Game Link: https://simulationhockey.com/games/smjhl...l_0_24.txt

It has been a wild start to the SMJHL regular season with teams vying for early season points in the standings to solidify themselves as championship contenders. The Berserkers and Scarecrows had three points separating the two teams coming into this game. Both teams are pretty big eastern conference rivals and are really evenly matched skill wise so you know it was going to be a good game.

Right out of the gate Newfoundland got on the board in the first five minutes of the game with a nice goal by top pairing defenseman Jukka Timonen. The Scarecrows had an answer of their own with two straight goals from Kriss Darzins and William Lockwood in the second and really dominated play in that period. However in the dying minute of the second period the Berserkers were able to capitalize on the man advantage as Niccolo Livius scored the game tying goal.

That last minute goal in the second was really the turning point of the game as the Berserkers regained the momentum and took it into the third period following up with the game winning goal by Guy Legrande on the power play. The Berserkers really swarmed the Scarecrow’s shift after shift in the third and forced St. Louis to take a bunch of penalties. With four minor penalties in the third, the Scarecrows were practically in the box for half of the period which allowed the Berserkers to continuing holding all the momentum and spending a lot of time in the offensive zone.



Looking at the player stats Jukka really took over this game being a horse on the blue line playing almost half of the entire game and led all players in ice time. He also got a goal and generated a lot of scoring chances and really drove the play from the backend.

Overall, Newfoundland came into this game at 5-1 riding a hot streak to start the season and after a back and forth first two periods they took over the game in the third to seal a close 3-2 win. The biggest key to success for the Newfoundland Berserkers was their execution on special teams that night. Their penalty kill was absolutely perfect fending off any goals during the five times they were shorthanded while also capitalizing on the power play with two of their three goals coming with the man advantage. The Scarecrow’s were able to play a physically intimidating game and almost out doubled the Berserkers' hit total but their lack of discipline got them into penalty trouble which ultimately cost them the game.

Both of these teams will see a lot of each other this season and should be battling it out near the top of the eastern conference so I would expect for there to be a lot more hard fought close games between these rivals.