THE

UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Nordiques
Whalers
1st
1
1
2rd
3
1
3rd
2
4
FINAL
6
6
Shots
44
56
March 5th, 2013 - 9:15PM
Union Arena - Woodstock, VT
Pre-Game
Recap
Box Score
Discussion
Game ID: 934

Nordiques Survive Late Whaler's Onslaught, Win 7-6

The Nordiques & Whalers had another classic battle tonight that saw a slow Whalers start look as though the Nordiques were going to roll them hard, only to stage a last minute come back that ended in a shootout loss for the Whale.

Both goaltenders, Kenny "Whale Tale" Lallier and Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner were solid in this game despite giving up 6 goals apiece. Turner stopped 50 shots

The Nordiques opened the scoring less than 3 minutes into the game when Kelly "The Mouth" Park fed Greg "The Butcher" Marsh in the slot. Marsh's snapper broke through Lallier and landed in the crease where park jammed home the rebound. The Whaler's scored the next two after Park turned the puck over down low to Dillon "Slash" Pierce. Pierce took the puck to the front of the net where Park Hauled him down, but made a great pass to "Jumbo" Joe Gaudet on the back door. Gaudet roofed the puck as Turner slid across the crease. Chris "Google Me" Gogan put the Whaler's up early in the second after Turner stopped a backhander from Gaudet that Gogan chipped in.

Park set up the game tying goal after forcing a turnover on the far boards and hitting Alex "Sniper" Zagaria coming in from the point. Zagaria let a quick snapper go that beat Lallier 5-hole. "It looked like a change-up...it was the right pitch...I mean shot at the right time" recalled Park after the game. Zagaria was excellent and if there had been a 4th star nominee, she would have owned it. In just her 3rd game of the season she has been one of the Nordiques best defensemen and added a pair of assists with her goal tonight.

With 8:38 to play in the second period Zagaria took a pass from Turner(His first UVHL Assist) and hit Mayhew up the far boards. Mayhew turned a 3 on 1 with Park and Poli "The Nightmare" Nightengale into a goal after he looked off pass and shot the puck that deflected off a Whaler's defenseman 10 feet in the air and dropped in behind Lallier...3-2 Nordiques. The Nords kept rolling and dominated the second frame. Roger "The Dentist Drill" Phillips had an amazing goal with 2:31 to play as he beat the Whaler's Chuck "Hightower" Gaede to a loose puck on the near boards and broke in all alone on Lallier. Phillips threw a shake & bake on Lallier before depositing the puck in the open net. Great goal, great move...4-2 Nordiques. Phillips received a 3rd star just for that move, but he also added a second goal, an assist and a game's worth of good decisions.

Phillips set up Brian "Red Beard" Racicot early in the third period for a dominant 5-2 lead and it looked like the Nordiques were going to close this one out with a blowout. Things changed around drastically after that goal as the Whalers woke up and dominated the Nords for the final 12 minutes of play, outshooting the Nordiques by an 18-4 margin. Scotty "Sugar" Shaw scored off a blast from the point that Turner swears Gaudet tipped in. Gaudet then scored a nasty power play goal where Pierce fed him with a cross ice pass that he caught and shot under the crossbar from 35 feet out before Turner had even traversed his crease. That was Gaudet's 35th of the season.

Phillips added his second of the night and 13th of the season as he let loose a slapper that snuck through Lallier. That goal stopped the bleeding and seemed to be the insurance goal that would make the Whalers realize that they were defeated and that they should go quietly into the night. Didn't happen. The Whalers kept pressing and Turner was there. The Nordiques were exhausted and continually turned the puck over...but Turner was there...then with 17 seconds left Gaudet cut the lead to 1 goal with a snapper from the near boards that caught Turner napping, beating him 5-hole.

The ensuing faceoff was won by the Whalers who dumped it in behind the net. Shaw took the puck from Zagaria and tried dumping the puck into the slot, but hit a skate and the puck landed right back on his stick. Shaw then through a hailmary to the slot where Tommy "Hands" Crapser knocked the puck out of mid air past Turner...amazing...simply amazing...1 second left and the game was tied.

On to the shootout. The Nord's Greg Marsh was stuffed by Lallier. Jay "The Zamboni" Zanleoni made a great move on Turner to his forehand for the go-ahead goal. Mayhew followed suit with a nice move to his backhand to tie the shootout at a game apiece. Turner shut the door on Dillon Pierce, setting the table for Park who deked Lallier so hard that Lallier's helmet flew off...true story. The game came down to "Jumbo" Joe Gaudet and he made a move to his backhand, but Turner read it and flashed a pad to secure the win.

There was some ugly and stellar play from both sides. Complete lack of defensive competence at times and offensive brilliance at others. Turner & Lallier were studs, it was a great game to watch and be a part of. The Whaler's scoring two in the last 17 seconds of play was amazing and they deserved a point out of this one.
LEAGUE PICK 'EM
 33%
Nordiques
67% 
Whalers
6 PICKS
THREE STARS

Joseph Gaudet

GOALS: 3
POINTS: 5

Scott Shaw

GOALS: 1
POINTS: 5

Roger Phillips

GOALS: 2
POINTS: 3

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