The Final Frontier

Week Four opened with a straight up grudge match, as Captain Jeremy Copp’s Teal and Captain Hima Joshi’s Gold met in a spicy spousal showdown with elimination at stake. The ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ of it all was only made more intense by the circumstance/outcome of their regular season meeting. Teal absolutely plastered Gold in that first meeting, taking full (or…overfull, IMO) advantage of some key Gold absences in a 10-2 romp. Yours truly (for one) was deeply unimpressed with the sportsmanship (not) displayed in that game, and a win in the rematch would not only settle that score for Joshi & Company, but would eliminated Teal and leave Gold just one win away from advancing to the Final as a seven seed. A scoreless first saw Teal outshoot Gold 10-3, and while Teal posted an 11-5 shot edge in the second, it was Gold who would strike gold first. Not surprisingly, it was Owen Perks doing the seal-breaking honors at 8:56 (Vance Morra), and even less surprisingly, it was Alex Giummo who would answer for Teal at 7:32 (Jim LaGrossa). Penalty trouble in the third made an already uphill battle even steeper for Gold, as Mark DeGraffenreid (!) was sent off for tripping a determined Giummo at 7:53. Gold would survive that short-handed stint, but Giummo’s unassisted second of the game at 2:28 pumped up the late game pressure for the lower seeds. Incredibly enough, Vance Morra would knot the score just three seconds later, popping a shot off-and-over Matt Henderson at 2:25 (Evan Melcher) to set up a frenetic finish. Perks was sent off for tripping (Giummo, of course) at 1:58, then Morra for holding (Giummo) at 1:15. Yes…a 5 on 3 powerplay for the final 1:15 of regulation…surely the kiss of death for Joshi’s crew. Nope…not only did Gold kill the penalties, but both Chris Fiore and Mark DeGraffenreid would have several glorious chances to end the game and Teal’s season. Alas…overtime, where Gold continued to kill, but were ultimately killed by Giummo’s third of the game at 3:47 (Arnold Gonzales). Matt Henderson (11/13) held steady throughout, and breathed a sigh of relief that he did not allow a 5 on 3 game-winner in the dying minutes, as Teal slid past their rivals 3-2. Mason Holcomb (31/34) was absolutely incredible in this game, and Gold needed every bit of brilliance from everyone on their side to hold Giummo to a mere hat trick. The loss certainly stings all the more for Captain Joshi, who could only take comfort in her cozy bed that Sunday night, while Captain Copp ‘enjoyed’ the couch.

Teal would need to rub their tired legs, swig some Gatorade, and get back out on the court to face Captain Mark Nagy’s Orange in the second game. Orange came into the playoffs as the five seed, but landed in the Week Four catbird seat by virtue of winning their first two playoff games. Captain Nagy & Company had the benefit of being rested and ready, and also the confidence that comes from having prevailed 4-1 over Teal back in Week Four of the regular season. The presumed advantage of ‘rested and ready’ doesn’t always pan out, though, and at this stage in the playoffs, you should always prepare for/expect a dogfight. It was another game, another scoreless first, but an even 5-5 shot count seemed to show that Orange was up to the task, and/or Teal was tiring. Giummo (*gasp*) put Teal on top first at 6:20 in the second (LaGrossa), but Kalen Hunter was quick to answer for Orange, notching his first of the night to knot it at 5:15 (Eric Willard & Jenna Chercoe). You might have picked up on the context clue ‘first of the night’ in that last sentence, as there would be a second Hunter strike at 3:49 in the third (Willard & Mark Daquipa) to put Orange out front for the first time. Willard would add insurance just six ticks later, and Nick Meglich (16/17) was not having any late game Giummo heroics with his team SO close to the Final…he would hold the lead and help eliminate Teal, 3-1. Matt Henderson (16/19) was valiant as ever in the loss, and Captain Copp & Company can certainly be proud of a deep playoff run that began with a deeply discouraging 0-4-0 season start. Captain Nagy’s crew move on to the Final to face Captain Boddy’s Blue. Well, Captain Boddy’s Blue…minus Captain Boddy. Yes, unfortunately John will not be able to make it back down from Oregon to join his mates, so while Blue needs just one win to clinch the Cup, Orange can certainly be considered to be on even footing, at worst. This LONG…rain and fire delayed season will finally come to a close this Sunday…don’t miss it!