From a Sour Note to a Bitter Pill
October 22, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release
The question for tonight's game is twofold. First, did the Jr. Blues learn a valuable lesson to never underestimate their opponent, and secondly, which Jr. Blues team will show up to play tonight. Last night during periods one and two it appeared to me that the team was more or less coasting against the Chicago team that possesses far less talent than our Blues. And just as I said last night, if you tease a dog long enough he'll come back and bite you. The defense fell apart in period three and allowed the Hitmen to score five goals and the Blues missed an excellent opportunity to pick up points against Coulee Region who lost to St. Louis. Going into tonight's game the best the Blues can hope to gain is four points on the Chill. If they salvage those four points with wins tonight and tomorrow afternoon and Coulee Region drops tonight's game to St. Louis the Blues can only get within a point of the third place Chill.
I sincerely believe, by comments I've heard that the Jr. Blues totally underestimated the Hitmen, and thought they had three wins coming to them this weekend, partly on the big win over the St. Louis Bandits two weeks ago. The loss had to bring them back to earth in a hurry, and make them realize you have to bring your "A" game no matter who your opponent is for the night. Of course I would have thought the veterans would have learned that lesson last year against Port Huron, when the Fighting Falcons won their first ever NAHL game against the Blues. There were a lot of similarities in the two games primarily due to underestimating the opponent and figuring the game would be a cake walk. Live and learn is the lesson, and we shall see if last night's loss made the impression on the team that it should have.
Going in to tonight's game the Jr. Blues have the sixth worst points total in the league. The only teams behind the Blues in points are Chicago, Wichita Falls, New Mexico, Dawson Creek and Minot. The question for tonight is which team will come out on the ice.
Okay, I have that out of my system, so I will be positive for the rest of this article. I think we'll see a much different team take the ice tonight for the game against the Hitmen. I don't even think the score will be all that close. The talent is far greater on the Jr. Blues, and if they come to play, and play like they are capable, they will take the games not just tonight, but tomorrow afternoon as well. Let's see what kind of prognosticator I am...
I did find out that the Chicago Goalie, Nick Kohn, is no relation to our Cody Kohn. So that is one answer found and delivered.
The Blues came out for warm ups with what looks like more energy and resolve. The air is electric in the Nellie. There's a big change in the starting line up as Stew Bell is the only veteran starting tonight. The other starters are Paul Byrne, Dominic Valencia, Cody Dixon, and the "little guy", Tyler Rehm. Tyler, by the way is listed at 6' 4" and weighs in at 218. Hmm, very interesting! Warm ups are nearly over and it's about time to hit the broadcast. All that's left to say before the game is: "Let's Go Blues!"
The puck dropped and so did the gloves. Stew Bell and Tyler Rehm, along with Flood from Chicago all were assessed minor penalties for roughing and went to the penalty box for a two minute rest. Stew came out to drop the gloves with Brett Formosa later on in the period and both players took five minutes breaks in the box.
Mike Parnell scored for the Blues at the 3:42 mark to put the good guys up 1 - 0, and it stayed that way until 13:27 of the first when Chicago tied the score. Anthony Annunziato was given credit for the Hitmen goal with assists by Gonsales and Dowell. So the boys headed into their respective locker rooms with the score tied at one apiece.
If you couldn't be at the game you missed a great and exciting second period! The Blues came out and scored at the 1:44 mark on a goal by the "Cookie Monster" to take a 2 - 1 lead, only to see Chicago tie the game just 45 seconds later. The Blues then scored on an Ethan Nauman goal at the 5:32 mark with an assist by Mike Williams to make it 3 - 2 in favor of the Good Guys. Rulan Pedan went down later in the period from an elbow or high stick to the jaw (no penalty), but Mike Williams took care of business and pounded the Chicago culprit to the ice. At the second intermission the score still stands as we prepare to finish this game.
Once again the Blues couldn't buy a goal in the third period. Leading 3 - 2 going into the third, Sean Reynolds scored at 2:06 to tie the game for Chicago. They scored again at 13:19 to take the Hitmen's first lead of the game and they never looked back. They added an empty net goal with a minute and fourteen seconds left to ice the game and beat the Blues by the identical score as last night, 5 - 3.
Tomorrow the same two teams meet and we'll see if the Blues can salvage at least the last game of this series.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2011
- From a Sour Note to a Bitter Pill - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Bulls Escape Odessa Rally 2-1 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Fighting Falcons Win on Star Wars Night - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- Bruins pick up victory 4-2 - Austin Bruins
- Payne Scores Twice, Kalamazoo Rolls Again - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
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