UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Nordiques by 1
OVER/UNDER:	5 goals

Another epic battle between the Tuck Flying Turduckens & the Nordiques. Both teams are tied for 2nd place with 8-5-1 records, but the Nordiques have won both contests this year. The first was a hard fought 3-2 battle with the Nords scoring the game winner with 1:32 to play. The second game was a 2-1 shootout win, but both had the Nord's Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner grabbing first star.

Look for this to be a defensive battle with the determining factor being who has the better netminder that night. Tuck has put up impressive numbers in net between Dan Yacey & Steve Kenning splitting time and leading the league like Hasek & Osgood with a stingy combined 2.29 GAA, while Turner has been solid with a 3.31 GAA.

Despite playing a solid game, Tuck is coming off of a 5-2 loss where they just couldn't solve the Gambler's netminder. The Nordiques have continued their rollercoaster season as they lost their 3rd consecutive contest to the Brewers this year, 5-3.

This will be a close battle, with the Nords coming out on top 3-2.

Tuck Trounces Hapless Nordiques!

Week 15 started out with a battle for 2nd place as the Tuckies hosted the Nordiques. Both teams entered with an 8-5-1 record, but Tuck flexed their hockey muscles and dismantled an uninspired Nordiques squad 7-2. Tuck was powered by a top line of Simon "The Bum Looker(SNL)" McKay, Jimmy "Mayes" Hays & Derek "Cookie Jar" Nowak who put up a combined 5 goals & 7 assists. At the back end, was Ryan "The Govenator" McGovern who was exceptional patrolling Tuck's defensive zone, but also contributed with a goal & assist.

The supposed defensive & goaltending battle ended up being one sided, as Tuck's Danny "John Wayne Gacy" Yacey was murdering the Nords with timely saves and stellar play in net while the Nordique's Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner consistently went down faster than a runaway elevator with Shawn McDermott on it. There are varying theories on how Turner, who is generally the best positional goaltender in the UVHL, was beaten upstairs 5 times from shots near the boards. The Theories:

1. Tuck had an early morning practice at Occum pond where all they worked on was hitting a hanging pea, taped under the crossbar.
2. Tuck some how snuck a laser guidance system into the UVHL pucks.
3. Turner owed McKay a big favor / McKay has dirt on Turner.
4. Turner needs glasses.
5. The lighting in the rink was bad, and JT couldn't differentiate the puck from the ice.
6. It was pure luck.

Whatever the reason, Turner became Tuck's bitch early in the first. The turning point was with 1:46 left in the first, when "The Govenator" flew down the far boards....after easily skating past most of the Nordiques, and fired a quick snap shot from the tops of the circles that beat Turner high blocker side. Despite Turner's struggles in this one, which he did somewhat counter with 7 or 8 huge saves, he was not helped at all by the rest of his team. The Nordiques gave up at least 15 odd man rushes, and defensive liability Kelly "The Turnover" Park was by far the worst player on the ice as he turned the puck over at least 80% of the time he had it.

Tuck seems to have found their groove, despite missing their leading goal scorer, Halsey "Turn Your Head and" Coughlin (12g, 8a in 9 games). Their defensive corp is solid with Andy "Hellboy" Helming, McGovern & Ryuji "Kooch" Kikuchi. They controlled play for most of the game and won a large majority of the small battles. The only time the Nordiques actually put some pressure on was late in the game as they had 6 minutes of power play in the final 10 minutes of play, but Tuck easily killed off all 3 penalties and converted their 9th win of the season to regain 2nd place in the league.

The difference maker in this one.....hmmm. It would be either Tuck's excellent puck control or the total lack of desire from the Nordiques. This was clearly the worst game the Nordiques have played all season. Tuck walked over them like a welcome mat, right into their house and stole their dignity.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
TCK	14:36	Goal	McKay, Simon(5)	Assist(s): Nowak, Derek(10) Hay, James(9)
NDQ	09:28	Goal	Coates, Ian(5)	Assist(s): McGee, Jordan(17)
TCK	01:46	Goal	McGovern, Ryan(4)	Assist(s): none
NDQ	01:20	Penalty	Park, Kelly(5)	2 minutes for Hooking
2nd PERIOD
TCK	12:23	Goal	Hay, James(9)	Assist(s): McGovern, Ryan(11)
TCK	07:44	Goal	Clifford, John(3)	Assist(s): Hay, James(10) Nowak, Derek(11)
TCK	07:39	Goal	Nowak, Derek(8)	Assist(s): McKay, Simon(5) Hay, James(11)
NDQ	06:02	Goal	Dwyer, Kevin(6)	Assist(s): Marsh, Greg(10)
TCK	04:45	Penalty	McKay, Simon(5)	2 minutes for Interference
NDQ	03:12	Penalty	Turner, John(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
3rd PERIOD
TCK	13:02	Goal	McKay, Simon(6)	Assist(s): Nowak, Derek(12) McGovern, Ryan(12)
TCK	09:24	Penalty	McKay, Simon(6)	2 minutes for Body Checking
TCK	07:29	Penalty	Carrihill, Colin(3)	2 minutes for Body Checking
TCK	04:44	Penalty	Helming, Andrew(6)	2 minutes for Hitting From Behind
TCK	00:24	Goal	McKay, Simon(7)	Assist(s): Helming, Andrew(10)

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Game Comments:
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	Tuck 6-2 Jan 26th, 2010 10:35 AM Need we say more .. haha
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	Tonight? Jan 26th, 2010 10:39 AM Who is in net for the Turduckens tonight? Yacey, Kenning, some crossed sticks? Not that it matters, I couldn't score on a shooter-tutor right now, and both netminders are nasty. Game Update....McGovern has retired his awful yellow melon protector and replaced it with very shiny black one. It's going to be a bit tougher to keep track of him on the ice. This should be a good one. KP
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	ok... Jan 26th, 2010 10:40 AM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: Z-Skate Need we say more .. haha You aren't allowed to ref this one Z !!!! Not with a prediction like that.
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	Prediction Jan 26th, 2010 10:44 AM I just thought I would get alittle chatter going .. I'm stick of looking at tax returns
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	Got ya. Jan 26th, 2010 10:51 AM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: Z-Skate I just thought I would get alittle chatter going .. I'm stick of looking at tax returns I was just typing in some comments to get the chatter going when yours popped up.
McG Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 47	Jan 26th, 2010 11:18 AM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: kpark Who is in net for the Turduckens tonight? Yacey, Kenning, some crossed sticks? Not that it matters, I couldn't score on a shooter-tutor right now, and both netminders are nasty. Game Update....McGovern has retired his awful yellow melon protector and replaced it with very shiny black one. It's going to be a bit tougher to keep track of him on the ice. This should be a good one. KP Yace will be making his first start in 2010 tonight, and Kenning's sidelined with a glove-hand wrist injury. I think he hurt it shaking his fist at Meyer last week.
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	I agree... Jan 26th, 2010 03:19 PM Definitely a defensive battle tonight. I'm rrrrreaaaadyyy! McD
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	I'm rrrrreaaaadyyy Jan 26th, 2010 04:11 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: hkydoc Definitely a defensive battle tonight. I'm rrrrreaaaadyyy! McD McD - I thought you were just the pivot-man like maybe a men's league softball pitcher who plays for both sides ..
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	Yup Jan 26th, 2010 04:27 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: Z-Skate McD - I thought you were just the pivot-man like maybe a men's league softball pitcher who plays for both sides .. You are correct there Z, McD does play for both sides. But usually bats for the pink team. KP
JTStally Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 159	Yacey Jan 26th, 2010 04:33 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: McG Yace will be making his first start in 2010 tonight, and Kenning's sidelined with a glove-hand wrist injury. I think he hurt it shaking his fist at Meyer last week. I'm positive Yacey played the first two games of 2010, perhaps you just forgot because you didn't think us Whalers could put up a four spot on him. Next time, we'll put up five.
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	wow .. Jan 26th, 2010 04:47 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: JTStally I'm positive Yacey played the first two games of 2010, perhaps you just forgot because you didn't think us Whalers could put up a four spot on him. Next time, we'll put up five. Did you just say that .. WOW !?
rgrunds Stowe, VT Registered: Posts: 376	J.T. Jan 27th, 2010 01:16 PM I...I....I'm despondent. How could this be? It must have been the defense.
hkydoc WRJ, VT Registered: Jan 2004 Posts: 517	Nice game write-up, Parky! Feb 1st, 2010 06:47 PM You said it like it was, we were uninspired and Tuck was better at everything. I liked the "runaway elevator" and the Turner "needs glasses" jabs! HA! McD
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	HA! Feb 1st, 2010 08:06 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: hkydoc You said it like it was, we were uninspired and Tuck was better at everything. I liked the "runaway elevator" and the Turner "needs glasses" jabs! HA! McD Thanks McD! If only you get some good chuckles out of the write-ups, it's all worth the hours it takes to jot them down. I had a little help from The Govenator, I can't remember if I threw him props on that or not. KP