#5 Tuck @ #3 Nordiques
Both the Nordiques and Tuck are coming off losses. The Nords took a one period 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the Gamblers before a goaltender injury called the game. Tuck forced a shootout against the last placed Dead River team but couldn't muster a goal in the loss.
The Nordiques have won all three contests this season, but Tuck has made each game more competitive, starting with an 11-2 blowout loss and most recently taking the Nords to the wire in a close 4-3 loss.
Tuck's offense has the edge here while the Nordique's goaltending & defense are their strength.
Nords should win 4-3.
Tuck Outlasts Nordiques 3-2
The Nordiques offense seems to be getting worse each week. Since December 20th the Nordiques have averaged a league worst 17 goals in 9 games. Even the last placed Dead River team has scored 23 goals. To put it into perspective, the Gamblers have scored 74 goals in that same amount of time.
Some credit does go to Tuck, their defense and Benny "The Tower of Power" Dower who stopped 23 of 25 shots for the win. Dower made some key saves to keep his team in the game while they were down and fighting to get back in the contest.
Tuck took all three stars of the game with linemates Brandon "Harry" Harrington and Josh "Cherry" Cherney sandwiching Dower for the trifecta. Harrington had a pair of goals including the game winner and was a force in all three zones. Cherney had points on all three Tuck goals including a goal.
The Nords opened a 2-0 lead in the first on goals from Robbie "Little Debbie" Debevoise and Brian "The Serial Killer" Racicot. That lead was short lived and gone very early in the second period.
The Nordique's utilized an alternate goaltender in Matty "Spazzy" Albertazzi. Tazzy was good, but he wasn't very busy. Tuck scored three nice goals that weren't his fault and then sat back for the win.
Don't forget to vote for the Long Trail Player of the Week! A case of beer is on the line, eh!