After a loss on Saturday to a very good Concord team on the road, on the morning following Christmas day, the Flames returned to home ice for a game with Lakes Region. Lakes Region is another solid team in the same division, and the Flames had all they could handle.
Flames 3 – Lakers 2
The Flames jumped out to a 1-0 lead and held that lead going into the third period. Then in a matter of seconds it seemed, Lakes Region used a Flames turnover into a breakaway goal to tie the game. Moments later Lakes Region was at it again with a clear breakaway that was denied before regaining the puck and taking a 2-1 lead. Manchester then put back to back transition goals up on the board to take a 3-2 lead. They would hold on and win the game 3-2. Both teams played well and the pace was pretty awesome.
Here are some pictures from the Lakes Region game. Click on them. Enlarge them. Check them out. Enjoy!
Flames 1 – Capitals 5
Later in the afternoon, Concord came to town. In a non-league game, with 15 minute periods instead of the normal 12 minute frames in GSL play, it was another good test for the 2010 Flames. Concord is definitely the better team and this is how players and teams get better, they have to play better competition. The Flames battled tough, and lost 5-1 in the end. Even so, there were successes, and there were lessons. The Flames will be better for it if their approach is about learning together as a team and executing the pace and the space of the game. They do play hard until the end, even if they’ve already run out of gas, and that’s a good thing.
2010 Flames Team Pictures in Christmas Jerseys