UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	Whalers by 1 goal
OVER/UNDER:	9 goals

This is another tough one to call. The Brewers have won ALL 3 games this year, including a 4-1 win on January 26th. On the other hand, the Brewers offense has stalled out, and the only thing keeping them in games has been Pete "The Meat" Bartline.

In the meantime, the Whalers have ripped off a 5-2-1 record, including that 4-1 loss to the Brewers. Their past 2 games have been barn burners, as they have thrown caution to the wind, and their goaltender to the wolves by winning 2 games 11-7 (Dead River) & 8-6 (Gamblers). That win over the Gamblers was momentous, as that was the G-men's first regulation loss of the season, as they now sit 16-1-2.

The Brewer's need Bayley to return to form if they plan on being competitive. Bayley has ONLY scored 11 points in his last 6 games, which is a career low for him, after scoring 21 points in his first 6 games. The Brew Crew are a hard nosed group of players, and if they can control themselves and stay out of the box, they can make this a game.

The Whaler's newest addition, high school Senior Cody Vose, was excellent last week adding 3 goals & 2 assists, while Jay Zanleoni (28pts in 17 games) & Scotty Shaw (23 points in 15 games) have led the charge.

This one should be a 5-4 win for the Whale

Brewers pounce in 3rd period, win 3-2.

** DISCLAIMER - THIS WRITEUP IS COURTESY OF THE ONE AND ONLY BLUE TROJAN, JOHN STALLY OF THE WHALERS **

The Brew Crew and the Whale provided a great preview for what is setting up to be a first round playoff matchup. The Whalers entered the game playing their best hockey of the season, having won three of four. On the flip side, the Brewers had been marred by inconsistency, having lost three of their last four. However, if one thing has been consistent for Long Trailers this year, it"s their dominance over the Whale, and despite the best efforts of the Forever Five-Hundreds, nothing changed on Tuesday night.

The first period was an even battle. Both teams put together sustained offense, but the only goal came on a fast break. Nick Bayley outhustled a strong Whalers back check to put away a Brock Barton shot which had been redirected off a Whale defender. At the other end of the ice, Peter "PB KY Jelly" Bartline held the bagel on the scoreboard for LT.

It was the Whalers turn to take the lead in the second period. Former Whaler, Nick Hall, announced his return by beating Bartline with a low shot on an assist from Cody Vose. Nine minutes later, Vose gave the Whalers their first (and only) lead taking the puck at the red line and beating Bartline on the breakaway to give the Whalers a 2-1 lead after two.

In the third, it was Bayley bailing out the Brewers and to keep their record perfect against the "W." Bayley scored on a great individual effort, deking through multiple defenders and around Ken Lallier to tie the game up just two and half minutes in. Two minutes later, Garren "The Penalty Box" Poirier, who had increased his league leading PIMs to 65 in the second, took a pass from Bayley and slapped a point shot through traffic which beat Lallier low to give the Brewers the 3-2 lead.

Bartline and the Brew buckled down the rest of the way, and killed their fourth penalty of the game when Christian Isaac went to the box for a trip with just 3:59 left. With referee Kelly Park"s favorite call, Liam Oliver, missing for the Whalers, the Whale stayed out of the penalty box and had a 4-0 advantage in power plays. However, after chasing the puck for nearly all eight power play minutes, the general consensus after the game was that the Whalers should have just declined the penalties and taken their chances 5-on-5.

For now, the Brewers maintain their dominance over the Whalers after the 3-2 win, sweeping all four games of the regular season, but a rematch is all but guaranteed in the preliminary round of the playoffs. Based on the recent battles, it should be a great game: No. 4 Brewers vs. No. 5 Whalers.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
BRE	05:53	Goal	Bayley, Nick(19)	Assist(s): Barton, Brock(11) Sorrentino, Alfonse(3)
BRE	05:09	Penalty	Johnson, Chris(6)	2 minutes for Hooking
2nd PERIOD
BRE	13:42	Penalty	Charette, Dan(2)	2 minutes for Hooking
WHL	09:49	Goal	Hall, Nick(1)	Assist(s): Vose, Cody(5)
BRE	09:12	Penalty	Poirier, Garren(26)	2 minutes for Checking
WHL	00:48	Goal	Vose, Cody(6)	Assist(s): Leger, Scott(9) Stallsmith, Jonathan(6)
3rd PERIOD
BRE	12:30	Goal	Bayley, Nick(20)	Assist(s): Barton, Brock(12)
BRE	10:20	Goal	Poirier, Garren(3)	Assist(s): Bayley, Nick(15)
BRE	03:59	Penalty	Isaac, Christian(4)	2 minutes for Tripping

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Game Comments:
JTStally Hanover, NH Registered: Posts: 159	9 goals scored? Mar 2nd, 2010 01:00 AM Is that per team? Cause based on the recent Whalers games there are going to be a lot more than that! It's interesting to actually read a report about how another team plans to beat us, it's a change of pace from two months ago when we got the "snowballs chance in hell" analysis for our team. That said, the Brewers are still in front of us, and, as the article says, they have won all three against us this year, so they should be the favorites until we can prove otherwise. The biggest change in this game, aside from the addition of Cody, is LT's goaltender. The last game Crowson stood on his head, but I expect to see Bartline in this one, we'll have to see if that changes anything. Also, for the record, I'm STILL on the Magic Hat bandwagon.
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	Don't piss of the Trailers.... Mar 2nd, 2010 08:47 AM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: JTStally Is that per team? Cause based on the recent Whalers games there are going to be a lot more than that! It's interesting to actually read a report about how another team plans to beat us, it's a change of pace from two months ago when we got the "snowballs chance in hell" analysis for our team. That said, the Brewers are still in front of us, and, as the article says, they have won all three against us this year, so they should be the favorites until we can prove otherwise. The biggest change in this game, aside from the addition of Cody, is LT's goaltender. The last game Crowson stood on his head, but I expect to see Bartline in this one, we'll have to see if that changes anything. Also, for the record, I'm STILL on the Magic Hat bandwagon. Those guys live & die by that beer. I'm still sticking by my pick, Whalers win 5-4. I think you guys will tighten up your zone as we head towards the playoffs. Another "Who's who in net?" Barty or Crowson? KP
kirt Hartland, VT Registered: Posts: 5	D-fence! D-fence! Mar 2nd, 2010 10:23 AM Whalers' D will be tightened down this week. We've had substitutes and missing D the last few weeks, but I think everyone is back and healthy now. We'll need to be good back there because goals may be harder to come by this week.
PaleWhale Lebanon, NH Registered: Posts: 13	Favorites again?? Mar 2nd, 2010 11:58 AM Gotta love the whale for hanging in there so far this year and turning it around. Can we start a fan club specifically for our female followers from around the world?
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	Whalers' D will be tightened down this week Mar 2nd, 2010 01:54 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: kirt Whalers' D will be tightened down this week. We've had substitutes and missing D the last few weeks, but I think everyone is back and healthy now. We'll need to be good back there because goals may be harder to come by this week. Has it ever really been very tight?
kirt Hartland, VT Registered: Posts: 5	Tight D Mar 2nd, 2010 03:50 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: Z-Skate Has it ever really been very tight? Tight as a wizard's sleeve. I don't know the shots stats, but I know it hasn't been pretty. Tonight we'll be ready to step it up.
Z-Skate White River Jct, VT Registered: Posts: 108	Tonight we'll be ready to step it up Mar 2nd, 2010 04:03 PM IN RESPONSE TO: BY: kirt Tight as a wizard's sleeve. I don't know the shots stats, but I know it hasn't been pretty. Tonight we'll be ready to step it up. Yes, Kirt we all know the Whale D can "step-up" haha