Feb 03, 2018 | Bob Pozzebon | 732 views
Round Robin Playoff Game #1 vs Wasaga Beach #1
The two Wasaga Beach teams came head to head to begin the playoff round robin with both teams looking to set the tone for the remainder of the playoffs.
After just meeting last week to finish the regular season both Wasaga Beach teams knew that their opening playoff game would be a hard fought affair and considering how close the teams are talent wise it would be the team that played the hardest that would come out on top.
The game started quickly with the #1 team winning the opening face-off and rushing straight down the ice and ringing a shot off the post. After the close call both teams settled into the game and it was a tight checking affair with a few missed calls against both sides by the referees. The #2 team finally opened the scoring with just over two minutes left in the opening period. The line of Evan, Noah and Jack played right to the whistle and Noah jammed a rebound in the net to give the #2 team the lead with assists going to both his forward line mates.
In the second period both goalies, Conner for the #1 team and Gavin for the #1 team, turned away multiple opportunities but it was Gavin who was first to crack. After Ben from the #2 team took a penalty the #1 team scored a power play goal to take a 2 - 1 lead going into the third period.
After a quick pep talk from replacement coach Rob with the emphasis to get the puck on the net the #2 team came out strong in the third period and Andrew slid a backhand through the goalies five hole to tie the game and the #2 team was energized. Assists on the goal went to Evan, his second of the game and Adam. The teams then went back and forth and traded really good scoring chances but both goalies were up to the test. After both teams were unable to capitalize on power plays the #2 team broke the tie with Ben slipping a goal underneath the goalie during a scramble in front of the net with assists credited to Noah and Jack, his second of the game. After the ensuing face-off Evan was able to coral the puck in the offensive zone and flip a backhand in the net to give the #2 team a 4 - 2 lead. After taking a two goal lead the #2 team went into defensive lock down mode but #1 team was not going to give up and it was the #2 team goalie Gavin who had the save of the night with a fantastic glove save earning him the nickname "Gavin the Glove" by his teammates after the game. After the save the #2 team defense consisting of Zach, Jackson, Heather, Emma, and Chyna were able to gather themselves and held off the end of the game push by the #1 team to help secure the win for the #2 Stars team with the final score coming in at 4 -2.
The #2 Stars team take on the the Elmvale #2 team in their next game and it should be a close contest with both games between the teams during the regular season ending in ties.
Go Stars Go.