Tonight’s B2 Carmel Hockey by the Highways, Byways, and Roundabouts is brought to you in part by the number 2. It took me a minute to realize that Talus and Williams might have worn the wrong jerseys tonight, 22 and 2 respectively according to the website, but the refs saw it differently. Tonight’s game of the week on one of the big sheets, rink 1, featured the White Zombies against America’s team, the Golden Showers. Zombie’s mercenaries entered the game 2-1, and they were looking to keep pace for first place. America’s team does its due diligence, and we studied their patterns and statistics, thanks largely due to an amazing website tracking this marvelous league. On the out of town scoreboard, the Chips beat the Johns 5-4, Ron demolished Joe 10-3, and there is no report on the cats v cougars, but we all assume that they are licking each other.
Part of my role as a savvy veteran is to recognize patterns. Copland taught me that it’s fun to mess with people pregame. Today, I hit him square in the hands with a weak flipper, and like a gentleman, he feigned significant trauma. Maybe he was thinking too much, as he later had a collision for the ages with Peters. America’s Showers of the Golden variety were curious about Zombie point production, and we were missing most of our top point scorers.
The first period was a slugfest, and we slowly realized that Zombie and Spahr intended to go Ironman. In fact, they played the entire first two periods with 8 skaters in order to maintain pressure with two forward lines. During one of our breaks during the first period, when I could breathe enough to talk, I told Kane and Williams that our role was hustle and forechecking pressure. At 13:58, it paid off when Kane won the puck on the half boards. I was setting up nicely for a pass, and I thought it was a mistake to miss me and just throw it behind the net. But, Williams was there, and he has a knack for winning pucks. He passed it perfectly to me in front for a one timer. The goalie saved it off his left pad, and it bounced towards me. I bounced the puck off my right knee to my stick for another shot. The goalie saved it again. I banged once more, and the puck slid into the net slowly. 1-0 at the end of the first period.
The second period scoring started by a guy flying high on recent Twins baseball success to put America up 2-0 at 16:47. Talus does Talus things in every game, and you really thought that he had a chance tonight for gold jacket honors. It was a fast break set up by an outlet pass by Bill (please add this assist Elmar). Then, at 15:57, the refs completely messed up the scoring as there were like 4 White Zombies within feet of the net. I was unfortunately right there, and I could have taken out Trube’s stick. But, it was a Ben goal making it 2-1, and other points credited to Starnes and Lapel, though Lapel was credited for the goal on the official sheet.
At 10:42, America started reigning down some of its Golden Showers when Talus tallied his 2nd from Williams and Peters. It was a nice backhand finish on a sideways puck. America had the bounces going its way all night.
Doug *expletive deleted* Starnes scored probably the goal of the game with 2:33 left in the second period to end team Zombie scoring. After a pass from Trube putting him deep, Starnes buried a beautiful backhand short sider in the uppermost quadrants, making it 3-2 to end the second period.
America’s team had 9 skaters, which is more than 8. Fortunately, our opponents had to move back a third defender due to common sense, but it was too late for slowing Zombies. Big Benson sent a shot from the point that was meant for Joe Louis, as it bounced back to him off the goalie and boards. His follow up shot somehow went to Talus, but he dutifully sent it back to his charging defenseman for a goal at 15:01 to make it 4-2.
If I told you that there were mostly ugly goals tonight, I would be underestimating it except for Starnes’ beauty. The last goal of the game highlights this fact. With just under 6 minutes remaining in regulation, I had one of those opportunities to set up a beautiful assist for a slam dunk. I carefully laid a pass to Williams to seal the victory, and he made a great attempt. It bounced off the goalie and post, right to Spahr’s stick. His attempt to clear bounced perfectly off the goalie’s stick into the net. Classic finish for Americans with a 5-2 win. America’s Team is 2-2.
