The Green Giants rode the spectacular goaltending of Mike “Grasshopper” Burke as they ploughed White all over the ice in their 5-2 victory.
It’s often said it doesn’t matter how many saves you make, it’s when you make them and “Grasshopper” picked the perfect time to stand on his head as he made countless rapier-like saves in the first half that dejected White and gave Green the physiological edge they needed.
Spurred on by a stellar performance from Scott “Niedermeyer” Davis who scored his first of the season and also assisted on a pair and the fancy footwork of Chad “Slider” Swanson who matched “Niedermeyer’s” output, Green proved to be no match for a White side who has now gone winless on the current rotation.
Timely goals by a trio of Green plumbers, Doug “And the Slugs” Mack, “I’ll call” Rusty Young and Randy “Killer” Crofts (whose total age equals 150) proved old age and treachery will triumph over youth and enthusiasm every time.
Unfortunately the only young-guns for White that showed up were Brody “Good” Neighbour and “BIG” Bob Merta (whose combined inseam equals 150 inches) who each found the twine once.
The other contest saw more howling than a werewolf convention, as Red scored the winner with seconds left for the 3-2 victory over Black.
The Black lead came from two skaters on opposite ends of the Black depth chart as Nathan “Final” Strand completed a nifty three-way passing play before Lee “Nitro” Naeth served up one of his own.
Not long after that tensions rose as a Red player was assessed a seven-minute penalty for inflicting a bone-crushing hit on a Black player who hit the ice like he was hit with a sack full of hammers.
Not only did the Red side respond with a perfect penalty kill, they bagged a shorty for good measure to knot the contest.
A frantic finish ensued with both squads having glorious chances to prevail before Red’s “Sugar” Shane Baker scored the winner, erupting a celebration that lasted all the way to the Buffalo airport.
Steve Dodge is a defensive winger for the White team and an Observer contributor.