UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

Nordiques Look For Better Result Against Gamblers

ODDS:	Gamblers By 4
OVER/UNDER:	10 Goals

The Gamblers have blasted the Nordiques twice this year by a score of 6-1 in November and then an 8-2 schellacking 2 weeks ago. The Nordiques have had a history of playing the Gamblers tough and should have a better showing in this game.

The Gamblers hold an impressive 10-2-0 record compared to the Nordique's 5-6-1. Five of the top eight scorers this season are in the Gambler's locker room, while only Jordy McGee is on that list for the Nordiques.

Those top scorers have contributed to the Gambler's impressive 71 goals scored in 12 games and their defensive corp and goaltender, Ryan Van Schoik, has generated the league's second best goal's against average(3.58). They have an impressive 28 goal differential.

The Nordiques have struggled on all fronts, goal scoring, defense and goaltending. They've been great at times and completely lost at others...they hope that this game will be different, but the Nordiques will need to batten down the hatches and protect their own zone first.

Vegas has the Gamblers winning this one 7-3.

Albertazzi gets Shutout. Gamblers Embarrass Nordiques 7-0.

Two weeks ago, the Nordiques had a very emotional and proud moment as they battled against the Whalers, beating them 4-3. A solid win and it looked as though things were going in the right direction for the commissioner's team. Well, throw that fucking idea right out the window. They took 1 step forward...ten back with a 7-0 loss to the high-flying Gamblers.

Let's not put all the blame here on the Nordiques players, seeing as the Gamblers are a fantastically talented team and regularly throttle teams into submission with their offensive prowess, but yes, the Nordiques are hapless.

Powered by alternate goaltender Matty "The Wall" Albertazzi's 34 saves, the Gamblers netted 4 goals in the first to put things out of reach. We will give the Nordiques some credit for taking control of their end in the final two periods letting in just 2 goals in the second and holding the dynamic 'Blers to just 1 goal in the third. The Nordiques also outshot the Gamblers 25-20 in the final two periods, but Albertazzi earned his first star and Player Of the Week nominations with a solid performance.

The Gamblers offense was driven by a pair of defensemen with Ryan "The Boogeyman" Bergeron scoring a RIDICULOUS shorthanded goal in the third and adding a pair of assists while scaring the crap out of the Nordiques offense. Marc "The Narc" Gattie, a former defenseman, was the other big contributor tonight, scoring a big goal in the first and setting up another. Dan "The Danimal" Ammel was his typical self as he potted a pair of first period goals, both from the backdoor...he LOVES SOME BACKDOOR ACTION.

Topo "Thing 1" LaCroix was without his twin tonight and started the scoring on a breakaway just 1:43 into the game, breaking in on Turner and got jiggy with it like Will Smith as he went forehand to backhand and tossed the puck over Turner's pad. Matty "The Milkmaid" Marrazzo cut across the slot and threw a no look backhand pass to Ammel on the backdoor to make it 2-0 with 8:19 to play and then Ammel notched his 15th of the season on a crazy bounce. That bounce came off a point shot from Jason "Youngblood" Young who teed the puck up from the far point along the boards, missing the net by 10 feet and bouncing out to Ammel on the other side of the net for the easy goal. Apparently this is a set play between Young & Ammel who have been practicing that play for years at Barwood Arena in the early hours of the morning.
Albertazzi, the goalie later got a second assist as he fed the puck to Bergeron who then found Gattie for a late period goal with just 15 seconds left in the first and the rout was on.

END OF THE FIRST: Gamblers 4, Nordiques ZERO. Shots: Gamblers 19, Nords 9

Being outshot heavily in the first period, the Nordiques woke up a bit to star the second. "The Nords were all over the Gamblers, especially in the second" recalled injured Gambler superstar Willy "Mighty Mouse" Meyer. Some reporters felt that Meyer was just trying to make the Nordiques feel good about themselves.

It took over 6 minutes in the second, but Douglas "Lightweight" Heavisides took an Ammel feed and buried one past Turner for the 5-0 lead. That was Heavy's 7th of the season. LaCroix notched his second of the night and 19th of the season, shorthanded nonetheless, from a bad angle that caught the Nordique's Johnny "Temper Tantrum" Turner napping. LaCroix was a puck-control machine, out-hustling the Nord's on their power-play and sticking the dagger in with the shorty.

That was it for scoring in the frame.

END OF THE SECOND: Gamblers 6, Nordiques ZILCH. Shots: Gamblers 29, Nordiques 23

The Third was actually some good hockey as the Nordiques outshot the Gamblers 11-10 and only allowed ANOTHER FUCKING SHORT-HANDED GOAL. This time, it was an absolute beaut of an assist and solo-effort. The assist came from the Nordique's own Stuart "Little Ball of Hate" Grande who passed the puck to the Gambler's Ryan Bergeron in the neutral zone. Bergeron carried the puck into the zone 1 on 1 with Grande, cut to the high slot, fired off a snapper that Turner kicked right into the slot where Bergy picked up the puck and buried it past Turner. Really nice goal for Bergeron, lots of things went wrong there for the Nords.

END OF REGULATION: Gamblers 7, Nordiques had zero goals.

Overall, the Nordiques were inept early and dug their own grave. The Gamblers proved yet again why they are the cream of the crop in the UVHL.

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
GMB	13:17	Goal	LaCroix, Topo(18)	Assist(s): Gattie, Marc(14) Bergeron, Ryan(11)
GMB	08:19	Goal	Ammel, Robert(14)	Assist(s): Marrazzo, Matt(13) Heavisides, Douglas(8)
GMB	05:43	Goal	Ammel, Robert(15)	Assist(s): Young, Jason(5) Bergeron, Ryan(12)
GMB	00:15	Goal	Gattie, Marc(9)	Assist(s): Bergeron, Ryan(13) Robinson, Josh(1)
2nd PERIOD
GMB	08:37	Goal	Heavisides, Douglas(7)	Assist(s): Albertazzi, Matt(1) Young, Jason(6)
GMB	05:00	Penalty	Heavisides, Douglas(3)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	03:43	Goal	(SH)LaCroix, Topo(19)	Assist(s): Gattie, Marc(15)
GMB	02:07	Penalty	Harrington, Mike(8)	2 minutes for Roughing
3rd PERIOD
GMB	07:31	Penalty	Robinson, Josh(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
GMB	06:02	Goal	(SH)Bergeron, Ryan(2)	Assist(s): none
NDQ	04:31	Penalty	Racicot, Brian(3)	2 minutes for Hooking

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