Regular Season Game #9

The final game of the first half of the season pitted us against the Dragons of Rouen in a battle for third place in the North Division. Win and we take third place. Lose and we drop to fifth in the league. Unfortunately for the Asnieres Hockey Club, injuries have continued to plague our team, and those not injured have been battling a flu bug this past week. Our starting goalie and Frat House roomate, Tommi, was probably in the worst shape, but I was also sick as were a couple of the other boys. It was going to be tough match.

We started the game with three forward lines and four defensemen, against a full Rouen bench just itching to take third place from us. However we were not going down without a fight this weekend. They came out flying against us and we quickly matched their speed in the first period, and added a dose of physical play as well. They took the first penalty of the game and smelling an opportunity, we pounced. I kept a puck in play by pinching to the half boards on the power-play and feathered a pass to Andro down low. He promptly found Paul Manushkin (our new Finnish sensation) streaking to the net. A well placed shot and it was 1-0 for the good guys. We continued to play well in the first period, but couldn't mark another goal.

In the second, we finally started to take a couple of penalties as you can't play four defensemen and expect them not to make a mistake sooner or later. On our second penalty, Andro stole the puck from the Rouen defender and rushed in on a breakaway. He beat the goalie with a great little move to the backhand but couldn't get the puck up into the net. Can you say TSN Turning Point? Absolutely. Not thirty seconds later, still on the power-play, a shot from a Rouen defender found its way past a screened Tommi to tie the score. At the end of the second, the score was tied 1-1.

In the third, we took a bad penalty almost right out of the gate, and as is typical with bad penalties, the other team always seems to find a way to score. Another screened point shot and Rouen was ahead 2-1. We pushed for the equilizer but couldn't connect as out defensemen, me included, couldn't add alot to the rush, and our forwards needed some support. At the final buzzer, Rouen pulled of the victory.

The game seemed to be really fast passed as both teams seemed to showcase their speed. Mindy said it was a well paced game with an incredible tempo. It sure felt like it on the ice. Anyway, it's time to regroup and get back on a winning note, hopefully that can be accomplished this weekend when Cherbourg comes to town.