Written by Well, it turns out that when you have very little down time during Christmas vacation week, even an afternoon game might seem too early. Maybe it was just me. Either way, the 2010 Flames were ready to go and skated to a 7-1 win against the Berkshire Bruins.
Through two games in the tournament, the 2010 Flames have been getting contributions from every dressed player on the roster. It’s a great thing to watch. Not only that, the Flames have been getting consistent chances to score, and have scored goals in all six periods that they have played thus far.
The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period on Friday afternoon, picking up right where they left off earlier in the day. First Zach Lessard scored from Andy Soucy and Garrett Warren. Then it was Alex Panitz scoring on a nice rush after a center ice face-off win. Cam Desruisseaux won the face-off back to Logan McCain who moved the puck quickly to Panitz who took care of matters from there. Manchester led after the first period, 2-0.
The Flames kept up the pressure in the second period. Lessard went for a bit of a ‘skate-about’ (a cold climate state’s definition of skating with the puck just to skate with the puck) before sending a pass across to the left point. At the left point was Finley Dunn, who took the pass and lifted a wrist shot that found the soft nylon strings at the back of the net. With the score at 3-0 in favor of the Flames, the Bruins got a great scoring chance, but it was abruptly ended when Travis Ingalls made a great save with the handle of his goal stick. Almost immediately after that save, the Flames went on the offensive again. Garrett Warren fought through some physical contact and worked the puck to Caleb Powers who fired a quick shot from the right wing boards. The shot was hard and along the ice at the near post where Soucy angled the blade of his stick just right in order to redirect the puck up and over the goaltender for the goal. The Flames would take a 4-0 lead to the second intermission.
In the final period the Flames gave up a break away goal which cut the lead to, 4-1. Then they answered right away with a goal from Brayden Gillies on a little check and pass from Jax Diachenko. With the smell of blood in the water and a chance to really nail this outcome, the Flames pounded the offensive zone. After a long shift with shots, traffic, rebounds, and lots of pressure, Finley Dunn ended the shift. She picked off a clearing attempt and ripped a shot through traffic to add to the Flames lead, 6-1. The final goal of the game might have been the best one. When everyone knows the schedule and the freight train is coming down the tracks right on time, nothing will stop that train. Well, Jordan Hawkes made a little pass to Logan “The Freight Train” McCain at center ice and McCain took the freight and like an unstoppable force meandered his way to the slot and tucked the freight inside the near post for safe keeping. 7-1 Flames. That would be the final score from game two of the day for the 2010 Flames.
Enjoy a few pictures. Click on them to open them up and zoom in.
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- The Flames line up for a face-off in the first period of Winter Classic Tournament action on New Year’s Eve.
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- I don’t know what happened here as my subliminal cravings for snacks, and portions of food were suddenly activated.
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- Once in awhile Finley plays this little optical illusion of a game where she skates with the puck like she’s taking a slow walk except that she is passing everyone on her way up the ice.
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- Garrett works this puck around the corner to Caleb, which led immediately to a goal by Soucy.
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- Cam had a great breakaway bid against the Bruins, but since the Bruins are his favorite team he decided to stick-handle this chance off of the post, which is harder to do than to score.
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- Lessard skates through the slot with a great look at the net and rifled a shot off of the goalie.
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- Will holds on after making a pad-glove combo save (Hockey 201) against the Bruins at the Winter Classic.
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- Alex skated like a flash to the front of the net for a great chance to score but the Berkshire Bruins goalie made a sensational save to deny the bid.
Team scoring: Game 2: Friday afternoon at Tri-Town Arena.
Bruins: 0-0-1 = 1
Flames: 2-2-3 = 7
Flames scoring: Lessard from Soucy and Warren, Panitz from McCain and Desruisseaux, Dunn from Lessard, Soucy from Powers and Warren, Gillies from Diachenko and Petrie, Dunn unassisted, McCain from Hawkes.
Travis Ingalls (0 Goals allowed) played the first half of the game and saw little action. Will Rosenbeck (1 goal allowed) had more action than Travis and made some nice saves to make sure the Flames kept their momentum.
The Flames play a league game in Concord tomorrow at 1:30pm. Then the Flames return to the tournament ice at 6:50pm on New Year’s Day for a game with the Central Maine Hornets. Can you believe that we have to leave our house and our pajamas on New Year’s Day?!?!? Sign of the times.
Have a Safe, Healthy, and Happy New Year everyone!!!
The Flames and Bruins line up after their game at the Winter Classic.