UPPER VALLEY HOCKEY LEAGUE

ODDS:	DR by 2
OVER/UNDER:	9

In the final game if week 4 the Oilers face the Whalers. Both teams are coming off of strong games in shootout losses last week, and have momentum. I'd have to say the Dead River has the most of it, but the Whalers could have more new players in the mix that cold put them over the top. If they can keep Pattison away from the net then they have a chance. If not, then he will score 4 more goals and will be a player of the week nominee again. The Whale was much improved in their own end last week, and this must continue for them to have any chance to win any game this season. The Oilers are finding some chemistry, but rely on the big line of Pattison-Duggan-Cashman to do most of the scoring. However, their 4 D are SOLID, but if they are forechecked hard and the second line is on, then there will be chances to be had for the speedy Whalers forwards. With Liam "Sean Avery" Oliver suspended for the Whalers it should be a much cleaner, but slower game. I'll have to take the Oilers by 2 in this one.

Whalers surprise Dead River with solid effort

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The final game of the night saw the Whalers take on Dead River in front of no fans after the Tuckies all left, and the building was quiet except for the sound of the skates cutting into the ice and the puck being hit off the boards. Regardless, this was a competitive hockey game that neither team wanted to lose. Dead River started early with a goal at 12:15 by Evan Duggan from linemate Rob Pattison that gave the Oilers the lead for the majority of the period. The Whalers pulled even at 3:29 on Jay Zaneloni's first goal of the season from winger Cody Vose. Whalers D Sean Clauson was nabbed for tripping at 1:14, but they held off the Oilers attack and kept the game tied at 1 apiece heading into the second. Zaneloni found the net again on a rebound off a Vose shot at 5:39 to put the Whalers up 2-1. With Dan Bloom in the Oilers box for tripping at 5:18 the Whalers increased their lead on the sweetest goal of the evening, a wicked slapshot by a streaking Vose into the top corner from Zach Aher and Kirt Johnson that surprised goaltender Matt Albertazzi and everyone else. It was NASTY! In the third Oilers winger Dean Cashman and Whalers D Kirt Johnson were called for conicidental minors at 13:15 for bodychecking and high sticking respectively. Oilers winger Brian Racicot used his speed to score an unassisted goal at 12:40 to pull his team back within one. Zaneloni answered at 3:59 with an unassisted goal of his own to increase the Whalers lead back to two completing his first UVHL Hat Trick. Shortly thereafter Oilers tenacious winger Rob Pattison took a major league two-handed slash on Zaneloni with no call on the play as Zaneloni was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. The two had words, obviously, but it was thankfully left at that since tempers were getting hot between both squads at this point. Dead River pulled their goalie to try to get back within one, but Vose stole the puck and got the empty netter with 22 seconds left to end the scoring. Final Score: Whalers 5, Dead River 2 Final Analysis: The Whalers played well in their own end, and that started the rest of their game from transitioning into the neutral zone to getting offensive chances. The fact that Dead River had 8 players helped, but 8 on 10 is pretty even in my book. Zaneloni finally broke out with a 3 goal effort, and had excellent chemistry with linemate Cody Vose who had 2 goals of his own. Dead River pushed all game and just came up short in the goal department, but it wasn't from lack of effort or creativity. Having only 3 D does suck, and it hurts you later in the game, but that's what you get when you show up with 8 players...sometimes...because the Brewers shutout the Nords with only 7 on 11 earlier in the night, so you be the judge. Do the numbers matter, or only the RIGHT number? Final Tally: Check out the boxscores section, and don't forget to vote for the UVHL's Long Trail Player of the Week, eh!

 

Team:	Time:	Type:	Player:	Details:
1st PERIOD
LAB	02:15	Goal	Duggan, Evan(2)	Assist(s): Pattison, Rob(2)
WHL	01:14	Penalty	Clauson, Sean(1)	2 minutes for Tripping
WHL	00:29	Goal	Zanleoni, Jay(1)	Assist(s): Vose, Cody(1) Gaede, Chuck(1)
2nd PERIOD
WHL	05:39	Goal	Zanleoni, Jay(2)	Assist(s): Vose, Cody(2)
LAB	05:18	Penalty	Bloom, Dan(2)	2 minutes for Tripping
WHL	04:09	Goal	Vose, Cody(1)	Assist(s): Aher, Zach(3) Johnson, Kirt(1)
3rd PERIOD
LAB	12:40	Goal	Racicot, Brian(1)	Assist(s): none
WHL	03:59	Goal	Zanleoni, Jay(3)	Assist(s): none
WHL	00:22	Goal	Vose, Cody(2)	Assist(s): none

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Game Comments:
kpark Quechee, VT Registered: Dec 2003 Posts: 724	100% voting for Dead River win?!?!? Nov 2nd, 2009 02:56 PM Are there no Whalers voting here? 4 out of 4 predict a Whaler's loss. Ouch.