Post by Belfast on Dec 16, 2021 22:30:39 GMT -7
Belfast V Oxford:
Oxford and Belfast meet for their annual donnybrook in Belfast and the fans aren’t disappointed, with Oxford taking 5 penalties in the match and Belfast responding with 3. Seems like the festivities have begun early.
Belfast starts out early with 4 shots, 2 quality chances before the first 2 shifts are over. The Belfast bench seems primed for more and the visiting Rangers seem befuddled for most of the period, but get their skates under them after the 10 minute mark and start to mount some offense of their own.
Gabby McLandeskog posts a shocking goal on a great set up by Jeff Petry to stun the home squad and quiet the 25 fans in attendance. Half attendance requirements were halved again due to increased beer pricing, “That’s some bull shite right there” stated one angry fan, after coughing up a promissory note for one whole chicken to be delivered within one weeks time. “Used to be that a whole chicken would get you a Triple B” (That’s a Beer, Burrito and a Beet for you non Irish out there)
Of note, Jason Spezza has a glorious quality chance blocked for the second game in a row and it seems that the Rangers “Referee Retirement Fund” donation was met with some very quiet whistles on infractions while on the Power Play as they turn a blind eye to 2 blatant penalties while the Rangers took liberties on the PP.
The teams trade a few more chances before Patriots Coach Daniel (Don’t call me Dan) O’Sheigh notices something amiss with Tukka Rasks new “equipment change”. He is seen speaking to the ref’s after the period, with the home team down 1 goal, but an eye roll and laugh is all his protestations are met with. Belfast has 11 shots, 2 quality chances for 0 goals while Oxford has 8 shots, 2 quality and 1 goal to show.
The second period sees the home team again out shooting and out chancing the opposition, doubling them in shots and quality chances, but now Rasks obvious equipment manipulation would be obvious to a blind wombat. With some very camouflaged netting making his pads look like a bad pair of MC Hammer balloon pants and enough webbing under the arms to para-glide down the Swiss Alps, he makes easy work of the 3 quality chances the Patriots fire on net. Again, no review of the illegal equipment and again 2 non calls while the Rangers are on the PP send the teams to the lockers in the same situation.
Of note in the 2nd, Rangers forward Jake (Soon to be a Patriot) Debrusk, fires a wicked PP wrister, destined for the bottom corner, only to have Rasmus Ristolainen slide in front to steer the puck to the corner on the Rangers only chance of the period. Belfast has 11 shots, 3 quality and 0 goals, while the Rangers have 6 shots, 1 quality and 0 goals.
Yelling and hollering down the Patriots ramp can be heard before a garbage can is flung out onto the ice after an enraged Coach O’Sheigh demands a review of this new “alteration” to Rask’s equipment, quickly followed by some placating assurances the refs would “look into it”, before again rolling their eyes and walking to their doughnut shack.
The third period starts out much the same and after Rask makes a completely physically impossible stop on Nichushkin, the ref’s finally start to skate towards the Rangers crease, only to see Rask flop to the ice, convulsing like a cat fish on a fist, faking an injury. While the ref’s confer Tristan Jarry quickly slips his jersey and mask to Rask, who then poses as Jarry for the rest of the game. The ref’s, thinking the issue is closed with Rasks “exit” ignore Coach O’Sheighs continued tirade on the bench.
Niko Sturm, clearly still rattled by a hard hit (one of the missed calls in the 1st period), completely whiffs on a breakaway defensive miscue by the Rangers to more or less seal this debacle. Eriksson-Ek finally gets a quality chance (1 of 4 on his PP range), but of course it’s blocked by a Rangers player while they have 9 guys on the ice.
“Jarry” stops all 3 hard shots he faces in the third, gotta love that webbing idea, to seal a 1-0 Rangers win. Patriots were 14 shots with 4 quality for 0 goals while the Rangers were 10 shots with 2 quality for 0 goals. Who knew that a 110 was as good as a 123? “Goalies? Bah stick any schlub in there, and your fine.” Stated Coach Perkins after the game while downplaying the importance of the position. Hell even Lawrence Chang would have stopped those with that much extra gear on.
The Patriots have filed a formal complaint which they expect to be filed in the appropriate garbage can by the league.
Rask, Landeskog and Nedeljkovic are the 3 stars of the game, and the honorary 4th star goes to the webbing manufacturer of that new goalie “attachment”.
Patriots 0 goals on 36 shots – 9 quality chances and the Rangers were 1 goal on 24 shots with 5 quality chances.
The return affair in Oxford, mysteriously see’s Rask sitting while awaiting his equipment bag to be delivered by a Russian KGB attaché, who has visa issues. The home side comes out with a solid effort in the 1st period, controlling much of the play. Forcing a turnover by Josh Norris, Nic Deslaurier pounds a quality forechecking shot on net, but a desperate slide by Esa Lindel prevents any damage. Not to be denied though, the Rangers capitalize on a goal by Neidereiter on a feed from Debrusk and former Patriot Robert Hagg to send the home team to the locker room up by one again.
The Patriots seem a bit jet lagged and can’t muster any quality chances in the first frame. Thankfully Connor Hellebuyck manages some new moves in the Patriots net (Not rolling on a 6 or 8 is refreshing) to keep the damage to one.
After the 13 minute mark, disaster strikes as 3 Ranger goons put Eriksson-Ek into the stands, where he remains for the duration as Coach O’Sheigh states “Good, let the slacker sit up there for the Brooks Sniper to use as target practice, Ek can’t hit the broad side of a barn anyhow.”, referring to Ek’s only having one hard shot after 10 shots in the 2 games. Belfast is 9 shots for 0 quality and 0 goals while the Rangers are 15 shots for 3 quality and 1 goal.
The second period seems to breath a bit of life into the visitors, or maybe it was the joking laughs and pantomiming a cave man at Tom Wilson that seems to rile up the Patriots as Wison buries a pass from Artem Zub to level the score and shortly after, some mocking and “blah…blah…Vrana…cream puff…blah..blah” leads to Vrana also putting a cross ice feed from Zub into the back of the net.
Rangers coach Perkins is overheard telling his guys to use hugs and positive reinforcement, not mocking and low brow humor to try and quell the turning tide, but the real reason his team is still in it is revealed at a TV timeout, when we see that indeed its’ not Jarry, but RASK in net again with his fully netted equipment!! He manages to keep the bleeding to 2 goals on 5 quality chances in the frame. Patriots are 18 shots with 5 quality for 2 goals while the Rangers are 10 shots with 2 quality for 0 goals.
The third period starts much like the 2nd with Wilson again finding twine after “Jarry” trips on a piece of the extra netting between his legs, putting the Patriots up by 2 before Peppy-Luc Dubious finds the back of the net on a lead pass from Jeff Petry to bring the Rangers back to within one.
Some penalties mar the middle of the frame before Josh Anderson FINALLY breaks out of his slump with a big blast from in close, destined for the top shelf……of Lindels head which comes between him and a sure goal. Lindel puts the game away with a PP tally, and the Patriots hold on despite a furious, goalie pulled show from the Rangers late. The Patriots escape with a 4-2 win. Pat’s were 11 shots for 3 quality and 2 goals (One PP) while the Rangers were 15 shots for 3 quality and 1 goal.
Wilson, Neidereiter and Hellebuyck are your stars for the game.
In retrospect, by both coaches, the feeling is that each team basically stole the opposing win despite stronger play by the home teams in this series. Absolutely nothing is decided about 3rd place with the split and each coach is still looking for those final puzzle pieces to fit into place.
Befast is now 4-2……..and awaiting final decision on Rasks new “equipment additions”.
Seriously though…passing against these 2 teams? Forget it, both teams fielded a minimum of 3 bars a screen and at least one forecheck per line. Lot’s of turnover action.
Oxford and Belfast meet for their annual donnybrook in Belfast and the fans aren’t disappointed, with Oxford taking 5 penalties in the match and Belfast responding with 3. Seems like the festivities have begun early.
Belfast starts out early with 4 shots, 2 quality chances before the first 2 shifts are over. The Belfast bench seems primed for more and the visiting Rangers seem befuddled for most of the period, but get their skates under them after the 10 minute mark and start to mount some offense of their own.
Gabby McLandeskog posts a shocking goal on a great set up by Jeff Petry to stun the home squad and quiet the 25 fans in attendance. Half attendance requirements were halved again due to increased beer pricing, “That’s some bull shite right there” stated one angry fan, after coughing up a promissory note for one whole chicken to be delivered within one weeks time. “Used to be that a whole chicken would get you a Triple B” (That’s a Beer, Burrito and a Beet for you non Irish out there)
Of note, Jason Spezza has a glorious quality chance blocked for the second game in a row and it seems that the Rangers “Referee Retirement Fund” donation was met with some very quiet whistles on infractions while on the Power Play as they turn a blind eye to 2 blatant penalties while the Rangers took liberties on the PP.
The teams trade a few more chances before Patriots Coach Daniel (Don’t call me Dan) O’Sheigh notices something amiss with Tukka Rasks new “equipment change”. He is seen speaking to the ref’s after the period, with the home team down 1 goal, but an eye roll and laugh is all his protestations are met with. Belfast has 11 shots, 2 quality chances for 0 goals while Oxford has 8 shots, 2 quality and 1 goal to show.
The second period sees the home team again out shooting and out chancing the opposition, doubling them in shots and quality chances, but now Rasks obvious equipment manipulation would be obvious to a blind wombat. With some very camouflaged netting making his pads look like a bad pair of MC Hammer balloon pants and enough webbing under the arms to para-glide down the Swiss Alps, he makes easy work of the 3 quality chances the Patriots fire on net. Again, no review of the illegal equipment and again 2 non calls while the Rangers are on the PP send the teams to the lockers in the same situation.
Of note in the 2nd, Rangers forward Jake (Soon to be a Patriot) Debrusk, fires a wicked PP wrister, destined for the bottom corner, only to have Rasmus Ristolainen slide in front to steer the puck to the corner on the Rangers only chance of the period. Belfast has 11 shots, 3 quality and 0 goals, while the Rangers have 6 shots, 1 quality and 0 goals.
Yelling and hollering down the Patriots ramp can be heard before a garbage can is flung out onto the ice after an enraged Coach O’Sheigh demands a review of this new “alteration” to Rask’s equipment, quickly followed by some placating assurances the refs would “look into it”, before again rolling their eyes and walking to their doughnut shack.
The third period starts out much the same and after Rask makes a completely physically impossible stop on Nichushkin, the ref’s finally start to skate towards the Rangers crease, only to see Rask flop to the ice, convulsing like a cat fish on a fist, faking an injury. While the ref’s confer Tristan Jarry quickly slips his jersey and mask to Rask, who then poses as Jarry for the rest of the game. The ref’s, thinking the issue is closed with Rasks “exit” ignore Coach O’Sheighs continued tirade on the bench.
Niko Sturm, clearly still rattled by a hard hit (one of the missed calls in the 1st period), completely whiffs on a breakaway defensive miscue by the Rangers to more or less seal this debacle. Eriksson-Ek finally gets a quality chance (1 of 4 on his PP range), but of course it’s blocked by a Rangers player while they have 9 guys on the ice.
“Jarry” stops all 3 hard shots he faces in the third, gotta love that webbing idea, to seal a 1-0 Rangers win. Patriots were 14 shots with 4 quality for 0 goals while the Rangers were 10 shots with 2 quality for 0 goals. Who knew that a 110 was as good as a 123? “Goalies? Bah stick any schlub in there, and your fine.” Stated Coach Perkins after the game while downplaying the importance of the position. Hell even Lawrence Chang would have stopped those with that much extra gear on.
The Patriots have filed a formal complaint which they expect to be filed in the appropriate garbage can by the league.
Rask, Landeskog and Nedeljkovic are the 3 stars of the game, and the honorary 4th star goes to the webbing manufacturer of that new goalie “attachment”.
Patriots 0 goals on 36 shots – 9 quality chances and the Rangers were 1 goal on 24 shots with 5 quality chances.
The return affair in Oxford, mysteriously see’s Rask sitting while awaiting his equipment bag to be delivered by a Russian KGB attaché, who has visa issues. The home side comes out with a solid effort in the 1st period, controlling much of the play. Forcing a turnover by Josh Norris, Nic Deslaurier pounds a quality forechecking shot on net, but a desperate slide by Esa Lindel prevents any damage. Not to be denied though, the Rangers capitalize on a goal by Neidereiter on a feed from Debrusk and former Patriot Robert Hagg to send the home team to the locker room up by one again.
The Patriots seem a bit jet lagged and can’t muster any quality chances in the first frame. Thankfully Connor Hellebuyck manages some new moves in the Patriots net (Not rolling on a 6 or 8 is refreshing) to keep the damage to one.
After the 13 minute mark, disaster strikes as 3 Ranger goons put Eriksson-Ek into the stands, where he remains for the duration as Coach O’Sheigh states “Good, let the slacker sit up there for the Brooks Sniper to use as target practice, Ek can’t hit the broad side of a barn anyhow.”, referring to Ek’s only having one hard shot after 10 shots in the 2 games. Belfast is 9 shots for 0 quality and 0 goals while the Rangers are 15 shots for 3 quality and 1 goal.
The second period seems to breath a bit of life into the visitors, or maybe it was the joking laughs and pantomiming a cave man at Tom Wilson that seems to rile up the Patriots as Wison buries a pass from Artem Zub to level the score and shortly after, some mocking and “blah…blah…Vrana…cream puff…blah..blah” leads to Vrana also putting a cross ice feed from Zub into the back of the net.
Rangers coach Perkins is overheard telling his guys to use hugs and positive reinforcement, not mocking and low brow humor to try and quell the turning tide, but the real reason his team is still in it is revealed at a TV timeout, when we see that indeed its’ not Jarry, but RASK in net again with his fully netted equipment!! He manages to keep the bleeding to 2 goals on 5 quality chances in the frame. Patriots are 18 shots with 5 quality for 2 goals while the Rangers are 10 shots with 2 quality for 0 goals.
The third period starts much like the 2nd with Wilson again finding twine after “Jarry” trips on a piece of the extra netting between his legs, putting the Patriots up by 2 before Peppy-Luc Dubious finds the back of the net on a lead pass from Jeff Petry to bring the Rangers back to within one.
Some penalties mar the middle of the frame before Josh Anderson FINALLY breaks out of his slump with a big blast from in close, destined for the top shelf……of Lindels head which comes between him and a sure goal. Lindel puts the game away with a PP tally, and the Patriots hold on despite a furious, goalie pulled show from the Rangers late. The Patriots escape with a 4-2 win. Pat’s were 11 shots for 3 quality and 2 goals (One PP) while the Rangers were 15 shots for 3 quality and 1 goal.
Wilson, Neidereiter and Hellebuyck are your stars for the game.
In retrospect, by both coaches, the feeling is that each team basically stole the opposing win despite stronger play by the home teams in this series. Absolutely nothing is decided about 3rd place with the split and each coach is still looking for those final puzzle pieces to fit into place.
Befast is now 4-2……..and awaiting final decision on Rasks new “equipment additions”.
Seriously though…passing against these 2 teams? Forget it, both teams fielded a minimum of 3 bars a screen and at least one forecheck per line. Lot’s of turnover action.