GAME RECAP BULLDOGS White Eagles Date/Time Rink 4 2 02/03/2006 The Edge Ice Arena

February 3rd, 2006- If the ‘Bulldogs’ are to go to the championship game this year, they know the road to the BHL prize goes directly through the ‘White Eagles’. The ‘Eagles’ are arguably the most talented team in the league this season and were the pre-season pick to win it all. On Friday night however, the ‘Dogs’ had plans of their own to unseat the paper champs, doing so by rallying for a 4-2 victory.

Both clubs came into the game undefeated records, but the ‘Bulldogs’ had much more to prove as several members of the press labeled them as overachievers. Last week’s tie with the ‘Cobras’ (after blowing a 6-2 lead) only seemed to confirm that they were not as good as their record might indicate.

The game began as many expected; a low scoring battle by two of the stingiest defenses in the BHL. Neither team could seem to get any kind of offensive attack going. The ‘Bulldogs’ kept pecking away, looking for an opportunity to execute a breakaway. That break opened itself up at the tail end of the first period.  Joey F.V. raced towards a loose puck after both ‘Eagle’ defenders had pinched in too far. Joey then skated almost untouched in a one-on-one battle with ‘Eagles’ goalie Witek Bankosz whizzing his wrister stick side. It was only the ‘Dogs’ third shot-on-goal and they made it count to take the 1-0 lead.

The second period was more of the same; a defensive dogfight by both clubs. Neither team could penetrate the attack zone with any consistency. However, the ‘White Eagles’ found their rhythm on one series, scoring to tie the game up at one apiece. The hapless ‘Dogs’ on the other hand floundered several chances, including three power play opportunities, during which they managed a paltry two shots on goal.

It was beginning to look as though the ‘Dogs’ were destined for another third period collapse. Three minutes in, the ‘Eagles’ took the lead, deflating any ‘Bulldogs’ hope of a victory. They hadn’t scored in almost 20 minutes, and Bankosz was practically untouchable.

“That’s when we noticed a change” said Sal Karim. “They basically began playing not to lose instead of capitalizing on their lead. They slowed the game down by holding onto the puck and settled for shots from the blue line. This opened up the opportunity for our defensemen to pinch closer to the net.”

The ‘Eagles’ conservative style gave the ‘Bulldogs’ another break that they exploited. With Jason Darfler quarterbacking his offense from the blue line, he passed the puck up to Joey V., who in turn flipped it over into the slot for Sal to chip it in. The well designed play tied the game up at two and aggravated several ‘Eagle’ players, most notably, winger Jozek Galinek, who went on a rampage against the two referees, earning himself a ticket to their doghouse. He would accumulate three of the five penalties the ‘Eagles’ accrued in the final period, leaving his squad short-handed for at least 80% in the final ten minutes of the game.

The ‘Bulldogs’ took the lead for good when Mike Mancuso redirected a wayward Darfler shot from the blue line past the bewildered goalie. It was the “Bulldogs’ first power play goal after five previous failures, rejuvenating the club’s spirits and quieting the large crowd of ‘White Eagle’ fans.

They added one more goal, another of the power play variety, when Mike Montague’s hard shot burned a hole through Bankosz’ glove. It would prove to be the final nail in the ‘Eagles’ coffin as they were snuffed in the final minute of play. Even after pulling their goalie, in favor of the additional skater, the ‘Eagles’ looked more like a panicked squad of kids instead of the poised group that began the game.

“Practice was the difference in this game” stated Darfler. “Both Sal’s [Karim] and Mike’s [Mancuso] goals were a direct result of the drills we worked on this past week around the net.”

At 3-0-1, the ‘Bulldogs’ sit atop the standings in a first place tie with the ‘Bandits’. Their second big test of the season will come this Sunday in the battle for the top seed. With the disgruntled ‘Storm’ disbanding from the league, and the ‘Sky-Jets’ replacing them, there will be no more easy match-ups for the remainder of this campaign.

The Bad:

 The Ugly:

Player of the Game:

Alex Martinez, Sal Karim & Mike Mancuso

Alex had the game of his life stopping 94.4% of all shots. Sal scored the game tying goal that changed the momentum of the game and Mike hit the game winner less than five minutes later to give the ‘Dogs’ a ‘W’ in the standings.

Next up: Sunday February 12, 2006 vs. the ‘Sky West Jets’ at 10:10PM (Edge Ice Arena)