Week 6: game 109



The Lethbridge Lions entered the match as heavy favorites over the struggling Colorado Raptors. Up 10 points in the standings, and a goal differential better than 28 points, it would have been no surprise if the flailing Raptors rolled over. Instead, two young goalies gloved out an overtime game of carpet shinny, Raptors taking the edge, 3-2.


Period 1
The game started slow and finished slower. It took either team 4 and a half minutes to register a shot on goal, credit Raptors’ fourth liner, and impending healthy scratch, Loki Odinnson, who’s muffin was retrieved safely by Lion’s standout rookie Harry Carpet, but he would certainly be tested later. In net for the Raptors was backup Aleksandr Aleksandrov. Neither goalie had a strong showing, but it was exciting to see these promising youngsters tested against players who would get called up the SHL within the same week. Despite the poor percentages, neither quite received the help that they deserved.

Scoring:
1. Lethbridge Lions , Donny McMasters 3 (Eva Lykke Aparjode 8, Roger Baston 7) at 5:58 (PP)
2. Colorado Raptors , Eric Vanderberg 2 (Cassius Darrow 13, Knute Knurtsson 12) at 7:05 (PP)


Period 2
Along the theme for tonight, the second period action wasted no time in scuffing up the zamboni’s work.  Few heavy shot possessions took place within the five minute mark unti  Nick Barin raised the stakes with a deafening clean hit on Lions young super defenseman, Thomas Bathory. The open ice hit would send Bathory to concussion protoco (no worries, he would return within 10 minutes, but the Kronwallian up-ice slide is one of those aggressive and gritty maneuvers that helps keep Colorado above the league in Grit/60. Immediately after the notable hit, rookie center Jake Peralta came out to win a faceoff and lasso possession for the Raptors who would scrore just 50 seconds later.

Scoring:
3. Colorado Raptors , Jakub Novak 9 (Knute Knurtsson 13, Akashi SixNine 6) at 2:57


Period 3
The Lions came out roaring for the third, possessing and taking advantage in the opening five minutes. An impressive performance by Jules L’Eclar eventually potted the Lions the game tying goal. L’Eclair took 4 shots in his shifts, and his tenacity was awarded with wonderful far side wrist shot that just made it past Aleksandrov.
16 and a half minutes into the third stanza, Joln Dubolk, Lion’s defensive workhorse, took a questionable cross checking penalty. A lot of upward facing palms implied that neither team was quite sure as to who should be sent off. Despite the reasoning of the Lion’s bench, Dubolk was sent off for two minutes, killing any momentum that Lethbridge had acquired. The following powerplay was handled expertly by Carpet, as his penalty kill unit failed to clear the zone the entire penalty, and even once things were evened up, he still needed to stand on his head a few more times, as the Raptors shot differential rose by 6 to round out regulation.

Scoring:
4. Lethbridge Lions , Jules L'Eclair 5 (Boruvka Banananak 5, Dinars Briedis 5) at 5:02


Overtime
The Lions had already lost mentally, ith 6 minutes remaining in the game. Overworked and under performing, the Lions took careless penalties, heavy turnovers, and tested their endurance repeatedly by icing the puck. The quick intermission wasn’t enough to reset the mentally compromised team. Knute Knurtsson won the opening faceoff back to Parker Smeb who was able to rip blocker side high off a good screen from Kurtsson in just 11 seconds of overtime.

Scoring:
5. Colorado Raptors , Parker Smeb 5 (Knute Knurtsson 14, Anastasia O'Koivu 2) at 0:10


3 Stars:
*      Knute Knurtsson (Colorado) - an assist on every goal for his team. Won of the lone bright spots offensive and defensively.
**    Parker Smeb (Colorado) - OTGWG, dope.
***  Jay Boom’boom (Lethbridge) - registering 12 hits in just 15 minutes of ice time gets you a star in any league (except europe. Yuck. so soft).


Hidden star of the game:
Jake Peralta - for dominating in an increased role. Higher line, more ice time, and going 60% in the faceoff dot against some tough competition.