Post by QC Mike on Jan 24, 2023 23:30:05 GMT -7
This inaugural tie between the two US based teams kicked off in Houston to much pomp and circumstance. In a fairly open affair that saw the visitors holding a slight edge in play it was Andre Mangiapane opening the scoring for the home side at 3:36. Dylan Cozens, who had been buzzing all around the Houston net through the first evened the score at 16:48. Two minutes later Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to put the visitors ahead 2-1 after one. The second period saw the Sun Dogs tie the score at twos at 3:36. John Tavares was whistled for a face off violation and after killing off that penalty, the Houston bench was assessed a minor fer telling the ref a bit more than the seven words you can't say on television. During that power play Josh Morrisey on a fine individual rush beat Laurance Brossoit to restore the Q-Men's lead jut before the half way point. A few minutes later, Quad Cities lost Mangiapane on a line change and his wrister beat Philip Grubauer to once again even the score up. The following shift, The Q-Men defense failed to pick up Mangiapane coming off the bench on a line change and his forehand-backhand move left Grubauer looking up to the heavens as hats rained down from the stands as Mangipane gave the home side a 4-3 lead. Less than a minute later Michael Rasmussen dug the puck out of the corner and jammed one past Brossoit to one again tie things up. It looked like the visitors were going to go into the third even while killing off a DoG penalty to Calvin De Haan when Andre Mangiapane redirected Brandon Montour's slap pass to put the home side ahead at 19:46 and causing the rubber chickens to rain down. Quad Cities' pressing for the equalizer in the third caused some issues. An ill considered break out pass from Morissey was intercepted and sent the other way, Anthony Mantha finally benefiting from the turnover. At 11:12 of the third Mantha set up John Tavares for an insurance marker. Grubauer was pulled early but Quad Cities was not able to generate much of anything. Mangiapane missed an opportunity for a fifth and Kevin Fiala\s late marker was a little late and a lot short. Houston winning at home 7-5 to chants of Johnathon (don't ask me, it's what they were chanting).
Quad Cities 5 (11 chances on 41 shots) vs Houston 7 (X chances on Y shots)
1. Mangiapane (HSD) - 4G
2. Andersson (HSD) - 2A, 2shots, exemplary PK
3. Rasmussen (QCQ) - 1G, 1A 3 shots, +1
The rematch back at the Quad Cities Qualcomm Quonset Hut saw the home side come out pressing. With Josh Manson on the box for tripping, Josh Morrisey got the home side into it at the four minute mark when his snap shot caught Jusse Saros by surprise. 1-0 for the Quarrymen. Just before the the half way mark of the first, Ryan Strome once again lost it over something about Hanrahan's wife and her friend's cat, couldn't find a willing dance partner, and ended up with a double minor for roughing. On the ensuing face-off, Andrew Mangiapane one timed the feed from Brandon Montour and the score was even at ones. The Q-men were able to kill off the second minor and looked to retake the lead late when Darnell Nurse's broken stick allowed Claude Giroux to take off on a break away. Giroux was unable to beat Saros on the chance and the two sides skated into the first intermission all even. The second period saw Saros make a big save early and then with Nazem Kadri off for roughing, Mangiapane scored his second of the game to give the visiting Sun Dogs the lead. Quad Cities seemed to lose heart at this point and seemed to just play kitty bar the door even though they were down by one. Houston skating into the the second intermission up 2-1. The third saw the Q-Men come out with some fire and although they pressed and pulled Grubauer for the extra player at the end they weren't any to generate any chances as Houston skated away with the 2-1 win.
Houston 2 (6 chances on 37 shots) vs Quad Cities 1 (5 chances on 33 shots)
1. Mangiapane (HSD) - GWG, 2G
2. Grubauer (QCQ) - 2GA on 6 chances from 37 shots
3. Saros (HSD) - W, 1GA on 5 chances from 33 shots