As often happens when two teams in desperate need of a win meet, neither Pink nor Lime prevailed in the Week Seven opener. In fact, neither team scored, as both Alex Theis (13/13) and Chris Tran (30/30!) kept the nets empty and starred in the production of a 0-0 tie. Tran has been impressive all season, bubbling toward the top of the goalie stats board, but the distinct lack of Pink scoring punch (five goals in seven games) has doomed him to disappointment. The knotted result keeps both teams below the cut line with just two games to play. Pink has the toughest road to salvation possible, facing the top two teams in Black and White. Lime takes on Red this Sunday in a crucial match…it may well be a must-win for Captain Enright’s side. Should they pass that test, their fate will resolve in the final week of play, when they take on Purple.
Brian Sheptycki continued his flame thrower attack on opposition in his newborn SDFHL career, this time torching Gold to the tune of 3 and 1. Sheptycki is already zeroing in on the overall stats lead, having racked up 6 and 4 in just three games. Some chick on his team contributed 1 and 1 in the winning cause, and just the one response from the losing side (Chad Goins) made the final 4-1, Tie Dye over Gold. The win gives Tie Dye three straight, and has them leaping and bounding up the standings. Gold remains in some peril with the loss, hovering just above the cut line at 1-3-3. They will likely need at least one more point to pull into the playoffs, and they hope to manage that against Purple and Orange to close out their regular season.
When the Jones is away, the AJ will make you pay. Green will be without the services of their dynamic super scorer for the remainder of the season, and into the playoffs, with Mr. Jones serving a hefty suspension for his actions in a violent Week Five incident. His absence meant an absence of scoring for Green, as they fell to Black, 4-0. The aforementioned Andrew Jacobsen did the majority of the damage, dropping a second period hat trick gavel on the proceedings. Elliot Hicks provided the game-winner in the first, and added an assist on AJ’s first tally. Don Tran earned the easiest shutout bonus check of his career, stopping all FOUR shots he faced. Green will look to rebound this week against Orange, while Black looks to maintain their number two playoff seed by sticking a fork in Pink’s playoff hopes.
Red unleashed the Killer J’s on Orange, as Josh Wirt, Jim LaGrossa, and Jeannine Stuzka built a three goal lead through two. Orange’s own J, Jet Javelet, responded, and Raj Patel cut the lead to two, but Mark Daquipa finished the fight in the final minute–4-2 Red over Orange. Captain Nagy contributed three assists in the win…nothing like leading by example. The win is a big one for Red, who move to the relative safety of five points (2-4-1). Much like Gold, they may need another point or two to punch their ticket, and this week’s match-up with Lime is definitely a big one. Orange remains suspended in the middle of the standings, and while they’re not in all that much danger of missing the playoffs, they will want to stop the bleeding on their three game losing streak this week against Green.
Captain Salt’s Purple had the juggernauts dead to rights, opening a 4-1 lead over White through the first 17:19 of play. Time was still on White’s side, however, as the undefeated top dogs remained undefeated with a three goal surge in the remaining 12:41 to even the score for good at 4-4. Troy Ohlsson had one of his best career games, notching 2 and 1 for Purple, while Jon Zygelman wore the cape for White, accounting for both third period tallies. Steve Goncalo racked up three helpers for White, and we witnessed Chen-on-Chen crime, as Stephanie scored for Purple less than a minute before Jeff answered for White. Cory Brin was unconscious (figuratively, this time), stopping 33/37 for Purple, while Chuck Bender was called on much less at the other end, stopping 9/13. White remains undefeated, in spite of the non-win, and has already clinched first place with two weeks left to play. Purple will look to improve their position this week against Gold, who will be hungry for points in their scramble for playoff safety.