UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Tuck @ Nordiques

ODDS:	Tuck by 2 Goals
OVER/UNDER:	10 Goals

Tuck sits comfortably at the top of the food chain with a 5-1-0 record and look to make a meal out of the 3-3-0 Nordiques. Last time these two teams played, Brandon Harrington scored three of his teams 6 goals and added an assist. The Nordique's Jordy "McBreakaway" McGee added three of his own goals in the 6-4 loss.

The score wasn't indicative of the domination Tuck had over the Nordiques. Tuck carried the play for most of the game, and if it weren't for McGee this would have been a blowout.

The Nordiques look to bounce back, especially defenseman Kelly "McTurnover" Park who was clearly the worst player on the ice five weeks ago.

Tuck has been outstanding with only a single loss to the Whalers who have won 4 straight. They've got the best goal differential in the league at 13 and are have an extremely quick transition game.

If the Nordiques can play the same shutdown defense that should have won them their game against the Gamblers last week( read the write-up here about how a horrible call from the referees gave the Gamblers a Penalty Shot late in a 1-0 game), then the Nordiques may be able to contain Harrington & Company.

Tuck's too good in net and up front. If Harrington shows up, he and McGee again will own the scoresheet.

This should be another 6-4 win for Tuck.

Nordiques BLOW...another game in the final minute, 3-2.

For the second straight game, the Nordiques have given up the game winning goal in the last minute of play...HOW EMBARRASSING! Last week, they played the Gamblers to a 1-0 lead with 10 minutes to play before a bogus penalty shot was called for a phantom "closed hand on the puck in the crease" call from referee Greg "Blown Call" Hadley. That tied the game, then they allowed the game winner with just over 40 seconds remaining.

This week, they really only had one directive...shut down Harrington...and they couldn't even cover him with 23 seconds left as he got a rebound and roofed the puck over the Nordique's Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner for the win.

Not to take anything away from Harrington, it was a beautiful and clutch goal, and he may be the only player in the UVHL who could actually pull that off.

Tuck embarrassed the Nordiques in week two by a score of 6-4. The score was not indicative of the domination Tuck had. If it wasn't for the heroics of Turner, that game would have been much worse. Tonight, the Nordique's had a game plan. Don't run and gun with the younger and more offensively talented Tuck team. Keep Harrington at bay, and take advantage of any mistakes and bounces they got.

This game was a chess match, with the Nordiques carrying play for a good portion of it, outshooting Tuck 41-31. Mike "Devine" Devine...yeah, he was doubly devine in net tonight. That sounded kind of gay...but felt so right to say. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Sorry, I digress, Devine was outstanding and was clearly the difference in this one. Making huge saves in all three periods and keeping the Nords to only two goals on the night. Devine's nemesis at the other end of the night, Turner, was also exceptional. Stopping 28 of 31 and coming up big when needed.

Tuck scored the only goal of the first period when Sam Pond jammed home a rebound off of Josh Gartner's shot.

Jordy "McNasty" McGee tied the game almost 15 minutes later on a beautiful end to end rush where he went down the far boards, cut to the front of the net and slid the puck past an aggressive Devine.

Peter "Water" Mellen put Tuck back up with 6:47 to play in the second on what I believe was a breakaway...I may be remembering this from another game...sorry, it's late.

The goal of the night came from another dirty Mick on the Nordiques. This time it was Ryan "McLovin" McGovern who earned a third star for his outstanding play patrolling the Nord's blueline, and then toe-dragged a Tuckie at their blue-line, shake-and-baked another Tuckie in the high slot and fired a laser of a snapper high glove on Devine. Beautiful goal.

The third period was the most evenly played of the game. Devine absolutely robbed Greg "The Butcher of Guelph" Marsh on a backdoor 1-timer. The game was decided with 26 seconds left by Brandon "The Harry One" Harrington after the Nordiques refused to play smart and head to the shootout..turning the puck over high in Tuck's zone. The turnover saw Tuck break in on the Nordique's 4 on 2 with a Nordique backchecker trailing Harrington into the zone. Tuck got a shot off and then a rebound, causing Turner to fall to the ice after making two huge saves. The Nordique's backchecker let Harrington go and he picked up the rebound to the left of Turner and roofed the puck from no angle....game over.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
TCK	10:30	Goal	Pond, Samuel(3)	Assist(s): Gartner, Josh(4)
2nd PERIOD
NDQ	10:46	Goal	McGee, Jordan(11)	Assist(s): none
TCK	06:47	Goal	Mellen, Peter(3)	Assist(s): none
NDQ	03:41	Goal	McGovern, Ryan(3)	Assist(s): Harootunian, Jason (2) Nightingale, Poli(3)
3rd PERIOD
TCK	11:17	Penalty	Devooght, Mark(3)	2 minutes for Holding
TCK	00:26	Goal	Harrington, Brandon (11)	Assist(s): none

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Game Comments:
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 723	Fun. Nov 27th, 2012 06:24 PM This should be a great game. Hopefully Tuck has their full squad.