Written by Sunday the Flames traveled to Hanover, NH for a Granite State League game. The match up proved to be even and exciting. In the end, the Flames played their best when it counted most, earning a 3-2 win with a goal in the final minute of play. Here we go:
1st Period: Sam Hebert scored the only goal of the 1st period when Ashlie Killen stopped a Hanover rush, took the puck, and made a pass to Sam. Sam, with speed, agility, and the puck seemingly stuck to his stick, dangled through three would-be defenders before making a puck deposit into the back of the net. The Flames won the period on the scoreboard, but the first 12 minutes were evenly contested.
2nd Period: Another well contested period led to a two-goal lead, opportunity for more, and ended in a one goal lead. First, the Flames drew a penalty on Hanover. Then, with a recent surge in passing the puck and working together, the newly discovered power play went to work. Sebastian Beal used some soccer skills he must have learned from Brendan Courtney (known for using his skate blades as an extension of his stick), when he broke up a play at the blue line, and hit Sam Hebert with a pass in the zone. Hebert scored the power play goal, using the element of surprise, by spinning and releasing a shot before the goaltender knew what was flying past him. Then the reason why coaches around the world harp on their players about playing until the whistle, until the end, or until time runs out, the Flames allowed a goal in the period’s final minute. First, the Flames had some good chances to score and build on their two-goal lead. Then, the Flames got caught in a combination of a long shift, bad change, and some bad luck, or maybe all of the above. A Hanover shot was sent net-ward, saved initially, and then found its way across the goal line. It happens. Period two ended with the Flames holding a 2-1 lead.
3rd Period: Ahhh, the final period, the final period of an exciting game, a closely contested game, when contests are won and lost, and decided it would be. But not before the outcome would be very much in question. Hanover tied the game when the Flames couldn’t get the puck out of their own end despite the opportunity at a clean attempt to clear the puck. A Hanover pass was redirected by a Flame defenseman; the change in direction caught the Flame goaltender off guard and slid into the net. Game tied, 2-2 with more than half a period to play. The Flames had chances to get the lead again, but the Hanover goaltender had other ideas. One such chance was a break in by Zachary Bayer who had made runs at picking the pocket of Hanover defenders all game. Well, he picked one clean, went in alone and the goaltender made the save, but left a rebound. Sam Hebert, in the hunt for another hat-trick, raced in and got to the rebound first, sure goal, not today. The goalie made a fantastic save and the game remained knotted at 2 goals apiece. Then, to replicate the coaching point mentioned from the second period, the Flames capitalized on one of their numerous chances. With less than a minute left in the game, and the score tied 2-2, the Flames got the game winner on a nice team hockey play. Patrick Goren lobbed the puck in the offensive end and Sam Hebert got to the puck first. Hebert made a nifty move to get around a defender and ripped a hard shot at the net. Hanover’s goaltender was up to the task yet again, and made a nice save. This save did result in a juicy rebound though, and Sean Moore was all over the puck and promptly scored the game-winning goal. There were just 33 seconds left to play, and the Flames managed that time easily, winning by a final score of 3-2. The win gave the Flames a much needed two points in the GSL Standings. The win also completed a two-win weekend leading into Christmas.
On Tap:
- Tomorrow: Merry Christmas to one and all
- Saturday: Flames vs. Shamrocks (West Side Arena) 8:40am
- Sunday: Flames vs. NH East (West Side Arena) 3:20pm
- Monday: Flames vs. Opponent (Verizon Wireless Arena) 4:30pm, tickets can be ordered for the Monarchs game following