Post by Oxford United on Jun 8, 2024 11:47:44 GMT -7
Oxfort 5 @ [6] Cremona (OT)
The following game may be entered into any new dictionaries as the definition of "Mayhem".
Tristan Jarry started his first game for Oxford, both previous games having been helmed by Sam Montembault. Ilya Samsonov (sam-suh-nov?, sam-SUH-nov?, sam-SOH-nov? some-so-and-so?) continued as Cremona's choice.
I mention the goalies up front before running down the goals because I wanted them to feel good for a minute before their performances became known. That's right, sit DOWN Mr Jarry. And you Mr. So-and-so.
1st Period
Three minutes in and Nino Niederreiter scores on a wrister. 1-0 United. In every way a predictable start.
Five minutes later, Alex Ovechkin takes a long Pesce outlet pass and slaps one home. 1-1 Tie. We're doing great.
FOUR SECONDS LATER, Ovechkin takes a Pastrnak pass in the slot and slaps one home. 2-1 Titans. Blargh.
2nd Period
40 Seconds in and David Pastrnak finishes an Auston Matthews rush by burying a lovely drop pass. 3-1 Titans. It looks like the Cremona elite are on their game.
After three straight goals against, Jarry heads to the bench and Laurent Brossoit takes over. Does the situation improve?
At the half-way point of the middle frame, Jake DeBrusk show's why he's the best DeBrusk and one-times a Jesperi Kotkaniemi pass. 3-2 Titans.
A minute later, Niederreiter grabs the puck in his teeth and gnashes his way through traffic to spit chicklets and the puck into the net. 3-3 Tie. Say hello to my little friend ... momentum!
3rd Period
An uncultured penalty by Troy Terry leads to a rare appearance by Wyatt Johnston on the power play. He wastes no time and buries a wrister. 4-3 United. United has the lead again! Huge comeback! They're so sexy.
Alas, two minutes later J'accuse scores from twin brother Quinn. 4-4 Tie.
And three minutes later, Ovechkin completes his hattrick during a Niederreiter minor for the fourth lead change of the game. 5-4 Titans.
Chaos ensues when the refs call matching minors with two minutes remaining and United pull their goalie for a 5v4 advantage. Ten seconds after Brossoit reached the bench, Mika Zibanejad dipsied, doodled, and launched a wrister to the top corner. 5-5 Tie.
Overtime
18 seconds into overtime Kyle Connor finds himself alone in front of Samsonov. His backhand high to the stick side seemed certain to score but a miracle save prevented certain doom!
14 seconds later, Jack Eichel took a long lead pass from Quinn Hughes and deked the socks off of Brossoit to slide the winner into an empty cage. 6-5 victory for the Titans.
Stats
OXF 08 + 15 + 05 + 03 = 31 shots, 9 hard, 5 goals
CHE 12 + 10 + 18 + 01 = 41 shots, 11 hard, 6 goals
The following game may be entered into any new dictionaries as the definition of "Mayhem".
Tristan Jarry started his first game for Oxford, both previous games having been helmed by Sam Montembault. Ilya Samsonov (sam-suh-nov?, sam-SUH-nov?, sam-SOH-nov? some-so-and-so?) continued as Cremona's choice.
I mention the goalies up front before running down the goals because I wanted them to feel good for a minute before their performances became known. That's right, sit DOWN Mr Jarry. And you Mr. So-and-so.
1st Period
Three minutes in and Nino Niederreiter scores on a wrister. 1-0 United. In every way a predictable start.
Five minutes later, Alex Ovechkin takes a long Pesce outlet pass and slaps one home. 1-1 Tie. We're doing great.
FOUR SECONDS LATER, Ovechkin takes a Pastrnak pass in the slot and slaps one home. 2-1 Titans. Blargh.
2nd Period
40 Seconds in and David Pastrnak finishes an Auston Matthews rush by burying a lovely drop pass. 3-1 Titans. It looks like the Cremona elite are on their game.
After three straight goals against, Jarry heads to the bench and Laurent Brossoit takes over. Does the situation improve?
At the half-way point of the middle frame, Jake DeBrusk show's why he's the best DeBrusk and one-times a Jesperi Kotkaniemi pass. 3-2 Titans.
A minute later, Niederreiter grabs the puck in his teeth and gnashes his way through traffic to spit chicklets and the puck into the net. 3-3 Tie. Say hello to my little friend ... momentum!
3rd Period
An uncultured penalty by Troy Terry leads to a rare appearance by Wyatt Johnston on the power play. He wastes no time and buries a wrister. 4-3 United. United has the lead again! Huge comeback! They're so sexy.
Alas, two minutes later J'accuse scores from twin brother Quinn. 4-4 Tie.
And three minutes later, Ovechkin completes his hattrick during a Niederreiter minor for the fourth lead change of the game. 5-4 Titans.
Chaos ensues when the refs call matching minors with two minutes remaining and United pull their goalie for a 5v4 advantage. Ten seconds after Brossoit reached the bench, Mika Zibanejad dipsied, doodled, and launched a wrister to the top corner. 5-5 Tie.
Overtime
18 seconds into overtime Kyle Connor finds himself alone in front of Samsonov. His backhand high to the stick side seemed certain to score but a miracle save prevented certain doom!
14 seconds later, Jack Eichel took a long lead pass from Quinn Hughes and deked the socks off of Brossoit to slide the winner into an empty cage. 6-5 victory for the Titans.
Stats
OXF 08 + 15 + 05 + 03 = 31 shots, 9 hard, 5 goals
CHE 12 + 10 + 18 + 01 = 41 shots, 11 hard, 6 goals
- Brett Pesce (-2) was injured in the 2nd period.
- There was some discussion about both teams pulling the goaltender. It has happened twice in NHL history, but we have a CHL rule against pulling the goaltender when leading the game. Still ...
- Oxford was heavily outplayed, and only bad luck prevented the game from being a blowout in Cremona's favour.
