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A real barn-burner at the Arena ties series
2011-03-04
Matt Schlotzhauer - Bulldog A&W Player of the Game
It was a game that was too hard to watch but you couldn't close your eyes. It was a game on the verge of a loss but the Bulldogs prevailed. It was a game with controversy, just like most games between the 'Dogs and the Blues.
Matt Schlotzhauer, the A&W Bulldog Player of the Game, stood tall in goal, holding the Cumberland Blues to two goals, which was enough to give his teammates time to score three in an overtime thriller at the Arena Friday night. Besides the Blues, the only other losers in this game were those that chose not to show up for another exciting NSJHL playoff game.
After suffering a 6-3 loss two nights before in Springhill, the Bulldogs showed no signs of the wear and tear on their bodies as they skated with the Blues through three periods, looking to tie things up following a first-period goal by Kevin Cormier on the power-play.
Stats in the second stanza were only in the penalty column, with the Blues caught for five minors to the Bulldogs' two. The penalty-killers did the job for both sides, to the frustration of Bulldogs' faithful, hoping for a score during a 5-on-3 advantage.
At 9:02 of the third, Steven MacGillivray, who was a force all evening, finally solved the Crowe puzzle, scoring from the persistent Ronnie Power and Colby VanOirschot. The Blues did not lay back, restoring their lead less than two minutes later, an unassisted effort by the pesky Zach Carson. With less than eight minutes remaining and goals at a premium, it did not look promising for the Black & Gold but with the fans urging them on, they pressed for the equalizer.
At 18:57 time was literally running out as the clock continued to run down following a whistle. The malfunctioning clock ran down to zero, then was re-set to the proper time, no matter what you may hear from Blues' fans.
With less than one minute to go in regulation time, Schlotzhauer was unable to leave his goal until only twenty-four seconds remained. With a sixth attacker now on the ice, the Jr. B's carried the puck deep into the Cumberland end, swarming around the goal looking for a chink in Crowe's armour. At 19:59- it could have been 19:59.5-, David McCarthy stuffed the puck into the net on a wild scamble to send the game into overtime. John MacLellan got the well-deserved assist.
The way this game had been played, it could have been a long OT had not Ricky Chisholm, on another scramble, found the back of the net at 2:12 on a pass from Mike MacGillivray. That was it - a 3-2 victory and game five back in Springhill on Sunday,
Every player wearing a Bulldog jersey gave it their all, not willing to concede anything to the talented Blues. Well done, Bulldogs! You deserved the win, which you can build on in Springhill Sunday night.
Best of luck and see you back here for game six.
After suffering a 6-3 loss two nights before in Springhill, the Bulldogs showed no signs of the wear and tear on their bodies as they skated with the Blues through three periods, looking to tie things up following a first-period goal by Kevin Cormier on the power-play.
Stats in the second stanza were only in the penalty column, with the Blues caught for five minors to the Bulldogs' two. The penalty-killers did the job for both sides, to the frustration of Bulldogs' faithful, hoping for a score during a 5-on-3 advantage.
At 9:02 of the third, Steven MacGillivray, who was a force all evening, finally solved the Crowe puzzle, scoring from the persistent Ronnie Power and Colby VanOirschot. The Blues did not lay back, restoring their lead less than two minutes later, an unassisted effort by the pesky Zach Carson. With less than eight minutes remaining and goals at a premium, it did not look promising for the Black & Gold but with the fans urging them on, they pressed for the equalizer.
At 18:57 time was literally running out as the clock continued to run down following a whistle. The malfunctioning clock ran down to zero, then was re-set to the proper time, no matter what you may hear from Blues' fans.
With less than one minute to go in regulation time, Schlotzhauer was unable to leave his goal until only twenty-four seconds remained. With a sixth attacker now on the ice, the Jr. B's carried the puck deep into the Cumberland end, swarming around the goal looking for a chink in Crowe's armour. At 19:59- it could have been 19:59.5-, David McCarthy stuffed the puck into the net on a wild scamble to send the game into overtime. John MacLellan got the well-deserved assist.
The way this game had been played, it could have been a long OT had not Ricky Chisholm, on another scramble, found the back of the net at 2:12 on a pass from Mike MacGillivray. That was it - a 3-2 victory and game five back in Springhill on Sunday,
Every player wearing a Bulldog jersey gave it their all, not willing to concede anything to the talented Blues. Well done, Bulldogs! You deserved the win, which you can build on in Springhill Sunday night.
Best of luck and see you back here for game six.