Southey Marlins: TSN with Phil: TSN Phil: League Semi-Finals Games 1 and 2
Saturday, March 7TSN Phil: League Semi-Finals Games 1 and 2
19 was the number of days that the Marlins had off between games. And one would have to assume that Southey would come out a little flat in Game 1 of the league semi finals against Raymore. The team has been on the ice numerous times for practices, but it just isn't the same as game action. So when the Fish scored 3 goals over a 45 second span in the first period, the fans seemed to be a little in awe. The poor little air compressor barely had enough time to reload for the horn to blow. Halldy, Tyson Seivert, and Travis Mohr were responsible for the quick outburst. Then the Fish elected to give the Rockets a chance and decided to make a nice little path for everyone to get to the penalty box. Southey took 5 penalties in a row, 2 of them overlapping to give Raymore 5 on 3 advantages on which the visitors capitalized on both to make it 3-2 after 20 minutes. If not for goaltender Kaczmar, it could have been much worse. Brett Jullion scored on the pp six minutes into the second to put the Fish up by 2. Midway through the second, Thiessen scored for Raymore to make it 4-3. Then another quick onslaught by the Fish. Brad Shamble streaked down the right wing and ripped a beauty past Fischl, Brendan Jasper with a hard back hander from the slot, and Jullion with his second, tucked it where Grandma keeps the cookie jar or like our buddy Pierre McGuire (not) would say "Jullion goes roof daddy," all over a span of 4 1/2 minutes to give Southey a commanding 7-3 lead.Colin Herman would score another pp goal for the Rockets to make it 7-4 after 2 periods. Curtis Markewich and Scotty "Ovechkin" Sauer added 2 more for the Fish and Dale Hackewich for Raymore rounded out the scoring in the third to make it a 9-5 final.
Game Notes....Shots were just about even 42-40, however the penalties were not, 11 for Southey and only 6 for Raymore...4 of the 5 Rocket goals were on the pp.....8 different goal scorers for Southey...the Fish haven't lost now in over 3 weeks!
Game 2 went two days later on Friday night in Raymore. I had a feeling we would see a better performance by both goalies, but I wasn't expecting what was about to happen. Each team took a couple of penalties in the first and exchanged good scoring chances at both ends, but the only goal of the period came when Hakewich swacked the puck into his own net past a surprised Fischl. For the next 2 1/2 periods, Fischl and Kaczmar put on a clinic. Shots and penalties were pretty even and each goalie was trying to out dual the other. One big save at one end and then a big save at the opposite end. Hard to figure how the two teams scored 14 goals two nights earlier and tonight nothing was getting past either tender. 1-0 after 20. 1-0 after 40. Score still 1-0 with 5 minutes to go...4 minutes to go..both goalies up to the task, nothing getting past them. 2 to go, 1 to go, net empty. Pressure is on. The Fish weather the storm and Big Trav scores an empty netter to make it a 2-0 final. Both teams left it all out there, but Southey was just a little bit better on this night. Most fans like to see some goals scored, but this was one of the most entertaining 1-0 games you will see. The Fish now lead the series 2 games to none and can wrap the series up at home tonight at the Fishtank. Avonlea defeated Wynyard in the other semi finals and lead that series 1-0.
For TSN, I'm Phil Flaman.