First Period: Sorry for the lack of game day post; I got stuck at the office until a lot later than expected. ... Desfosses will start tonight, though there is a checkmark scratched out next to Pier-Olivier Pelletier's name on the lineup card. ... Well, it took them a whole 80 seconds, but the Bucks have jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the worst team in the league on a goal by team goal-scoring leader Darryl Smith. Completely individual effort to beat Brent Ottman and then snap the puck over Keserich's right shoulder for his 35th of the season. It's listed as unassisted now, but I'm guessing an assist or two will be added later. ... Now that I'm done typing that, make it 2-0 Bucks at 2:24 in the period. Neil Trimm knocked that one in on a slapshot-esque one-timer from right outside the crease. Todd Griffith drew Keserich to the other side of the crease and passed the puck to Trimm, who basically had an empty net to shoot into for the goal. I think Evan Schwabe is getting the secondary helper on that. ... That's two goals on two shots for the Bucks, by the way. ... Bucks going on the penalty kill now with Looby in the box for holding at the 3-minute mark. ... The Thunder kept the puck in the Bucks' zone for most of that but did not take a single shot. Penalty killed. ... A disappointing five minutes between goals later (joking), the Bucks are up 3-0 on a wicked shot by Lincourt, giving each line one goal tonight. He was wide open in Keserich's right circle and got a nice clean pass from Billsten that he whipped past the goaltender. That shot is the reason Ruskowski wanted Lincourt here, but not something we've seen a whole heck of a lot of this season. That was the third shot on goal, making it a perfect 3-for-3 for the Bucks tonight. Goal scored at 7:27, with the second assist apparently going to Adam Rivet. Could've sworn Giosa was involved there somewhere. ... Thunder just took their second shot of the game, which was deflected away by Desfosses. ... Keserich's first save of the night was a beauty, robbing Jeff Bes on a great chance. ... Second one wasn't bad, either, stopping a point-blank shot by Griffith, who was left all alone in front of Keserich with the puck after a defensive-zone turnover by the Thunder. ... Now he's made five in a row. Bucks are controlling play, in case you couldn't guess. ... Bucks get their first power play at 11:19 with Woll headed to the box for tripping Smith. ... Looks like the Bucks are testing out a new power play setup. Guess this as good a team to experiment against as any. ... Just as I was thinking the Bucks are still missing a lot of their passes, Giosa came on the ice for Schwabe on a change, went straight to the net and banged a pass from Trimm over Keserich's left shoulder into the net. Griffith gets the second assist for his pass to Trimm, which was pretty nice itself. Bucks lead 4-0 at 14:56. ... As I expected, an assist for Bes has been added to Smith's goal. ... Giosa's goal broke a streak of seven straight saves for Keserich. Bucks are up 11-4 on shots. ... Looby back in the box at 19:10 on a tripping call. ... Schwabe just left the puck behind for Trimm on a shorthanded chance, but Trimm couldn't quite get it under control. That was an odd play. ... End of the period, Bucks lead 4-0, up 14-6 on shots. ... I'm not sure who is doing plus/minus tonight, but it seems a bit off that someone who assisted on an even-strength goal in a game in which his team has not allowed its opponent to score would be a 0.
Second Period: Thunder took a shot on the tail end of that power play, but it was stopped. ... One of the Bucks just took a shot that appeared to bounce off the post into Keserich's glove, where he was barely able to hold onto it and keep it out of the net. ... The Bucks were just stopped on a couple chances, but it is worth noting how well Smith and Deschatelets can work together. The latter just dropped a beauty of a pass to the former, who got the puck up to Looby crashing the net. Looby's shot bounced over Keserich to the other side of the crease, though, and the following shot was gloved out of the air. ... Bucks have had to play a bit of defense in the past few minutes after not scoring for more than 10, but they have held the Thunder off the board. ... Bucks get their second power play of the game at 8:31 with Jason Reese going to the box for tripping. ... Things will even up for a bit with Giosa going to the box for hooking at 9:38. Amusingly, the game live box has him taking a shot several seconds later. ... Bucks on the PK now. ... Penalty killed. ... Keserich just made two saves in less than half of a minute that each almost bounced off him into the net. ... Bucks have broken through again on their 11th shot of the period, as Griffith got a loose puck past Keserich at ice level. It's funny how excited he was by the goal compared to how lethargic the guys on the ice with him were in congratulating him. Smith had to make some nice moves to get off an initial shot that Keserich gave right over to Griffith for the goal. Bucks lead 5-0 at 16:51 in the period. ... Igor Agarunov is going to the box for tripping at 17:51 to put the Thunder on the power play. ... Billsten escaped on a good shorthanded chance then lost the puck, then shot it when he got it back and missed the net. He's definitely playing like this game means something, even if he can't quite find the net. ... Anders Strome did, though, at 19:07 to cut the Bucs' lead to 5-1. I imagine this was supposed to be a confidence builder for Desfosses, but not shutting a team that can't even win 10 games out might not help much. ... Allowing two goals can't help any more helpful, but the Thunder will end the game with at least two now that Ryan Campbell has knocked one home with less than 10 seconds in the period. ... End of the period, Bucks lead 5-2, up 26-18 on shots. They were outscored 2-1 in that period, though, and only outshot the Thunder 13-12.
Third Period: No whistles through the first 4:30 of the period despite several chances for Keserich to cover the puck or hang onto it. ... Desfosses ended up being the one to cover it first, and the Thunder get a faceoff in front of him at 4:47. ... Ryan Lehr has just added to the Bucks' lead, and not with a booming shot from the point. He was trailing Lincourt, who gained the zone and tried to stickhandle around a couple Thunder players only to lose the puck right in front of Keserich and have Lehr pick it up and shoot it into the net. That was actually really neat to watch, and poor Keserich had no chance. Bucks up 6-2 at 12:08. ... Billsten finally found the net, on a loose puck right in the crease, to make the Bucks' lead 7-2 at 8:38. ... The Thunder just added two more goals, but I am sadly being forced to handle something that is not being taken care of at the office, so I'll just tell you Hughes and Cooper scored them.
Game Over: Bucks win 7-4, end the season 32-20-12 (76 points) and get nearly a week off before they begin their playoff series against the Allen Americans. The Thunder have tied the record for fewest wins in a Central Hockey League season with nine. The Bucks stayed on the ice to salute the fans after the game, and Coach Ruskowski thanked them for their support.
2 comments:
was practice any different today? Was cully there?
U alive Joy?
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