To say that Purple was desperate for a win coming into Week Six would be putting it mildly. At 0-4-1, and having been outscored by opponents 16-5, the tide would have to turn for Captain Chris Tran & Company, and turn soon. Two periods bled by with neither Captain Tran, nor Matt Henderson allowing a ball to touch twine. An early third period goal for Ty Pereira had Black on the board, and had Purple gripping their sticks in fretful frustration. Another tough loss would put them at 0-5-1, all but eliminated from playoff contention going into the final third of the season. Purple wasted no time rising to the alarm, as Jason Northrup finished an Alan Razoky feed on a pretty end to end rush to tie the score just twenty-six ticks after the Pereira tally. Carl Vankoughnett slipped a second over Henderson’s shoulder minutes later, and Weston Nawrocki iced the winning cake with an empty-netter in the final minute. With that, Purple took their first sip of victory punch – a 3-2 season-saver over Black. Tran was near-perfect once again, stopping 28/29, while Henderson’s 25/27 proved second best. Tran’s clan is not out of the woods yet. They will enjoy an unexpected bye this Sunday, then come back to face a tough challenge in Maroon on the 24th. Back to back losses for Black have them up against the cut line, but still in the playoff pack at 2-3-1. They face fellow five-pointers, Tie Dye, in the early game this week.
The breaks broke the wrong way for Orange in Week Six, as Jon Zygelman’s hat trick proved just enough to send Captain Kevin Dinino’s side to their first loss of the season. Zygelman scored on a penalty shot in the first…one of maybe three or four penalty shots awarded in the history of this league. The culprit, Gary Peters, had opened the scoring just a few minutes prior, but then proceeded to commit two penalties on the same Zygelman rush, earning him a two minute stay in the box, and a great few of JZ’s patience, poise, and precision. The middle layer of the hat trick came on the very same Peters-produced power play early in the second to give Maroon a 2-1 edge. Mark DeGraffenreid scored what has become and all-too-rare goal on a wrap around early in the third, but it was Zygelman again on the power play to wrap up the hat trick, and wrap up the 3-2 win for Maroon. Their first loss of the season was particularly hard to swallow for Orange, who were stung by a no-goal call not long after Zygelman’s final strike. That goal would have produced their third straight tie, and kept them undefeated in the process, but at 2-1-3, they remain well in the playoff hunt. The win vaults Maroon into sole possession of second place with eight points (4-2-0). Captain Cohen’s crew has the top dogs up next, in a red on red headliner this Sunday at 7:00pm.
The SDFHL standings have featured a red top all season long. Unlike Ms. Cates skimpy number in our 1982 cult classic cover photo, however, that top shows no signs of coming off. Much like that skimpy top, however, Jeffrey Henderson and Connor Miller each netted a pair in Red’s 4-0 Pink punch out. Miller added a pair of A’s (again…unlike Ms. Cates here), Henderson had a helper, and Ian Crooks racked up three assists in the first period alone. Captain Nick Adkins was a perfect 19/19 to keep his team shimmery and sexy at 5-0-1, while Zach Siemer followed his first career loss with Orange with a valiant, but ultimately vain fill-in effort for Tiffany Fox (19/23). Six down, three to go. Can any of the remaining opponents unclasp Red, and toss them hastily aside like…like…I am struggling to find an appropriate simile here, but you get the idea. Red will look to stay smoking hot and create some additional distance in the standings over Maroon this week, while Pink look to rebound, and poke another hole in the hull of Salt’s sinking Royal ship.
Two middle of the road teams met and, fittingly, agreed to meet in the middle. Mind you, the 3-3 tie between White and Green was not without thrilling drama. Specifically, Green’s late two goal rally, started by Josh Wirt with 3:46 to play, and finished with Matt Hanley’s first career SDFHL goal on the power play with twenty ticks to go. Wirt had a late goal in the second, as well, after Eric Caligiuri and Brian Sheptycki pushed White out to a 2-0 lead. Captain Mark Ennsmann gave White the 3-1 lead that was undone by the aforementioned timely Green heroics. So, as 3-3 ties go…kind of a barn burner. Melissa Busby continued her two game streak of capable play, stopping 15/18, while Christian LeClair had the W snatched from his sheet in gut-wrenching fashion, finishing with a 14/17 line. The tie leaves both middling teams middling around the middle, with White at 2-2-2, and Green a touch less stable at 2-3-1. White will look to jump up in the standings with a win over Orange this Sunday, while Green will enjoy a bye this week before facing the hapless, but not hopeless Royal Blue on the 24th.
Captain Joe Malki’s Tie Dye took advantage of a listless opponent, and didn’t mind the White/Green tie at all, either, as they nestled into the temporary shelter of the middle of the pack with a 2-0 win over Royal Blue. It was Joe first, then Chris, as son and father Malki’s made good on first period chances to account for all of the scoring in this one. Danielle Franco-Morrison had a hand in the GWG, while Kamal Gill (still going strong on the attendance front!) aided in the insurance effort. Sean Kelly earned his hefty paycheck with his second straight shutout…eerily both 17/17 efforts in 2-0 wins. Kelly’s perfection has greatly improved Tie Dye’s playoff prospects. At 2-3-1, they are currently safe, and certainly in the hunt for a second season berth. Their Week Seven match-up with Black is a big one for both sides, with a win all but guaranteeing a playoff spot, and a loss meaning cut line danger going into the final two games. Speaking of danger, Royal Blue are entering ‘must win’ country, starting with their tilt with Pink this Sunday. A loss would have them at 1-5-1, with time and math not on their side.