GAME RECAP BULLDOGS White Eagles Date/Time Rink 2 3 03/03/2006 The Edge

March 4th, 2006- The highly anticipated rematch between the ‘Bulldogs’ & ‘White Eagles’ figured to be a nail-biter. Unfortunately, bad officiating, and a failure to execute on many power play opportunities cost the ‘Bulldogs’ a chance to pull away from the ‘Eagles’ in the standings. They lost 3-2.

The ‘Dogs’ looked like a clumsy, uncoordinated squad during the game’s first two periods. They failed to complete their patented breakout passes and had trouble moving the puck in the neutral and attack zone. They also failed to convert any goals on any of their nine power play opportunities, including three consecutive 5-on-3 chances. On the other hand, the defense did a marvelous job, playing their best game of the season by stuffing the ‘Eagles’ attack for much of the game.

The “White Eagles’ held on to a slight 1-0 lead, thanks to a breakaway penalty shot they were awarded by referee John Pacocha. It was a bad call as replays clearly showed that the ‘Eagle’ center was no more than a half stride ahead of any ‘Bulldog’ defender. Pacocha, one of the oldest referees in USA Hockey, has a history of making absurd and blatantly bad calls.

The ‘Eagles’ scored two quick goals in the first five minutes of the third period to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Despite their many chances, the ‘Bulldogs’ failed to threaten until 1:31 left in the game. Mike Montague stole the puck from deep inside the defensive zone and skated coast-to-coast, unscathed to put the ‘Dogs’ on the board for the first time.

With just over thirty seconds left, Jeremy Campbell scored top shelf after the ‘Bulldogs’ executed their first successful breakout of the evening. The goal made the score 3-2 and breathed new life into a team who appeared dead just moments earlier.

In the waning seconds, the ‘Dogs’ pulled goalie, Alex Martinez to generate one last rush to tie the game. Unaware that they pulled the goalie, Pacocha blew the whistle and called the ‘Dogs’ for having too many on the ice, the second time he has done this in the BHL this season. The infraction killed the ‘Bulldogs’ momentum and ruined any chance they had to tie the game.

“That f**kin’ guy ought to have his referee license revoked” said a very angry Joe V. “Whether we won or lost, that was one of the worst officiating jobs I have ever f***kin’ seen. That idiot couldn’t ref a kid’s game with an instruction manual!”

Alex Martinez agreed that the officiating from Pacocha was weak, but also said “I think in the end the penalties really killed us. We need to keep cool heads out there, shut our pie holes and get in the box. We were given unsportsmanlike penalties on two separate occasions, which could have easily been avoided. We lead the league in penalties, because we don’t know how to maintain our discipline. After tonight, we are probably also dead last in power play goals, as we failed to convert once tonight.”

At 5-2-2, the ‘Bulldogs’ sit in second place and are quickly falling in the standings. They are 1-2-1 in their last four games and they need at least two victories in their last three games to clinch the #2 seed in the playoff bracket.

The Bad:

 The Ugly:

Player of the Game:  ‘Bulldog’ Defense

• They kept the ‘Bulldogs’ in the game from start to finish, allowing the offense to make their late rally possible.

Next up:

Saturday March 4, 2006 vs. the ‘Quicken Loans’ at 10:30PM (Edge)*

*Exhibition Game