantage of every single situation. A.Grieco limited a very good scoring team to only one goal that evened the game at one apiece. J.Morina scored once while setting up Testolina for the go ahead marker. With the loss, the Capitals used a whole hour on how to adjust and make sure to even the series.

(6)Capitals vs Smooth Sailors(3) Game 2

Capitals bounce back in a big way to force mini game

There was far too much skill and pride in the dressing room for the Capitals to just throw in the towel. Sure a seed of doubt might have been growing in some of the Capitals heads but as time went on, the confidence started to build. The Capitals saved their best for last by dominating a third period after both sides traded the same amount of goals in the first two frames. The biggest tally came early in the third frame when M.Tremblay snapped a dreaded 3-3 tie. Then, four minutes later C.Valois extended the lead by two and M.Carmelo was able to seal it in an empty cage. Prior to the third period onslaught, C.Bezeau-Chabot got his club there by netting two big goals. Know that the series is tied, both sides knew that they didn’t have any margin of error entering a 15 minute mini game.

(2)Smooth Sailors vs Capitals(0) Game 3

Momentum shifts as M.Crialese sends the Sailors through with late goal

M.Crialese has scored many times that included some very big goals in his career. Tonight, the right handed sniper came through once more as the Smooth Sailors celebrated what was a hard fought grinding series with the Capitals. Entering these types of games, the first goal usually determines who prevails. The period had less than four minutes remaining before M.Argiris and J.Morina found their linemate to get the better of J.Richer. At that point, the Capitals eventually pulled Richer for the extra attacker only to see their season come to an end when M.Testolina fired a ball into an empty net. The Capitals took ten shots and had some chances only to get frustrated by A.Grieco. Similar to the previous series between the Communists and Legacy, this battle also had all the elements of two clubs giving it all that could have easily gone either way.

The SalumiVino player of the night goes to Joel Provost-Blais of the Communists. The Communist forward notched six points that included the series deciding goal over a minute into the sudden death period.

The Communists and the Smooth Sailors are left with only one task to end their season. But that task isn’t that simple as both sides will be primed for their biggest series so far. Both these teams met three times during the regular season that had the Communists take all three games. If that’s an indication of what’s to come than the Communists will be fine. However, the Smooth Sailors won’t really care about previous stats and outcomes as they’ll just approach this as an opportunity to achieving their ultimate goal. Neither side has many weaknesses heading into the final, especially after what they demonstrated in the semi final round.