Monday November 20

Punishers short bench dooms them as the Orient dominate.

It’s never a good idea showing up with a short bench, especially when facing a high-powered opponent like the Orient, who will make you pay dearly. They took full advantage of the Punishers short bench and the only reason this game was close was due to C.Ekonomakis, once again standing on his head making incredible saves.  From the opening face-off to the final buzzer, Orient showcased their prowess and skill, asserting control over the games right from the start.  Orient used their team speed to dominate as F.Nasser led the way with three goals. The Punishers did put up a fight and tried to deploy a defensive strategy, but fatigue and too much ball chasing ultimately came back to haunt them.

(2) Orient vs Punishers (1)

(5) Orient vs Punishers (2)

A.Ekonomakis rock solid goaltending completely stifles The Peters

It’s a known fact that the Classics can beat you in many ways with their numerous game-breakers up and down their line-up.  Tonight, they put on a defensive clinic led by their stellar goaltender A.Ekonomakis who made key saves and pushed aside wave after wave of The Peters attack. Not to be overshadowed, the Classics' team defense was nothing short of exceptional. Demonstrating cohesion, communication, and a relentless commitment to protecting their own zone, the Classics managed to stifle The Peters' offensive threats. The defensive unit worked seamlessly to disrupt plays, block shots, and limit scoring opportunities, ultimately providing crucial support to their goaltender.  The Peters are a veteran team and will need to regroup quickly, in order to end their current losing streak.

(4) Classics vs The Peters (1)

(3) Classics vs The Peters (0)

Assadi power their way through the Sharpshooters with their offensive firepower

In what should have been an evenly matched tune-up game leading into the playoffs, ended up being an offensive slugfest favoring Assadi. Assadi emerged victorious in both games, as the Sharpshooters simply couldn’t contain the dynamic duo of N. Chiminian and S. Kalaydjian, each recording a hat trick. Assadi’s transition game was fluid with plenty of help from the back end as veteran D-Man N.Kokovidis provided an impressive seven helpers for his teammates.  Assadi has been on a nice run as of late, clicking and building team chemistry. The Sharpshooters, on the other hand, will undoubtedly regroup, tighten up defensively and strategize to bounce back from these defeats in their upcoming games. Top of Form

(7) Assadi Consulting  Inc. vs Sharpshooters (4)

(8) Assadi Consulting  Inc. vs Sharpshooters (3)

Resilient Hustlers earn hard fought split with the Dragons.

In a match up that featured a team with a deep and full roster, the Dragons vs a team that had only one spare, the Hustlers managed to make it very interesting in earning a split. Even though the odds were stacked against them, game 1 saw the Hustlers open the scoring and then relying on overall team defense, repeatedly stifling the Dragons and with C.Stavriadis standing on his head. When you face a team like the Dragons, you know they can’t be held down for long.  They came out looking for revenge in game 2 and proceeded to overpower their opponent with their offensive barrage that couldn’t be contained with J.Scalia leading the charge with an impressive four goal performance.  Their short bench hampered the Hustlers but give them credit for splitting their double header vs a high-quality opponent.  Top of Form

(3) Hustlers vs Dragons (1)

(3) Hustlers vs Dragons (9)

The Snipers relentless style of play wears down the Degenerates

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.  Game 1 was a close affair, with the Degenerates storming back with two late goals courtesy of T.Settino, forcing a shootout and ending in a draw. Game 2 two was an entirely different story, with the Snipers seizing control early and never looking back. Displaying superior hustle and determination, the Snipers outpaced the Degenerates to the ball, consistently winning crucial battles along the boards and being first on the ball. The Degenerates never played with a lead and were overwhelmed by the Snipers suffocating playing style. C.Henriquez stood tall, turning away most shots fired his way and thwarting any offensive threats.

(3) Snipers vs Degenerates (3)  S.O.

(6) Snipers vs Degenerates (1)

The SalumiVino Player of the week goes to: A. Ekonomakis, who put on a clinic and stood on his head with his superb goaltending, limiting a high-powered offence like the Peters to just one goal over 2 games.