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Game 1: Minnesota Chiefs @ Manhattan Rage

2-5

The defending Challenge Cup Champion Manhattan Rage opened Season 35 at home to the Minnesota Chiefs. Without VLAD McZehrl, due to a nasty split that saw the German flee north to Buffalo in free agency, there were many questions to be answered about the strength of the team. The home crowd were treated to an opening day win, with the Rage dominating the Chiefs both on the scoreboard and in the shot count, 5-2 and 52-22 respectively. The first goal of the season for the Rage came from an unlikely source, as young grinder Rurik Razin popped the puck home. Derrick Glover equalised for Minnesota, and the next goal wasn’t until midway through the second period, as Kian Hamilton, the man expected to step up even more in the absence of McZehrl, got his first of the year. Tommy Creller doubled the lead early in the third period, and though Lord Pretty Flacko gave the Chiefs hope of a comeback, those hopes were quickly extinguished with goals from Ace Redding and Marc Leclerc. Five goals on the back of an unrelenting offence gave the crowd in Manhattan great hope for the season to come.

With contributions from all over the roster, there was no one that really dominated the game. Marc Leclerc received third star honours courtesy of a goal and an assist, while the second star went to Rurik Razin for his goal and 7 hits. Ace Redding was named the first star as he put up a goal and 9 hits in 25 minutes of playing time. The game was a very clean one, with only one penalty. Derrick Glover was called for roughing, no doubt an act of frustration just a mere eight seconds after Redding put the Rage 4-2 in front.

Game 2: Manhattan Rage @ Buffalo Stampede

4-3 (OT)

The SHL only had to wait until the second game of the season to see VLAD McZehrl face the team he helped lead to the Challenge Cup the previous season. The crowd was hot in anticipation, desperate to see their new star make a statement against his old team. The game started well for the Stampede, with Alexis Metzler opening the scoring only three minutes into the game. Metzler was then responsible for the Rage tying the game halfway through the period, with Harry Hans scoring on the powerplay after Metzler took a trip to the penalty box for interference. The beginning of the second period saw a flurry of action, with Manhattan taking the lead 44 seconds in through Redding’s second of the season, before they successfully killed a penalty after Nucky Toohoots took a seat for goalie interference. The lead didn’t last long though, as Steven Stamkos Jr. tied the game up shortly after. It was short lived pleasure for the Buffalo fans though, with Harry Hans doubling his tally for the night to put the Rage back in front. It took until 7 minutes into the third period for McZrhrl to finally make the contribution the crowd was waiting for. He picked up an assist as Ludwig Koch Schroder shovelled home his rebound to tie the game at 3-3. Both goaltenders held strong for the remainder of the third, and overtime was required to settle this one. The Rage would take a man advantage into the first minute or so of the extra period, courtesy of Anton Fedorov’s hooking. They required only 59 seconds to end the game, with Toohoots the unlikely scorer on a feed from Redding after Hans struck the post. Though it required overtime, the Rage opened the season at 2-0-0.

Dickie Pecker was named the third star after picking up helpers on two of the Stampede’s goals. Ace Redding was among the stars for the second game in a row, picking up the second star for his goal, assist, and 6 hits. The first star was never in doubt though, as Harry Hans took it with a dynamic offensive display, scoring two goals and adding an assist for three points total. The Rage kept up their good discipline on the season, picking up only one penalty and killing it successfully. Special teams was ultimately the downfall for Buffalo, as they conceded two of their goals while on the PK. Another glaring discrepancy between the teams was their success in the faceoff circle, with Manhattan winning a huge 63 compared to Buffalo’s 39.

Game 3: Buffalo Stampede @ Manhattan Rage

2-4

The Rage returned home to entertain the Stampede having beaten them in overtime in just the last game. The crowd was the very definition of hostile, with boos echoing around the arena in the direction of McZehrl when his name was announced, the Rage loyal obviously displeased at his crazy offseason departure from the team. The noise in the building was immense to start the game, and it only got louder when Bryce Collins put the Rage ahead only 28 seconds in. You would have been forgiven for thinking the Stampede were going to fold in such an electric atmosphere when Wyatt Wollker rocketed home 5 minutes in to extend the lead. The Stampede failed to capitalise on Redding going to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Dante Gallo was able to claw one back a few minutes later. The pockets of Buffalo fans in the arena tried to make their voices heard, but were quickly silenced when Redding made amends for his penalty with his third goal of the season, courtesy of a Viktor Vorkämpfer penalty. Eduard Selich notched his first goal of the season 25 seconds into the second period to pull the Stampede to within one again. It was a tight game from then on, with Casey Holmes and Jason Aittokallio taking turns to show off their abilities with a string of great saves. As the game entered its final moments, Tommy Creller put the game beyond doubt with his second of the season a mere 20 seconds from time, giving the Rage their third win on the trot, the second against the Stampede.

The three stars were dominated by Manhattan players, and all three were new to the honour this season. Wendell Luna’s assist and solid defensive work picked up the third star, while Wyatt Wollker was second with his two point performance. Bryce Collins was the main star on the night though, with his goal and assist in 16 minutes of ice time deemed the most impressive display. The Stampede again lost the special teams and faceoff battles, key reasons to them once again falling to the soaring Rage.

Game 4: Hamilton Steelhawks @ Manhattan Rage

5-0

The Rage continued their excellent start to the season with their most dominating result yet. The Hamilton Steelhawks were unable to contain the offensive firepower of Manhattan, and the Rage romped to a 5-0 victory in front of a delighted crowd. There was only one goal in the first period, with Ace Redding opening the scoring after combining well with Hans and Hamilton. The Steelhawks failed to convert on two powerplay chances in the period, and would have been disappointed to go into the break behind, having dominated the shot count 12-2. Blake Sherrill got the second before Bryce Collins made it 3-0, with the Rage really starting to dominate the game in the second period. When Ace Redding made it four with a powerplay goal early in the third, the few Hamilton fans who had made the trip started to head for the exit. Harry Hans tacked on the fifth later in the period, and Jason Aittokallio remained strong in net to pick up his first shutout of the season.

Harry Hans was given the nod at third star for his goal and assist on the night, but there is some contention over the next two stars. Jason Aittokallio was the second star, but many would argue that his 25 save shutout was more than worthy of the top honour. Ultimately though, it was given to Ace Redding, who scored 2 goals (including the game winner) and notched 6 hits. The team stats on the night were very even, with both teams recording 8 blocked shots and 6 PIMs, and only one hit separating the two, the Rage narrowly winning that battle 23-22. The Rage PK faced its toughest test of the season with three separate outings, but continued the fine performance by killing all three.

Game 5: Manhattan Rage @ West Kendall Platoon

0-2

All streaks must come to an end, and the Rage’s winning streak died in Florida in the fifth game of the season. The opening period was a quiet affair, with Jon Ross scoring the only goal, his first of the season. Niklaus St. Croix opened the second with a slash, and it only got more physical from there. Wollker sat for holding, before Travis Jeziak went in for cross-checking. Neither team took advantage of their powerplay chance. Luna was next with a hold, and the Platoon made no mistake this time, with Tony Flow scoring off a Maria Maximova assist to double the lead. The Platoon failed to extend their lead when Sherrill went to the box for elbowing, then in the final minute of the period, Bojo Biscuit was ejected for a crazy headbutt. The Rage failed to get a goal on the five minute powerplay, and despite firing 20 shots at Matt-Lewis Flood in the third period, they could not solve the red-hot goaltender. The buzzer sounded to end the third and those fans who had made the journey down the east coast were left disappointed.

Ty Justice was named third star for some reason, with his biggest contribution to the game a massive 9 hits. It was a game with high shots but low goals, so it’s no surprise to see both goaltenders take the top two stars. Jason Aittokallio posted 33 for a 0.943 save percentage in a losing effort as the second star, while Matt Lewis-Flood deservedly took home the first star with a dominating 36 save shutout, his third win of the season.

Game 6: Manhattan Rage @ Hamilton Steelhawks

3-5

After thumping the Steelhawks 5-0 only a couple of games before, expectations were high for the Rage heading into Hamilton. Things got off to a great start for the visitors as they ran off to a 2-0 lead midway through the first, courtesy of goals from Hamilton and Hans. The Steelhawks were in danger of a repeat from the last time the two teams met, as they once again dominate the shot count in the first period. This time they were able to make a breakthrough before the first buzzer, as Noro Wozy fired beyond Ekaterina Rudnikova - making her first start of the season - to cut the lead to one. Danny Foster’s second goal of the season tied the game up early in the second period, and it was to stay that way until the third. The Rage had two chances in the second on the powerplay, but couldn’t beat Selena Bauer, who made an impressive 13 saves in the period. Ronnie Westbrook struck 22 seconds into the final period, before Alex Berkis made it 4-2 with a nice finish. Blake Sherrill gave the Rage hope with a goal just over six minutes from time. As the Rage pulled Rudnikova to try to send the game to overtime, they lost possession of the puck and Atmey scored into the empty net to seal the victory for Hamilton.

Ronnie Westbrook put up a goal and an assist to accompany his 22/36 in the faceoff circle as he was named the third star. Self-proclaimed generational talent Kornel Kasparek was the second star, providing an assist on two of the Steelhawks’ goals as well as blocking 4 shots. Luke Atmey for some reason took first star honours ahead of Westbrook, an interesting decision as both scored a goal and assist, but Atmey’s was an empty netter. Ekaterina Rudnikova may have picked up a loss in her first start, but she performed admirably under such heavy pressure. Facing 47 shots, she made 43 saves for a respectable 0.915 save percentage. She was really hung out to dry by her defence in this game.