Sunday January 14
Two headed monster’s M.Chenier and M.Kardum lead the charge up front for the Panthers
(6)Panthers vs Kings(4)
It looked like the Kings proved to be formidable opponents for a good period of time. The game remained close for a while with nothing secured for either team. Then, the two headed monsters between M.Chenier and M.Kardum’s offensive prowess and goal scoring ability became the focal point of the Panthers attack. The two players were understandably dynamic showcasing incredible talent that led to a whopping nine points combined that saw M.Chenier collect five points while M.Kardum ripped it up with three consecutive markers. While the Kings put up a valiant effort to keeping the game close, the Panthers cohesive performance ultimately secured their hard fought win. After facing nearly 30 shots, B.Verducci was stellar once more allowing only four goals. The win will clearly boost the confidence level of a team that felt they had little hope only a week ago. When playing with some top end players, coupled with a solid supporting cast, expect good things to happen.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Ben Verducci. Cool, calm and collective, B.Verducci felt he had this one under control as the net minder made more than his fair share of saves to help provide a hard earned victory for the Panthers.
Canadiens edge out Bruins in low scoring affair
(5)Canadiens vs Bruins(2)
From-the onset, both the Canadiens and the Bruins showcased strong defensive structures, making it challenging for either team to capitalize on offensive opportunities. Despite the low score, the intensity on the field was palpable as both teams fought relentlessly for control. Since scoring was extremely rare, getting the first tally will often come a long way. The Canadiens won that battle three times to narrowly pull ahead which forced the Bruins to work that much harder. The turning point can be argued when M.Estrela broke a late 2-2 tie which eventually forced the Bruins to pull out their net minder. Although worth the risk to battle back, the Bruins fell short giving up two empty net goals by the very same D.Mansour, who summed it up with a hat trick. It was one of those games that required both goaltenders to be heavily engaged. And although both were superb bailing out their clubs, C.Stamadianos got the upper hand over his counter part D.Apikian in what was a thrilling contest between the two.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Chris Stamadianos of the Canadiens. Giving up only two goals in this division is quite a remarkable feat. The Canadiens went on to squeak this one out thanks to C.Stamadianos’s incredible goaltending display.
Red Wings overcome slow start in rout of Sabres
( 8 )Red Wings vs Sabres(5)
The Sabres started the game the way they wanted to, establishing an early lead while playing sound defensively. Unable to continue their pace however, the game eventually took a dramatic turn with the Red Wings now dictating the terms. The ability to convert on penalty shot goals isn’t easy, but the Red Wings excelled in that area cashing in three times .The offensive onslaught-from the Red Wings was not limited to penalty shots; their players demonstrated exceptional teamwork, precision passing, and goal scoring ability to secure the commanding lead. Goals came by many with M.Chenier and L.Folini each striking twice. The Red Wings ability to overcome a slow start and turn the game in their favour demonstrated their resilience and skill. The Sabres, on the other hand, will likely analyze the game to address defensive challenges and prepare for future match-ups.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Simon Fraga of the Red Wings. For a solid stretch that lasted well over a half hour, the net minder was stubborn stopping everything which enabled his side to comfortably build a solid cushion and never look back.
Islanders top Flyers in nail biting hockey duel
(2)Flyers vs Islanders(5)
In what felt like a playoff atmosphere, both sides put out a valiant effort in a defensive battle. M.Destounis got the Flyers on board first, and the Islanders have yet to solve M.Tvouvadakis up until the mid way point of the game. The Flyers quickly displayed tenacity by responding shortly after thanks to C.Roberts regaining the lead. The slight margin however only lasted so long with N.Tsirmbas tying the game for the Islanders. The two teams understood the importance of getting the next much needed tally as the game was starting to hit its final segment. After receiving a nice pass by M.Scarpetta, T.Passarelli was there to complete a huge play giving the Islanders a crucial 3-2 lead. Despite plenty of time for an equaliser, the Flyers were now stuck trying to break S.Catalano for a third time. Unfortunately for the Flyers, the goaltender was the back bone making key saves to thwart the Flyers attempt at an equaliser. The Flyers pulled their goaltender in a last ditch effort to tie the game, but T.Passarelli along with C.Khoury were there to feed a yawning cage.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Santino Catalano of the Islanders. The formidable goaltender displayed exceptional skill and composure throughout the entire game allowing only two goals on thirty shots enabling his side to edge out the Flyers.
Kraken stun Wild with last minute heroics
(4)Wild vs Kraken(5)
In a heart-stopping matchup, the Kraken pulled off a dramatic last minute victory against the Wild, securing a 5-4 win that sent shockwaves through the complex. The game reached its zenith as S.Boulerice delivered a jaw dropping goal just 12 seconds-from the final buzzer, breaking the deadlock right after M.DaSilva had tied it for the Wild. The game went through a slow start offensively as both sides played it cautious wanting to avoid any sort of mistakes. Eventually, the action picked up at about the thirty minute mark with S.Kalaydjian stealing the show for the Wild scoring all three goals. M.DiNiro did regain a slight 4-3 advantage for the Kraken on a penalty shot attempt. The Wild, undeterred made a late push on the back of M.DaSilva, who tied the game with only 30 seconds left on the clock. Everyone -from that point must have been convinced that this contest was destined for an overtime finish. Instead, the Kraken had one more trick up their sleeve, and that’s when S.Boulerice stunned the Wild on a late finish to secure a thrilling victory for the Kraken.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Martino Freda of the Kraken. Once the final buzzer sounded, M.Freda’s outstanding performance between the pipes proved instrumental in the Krakens triumph. As the Wild kept launching offensive surge’s , M.Freda made a series of clutch saves to capture a well earned win in net.
Greco and Allen shine as Blackhawks defeat Predators in 9-6 goal fest
(9)Blackhawks vs Predators(6)
In a high scoring spectacle that lit up the scoreboard, D.Greco and E.Allen showcased an offensive masterclass, amassing seven points each to propel the Blackhawks to a thrilling victory over the Predators. It wasn’t the kind of start the Blackhawks were hoping for as the Predators took it to them building a 3-1 lead. The problem was that the next five tallies all came-from the Blackhawks as the Predators couldn’t find a way to slow down the two major threats imposed. D.Greco and E.Allen’s seam less chemistry on the court facilitated the life of S.Marricco, who also had a field day finding the net on four occasions. Whether it was setting up teammates for goals or finding the back of the net themselves, the three proved unstoppable. Their combination of skill, vision, and goal scoring ability overwhelmed the Predators defense and goaltender. As the team looks ahead, Greco and Allen’s seven point performances will undoubtedly serve as a highlight in what promises to be an exciting season despite not having a prolific goal scorer in S.Marricco that played as a spare.
The Allo Mon Coco Ste Dorothee player of the game goes to Errol Allen of the Blackhawks. His chunk of points came at a more crucial stage of the game when his team was stuck enduring a slow start that found themselves playing-from behind. The veteran d-man was able to spark his club by creating a ton of plays to create a massive snow ball effect.
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