Franchise Hockey 6 Pioneer 4
Franchise Hockey 3 Sobrato 0
The first game, against Pioneer who Matt King had scored twice on in the final minute in the team's prior meeting, started off on a rough note for the Franchise. Trailing early, Josh Capelle scored the first of his three goals and six points on a laser of a wristshot. Trailing in the second, King scored the first of his hat trick effort to even the score at 2-2. Capelle tied the game 3-3 late in the third.
After being caught flat-footed on Sobrato's go-ahead goal early in the third, King was moved from defenseman to forward. The move paid immediate dividends. On his first shift, along side Capelle, King scored a wrap-around goal to even the score.
With the game 4-4 in the final minute, King again scored the big goal. This time, he was spoon-fed by Capelle's perfect saucer pass as the two players beared down on the Pioneer goal during a two-on-one. King went top-shelf with a picture-perfect wristshot. However, Capelle's highlight reel dekes, following by a dead-eye wrister stole the show. Capelle deked a Pioneer defenseman to his backhand, deked back to his forehand and put the game away.
For the second game, Myles Rowland, who was quiet in the first game, took King's place on defense. It would end up being a wise decision. Rowland, Sheraj Ragoobeer, who finished with five points over the two games, and Mikey Stanzler combined to shutout Sobrato. It was Stanzler's second career shutout.
Kris Anderson scored on a rebound from the deep slot to give the Franchise a 1-0 lead, and the game was a defensive chessmatch until the third period.
With time expiring in the second period, a Sobrato forward became entangled with Brian Reich. After exchanging words, the two were separated. However, after Ragoobeer raced down the ice early in the third and made the score 2-0, beating the Sobrato netminder five-hole, Sobrato lost its composure. The forward took a cheap-shot, slamming Reich into the boards with a cross-check after the goal, on a play eerily similar to Dale Hunter's hit on Pierre Turgeon in the 1980s. The forward was ejected, and the Franchise enjoyed a five minute powerplay.
During the powerplay, Anderson scored his second of the game on a perfect pass from Rowland to end Sobrato's chances. The third period was marked by several solid saves from Stanzler, who kept his team afloat early in the contest.
With a 6-3 record, the Franchise will have to take care of business in the regular season finale against Mitty. If all goes as planned, the Franchise will own the second seed and a first-round playoff bye as its quest for a championship heats up.
Box Score:
Game 8:
1st Period:
Capelle 8 (Anderson, Ragobeer)
2nd Period:
King 15 (Reich, Capelle)
Capelle 9 (Anderson, King)
3rd Period:
King 16 (Capelle, M. Rowland)
King 17 (Capelle, Ragoobeer)
Capelle 10 (Ragoobeer, M. Rowland)
Goaltending:
Stanzler 4-2 (4 GA)
Game 9:
1st Period:
Anderson 7 (M. Rowland, Ragoobeer)
3rd Period:
Ragoobeer 2 (King, Reich)
Anderson 8 (M. Rowland, Ragoobeer)
Goaltending:
Stanzler 5-2 (0 GA)
Captain's Thoughts:
The first game was memorable, because we played poorly and stole the game in the last minute. The second game was memorable, because we played well but couldnt't put pucks in the back of the net.
Yet, after sweeping our doubleheader, the team should feel satisfied, if not a little tired and sore.
Beating Pioneer was obviously key, because anything else would have been a disgrace. As it was, we shouldn't feel too great about letting the game go down to the wire again. It's a good thing Josh still had some gas in the tank to put them away.
Moving Myles back to defense for Sobrato was also a real key. I was totally out of gas, and Myles and Sheraj combined to lock down any semblance Sobrato had of an offense. Mikey made the stops early in the game and gave us confidence to activate our defense into the offense.
My favorite moments? Josh's Sidney Crosby-esque dangle-and-score in the final minute of the Pioneer game. Mikey's glove save against Sobrato. Kris' two goals from crashing the net. Sheraj setting a new career-high in goals with two. And, of course, Brian making a new friend.
I'll just end with a final thought. For Brian to keep his composure and antagonize one of Sobrato's best players into a game misconduct was genius. But, more than that, it was the sign of an elite team. He kept his composure and let the power-play unit do his talking for him.
Mitty next week. Get ready.-
Your Captain
#37