<center>Game #3

Prince George Firebirds (0-0-0) vs. Colorado Mammoths (0-0-0)

Starting Lineups:

Prince George Firebirds

Hylytyr NoRetornable - Casper Jakobsson - Joseph Riccardelli

Johnny Pollak - Hunky Monkey

Ace Dafoe

Colorado Mammoths

Sim Browski - Steven Stamkos Jr. - Frontdoor McGraw

Ben Dover - Maverick O'Dooley

Ekaterina Rudnikova

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Prince George and Colorado face off in opening night action for the SMJHL. Both are coming off mediocre preseasons, but the regular season campaign will get started in earnest.

1st Period

The first period got underway in interesting fashion, with both centers being ejected from the opening faceoff by the referee. Joseph Riccardelli managed to win it for the Firebirds, giving them the chance to open the game with some pressure. After a quick icing by Colorado, the Firebirds get their first chance of the game. We go to Jamie Price and Nathan Russel in Denver for the call.

Quote:"...Puck dumped in by Kottbulle. O'Dooley will retrieve it in the corner, but Hertzberg will lay a body on him. O'Dooley attempts to clear, kept in at the line by Kottbulle, who hammers it back in deep for a change. Rudnikova will skate out and fire it up to Dover. Puck tips off his stick, and right to Savage, and he'll put it up to Watkins. 2 on 1 for Prince George. Shot by Watkins, blocked right there by O'Dooley! Sousa picks it up trailing in and fires a shot, but Rudnikova will swipe it out of the air with the glove!"

Prince George would get on the board first, on a strike from Berard Gutler.

Quote:"O'Dooley attempts to lay one up ice, but it'll be picked off by Young. Young lays it up to Jakobsson, who puts it over to Savage. Savage will put it down low for Bastard. Bastard over to Jakobsson, he centers and they score!&nbsp; Berard Gutler hammers home the centering pass with a beautiful one timer, and Prince George has a 1-0 lead!

Prince George would finish the period with the lead, with 5 shots on goal. Colorado only managed to get 3.

2nd Period

Colorado started the 2nd period on the power play after a late slashing penalty against Frederick Boone. Prince George would spend much of the period on the penalty kill, as their players took several undisciplined penalties, many of them not long after the previous penalty expired. Colorado applied the pressure several times on the power play, managing 10 shots in the period, but Prince George's penalty kill was able to keep the puck out of the back of the net. Prince George would manage only 4 shots in the period, but would end it on the power play, a result of a late Goaltender Interference penalty to Colton Hagan.

3rd Period

Prince George tightened up their play in the 3rd period, taking only 2 penalties, but Colorado exploded, and would capitalize on a hooking penalty by Barak Obrana.

Quote:"...Rudnikova will retrieve the dump in as the penalty kill lines change for Prince George. McGraw will get the puck, and will throw it up to Stamkos, who's moving through center. Stamkos will carry it into the Prince George zone. He'll throw it back to Dover. Dover with a pass over to O'Dooley. He'll throw it right back to Dover, who puts it down to Stamkos. O'Dooley sets up in the high slot, Stamkos throws it there, but O'Dooley will hold off on firing.O'Dooley backs up, then lays it over to Dover who sends a drive wide! O'Dooley grabs it along the boards, then sends one across to Stamkos, who scores!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Steven Stamkos ties it up on the power play, and this game is not over yet folks!"

Colorado wouldn't stop there, as they came off a power play later in the game still firing, and managed to come up with a crucial goal.

Quote:"Boone will win the draw over to Savage. Savage throws it up to Hertzberg to break it out. He carries it into the Colorado zone, and will throw it back to Selich, who throws it right back to Hertzberg. Hertzberg lays one to Boone, but Svensson intercepts it and throws it up to Magaku, who puts one ahead for Legend! 2 on 1 for Colorado! Legend over to Money, and he'll send it just wide! Yvel picks it up, he winds, shoots, and scores!&nbsp; &nbsp; Tord Yvel! He sends a bullet from the top of the circle that gives Colorado a 2-1 lead late in the 3rd!"

Colorado would not allow another shot by Prince George after the goal, and won 2-1 in an exciting opening night game.

3 Stars of the Game

1 - Tord Yvel (COL) - 1G, +1, 1 SB, GWG - Yvel receives the 1st star after being Colorado's hero tonight by scoring the game winning goal with 4:47 remaining in the game.
2 - Berard Gutler (PGF) - 1G, +1 - Gutler gets the 2nd star for hammering home Prince George's only goal, a goal that came on very few shots overall from the Firebirds.
3 - Casper Jakobsson (PGF) - 1A, +1, 4 Hits - Jakobsson gets the 3rd star for contributing to the Firebirds' only goal, as well as for his dominant physical performance and success in the faceoff circle, as he racked up 4 hits and went 16/26 on faceoffs.

Highlights of the Game

Rudnikova gloves an early scoring chance by Prince George.



Gutler buries a one-timer to give Prince George an early lead.



Yvel sends home the game winner on a bullet from the top of the circle.