It was an exciting game from start to end, with some really nit-pick kinds of calls, some that you usually don't see. However, in the end, the Ice Demons made one too many mistakes and the Stars capitalized on 2 PPGs to win the contest, 3-2.
The Stars Meuiller streaked through the defense and picked up his own rebound after Bip made a huge save to open the scoring. Then, when Jim Hulse came out of the penalty box on his way back to our bench, the puck grazed Jim's skate, and the ref called a "too many men on the ice" penalty on the Demons. Apparently Fred had just stepped on the ice prior to the puck hitting Jim's skates. Jim didn't even play it--heck, I don't even think he SAW it. imo, it was a VERY marginal call. On the ensuing power play, Meuiller (or another point man for the Stars) fired a nice low slapshot that J.P. Mitton deflected in the circles past Bip for the 2nd goal. Things were not looking good for the boys in black and red.
Then it was the Ice Demons turn to make a game of it, scoring the next 2 goals. Finally, later in the 3rd period, the puck came out to the neutral zone and Jim lost his stick, allowing Mitton to run up the left side on a fast 2 on 1, where he fed a sweet pass to a cutting forward who made no mistake in netting it top shelf.
The game's fast pace action was exciting, and the Ice Demons pulled Bip with less than 30 seconds to go; however, one referee blew the play dead just as we were buzzing all around the Stars net, telling us that Doc left the bench too soon...Bip apparently wasn't close enough. I must admit that I've never had that called on us in all our years playing together, and Bip couldn't have been more than 15 feet from the bench, but this guy said the rule was something like 6-8 feet. Nit picking.
The Ice Demons--perhaps one of the least penalized teams in the MDL--had an unusual amount of penalties this game. We don't mind the refs calling it close--just so long as it's consistent for BOTH teams.
Teams like the Stars are an "always in your face, always attacking" kind of team who never let up. They skate hard for 3 periods and their guys have a hunger for every shift. In a non-check league, they're good at "the bump" so as to wrestle you off the puck and take control. With the addition of Meuiller last season and young Hanchuruck this season, as well as one of the top league player's in J.P. Mitton, the Stars are definitely a team that you have to play your best, and most of all, as this game proved, make less mistakes than them. For this game, they outplayed us and deserved the win. The refs didn't lose it for us; we just made one too many mistakes.
Top star of the game absolutely has to be Bip again, for he made stellar, highlight-quality saves over and over again, even taking one right off the melon in the 2nd period that caused the game to stop for a bit.
Of special note: Bip has NO PENALTIES so far this season!!!
Scratches were Nate Wargo, Joe O'Neill, Mike Dancona, Brad Peifer, Jesse Snyder, and Roger Johnson.
Labels: Post-game
