After climbing back from a 3 goal deficit in the final period, Team Visualeyes could not close out the Whalers in the shootout, dropping their third game in a row, 8-7, Tuesday evening at Buffalo State.
The Whalers large squad, of almost 4 full lines and 6 defensemen, tied the record with Cozumel, for the most players on one team ever in a single bar league hockey game. (16) The countless troops proved to be the answer though, as Visualeyes couldn't match their tenacity.
The Whalers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period with goals by Ryan Carroll, and Brenden Biskup. Biskup's goal was a questionable, while it looked as though it was punched in with his mitts. At this point in Biskup's career, he will probably take them anyway he can get them. Team V got on the board with a beauty from Max Bonito. The Whale upped the score to 3-1 on a slap-shot by Roberto Carroll. Team V stormed back in the last minute of the first, to tie the score at 3 with two goals from leading scorer, Duffy Dunnigan, both assisted by Jeremiah Crowe.
Visualeyes was never able to get anything going in the second second as they were outscored 2-0, leaving the Whalers up by two heading into the final frame.From that point on, the boys in white were playing catch up for the rest of the night.
Westfield's took a three goal lead early on in the third, and it looked like the end was near for Team V until Max Bonito buried on the power-play from Eric Schottke and Crowe to bring the score within two. Visualeyes kept the pressure on as Dunnigan found the back of the net again, scoring his first hat-trick of the year, and a blast from the left boards off the hot stick of Andrew "CPM" Valint. The biggest goal for Team V came late in the third on from Bonito, on a nifty little back-hand for his third of the game.
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| LOSING STEAK CONTINUES |
Visualeyes just couldn't put away the Whalers in the shootout, scoring on the first shots, but failing to put away the game on the third and fourth chances, losing 8-7.
With the loss, Team V drops to 2-2-1 and will next face The Peace Frogs on Friday, October 28th at 9:50.
"I thought we showed some real resilience fighting back from multiple deficits, but wejust came up short in the end. I think if we show up next week with 57 players like the Whalers did, we might stay a bit more fresh." said an angered Andrew Valint after the loss.
Don Borsuk really felt the effects of the loss Wednesday morning, "You never get a good night sleep after a loss to the Whale. There will be more meetings with them and later in the year I feel we will be in better shape, the Cup hangover will have worn off, and we will be able to keep up with 4 lines and 6 d-men, and a back up goalie."
Garren Reisweber also struggled with the loss and agreed with Borsuk. "I didn't get much sleep last night. We will work through the cup hangover though and be a better team down the stretch."
News and Notes:
-Max Bonito is now using white tape, and it looks like the change has paid off as he scored his first three goals against the Whalers with the equipment change.
-Former Team V Cup winner and the head of the Atlantic Coast Scouting Department, Dan Brown, thinks the chemistry just is not there yet for the reigning champs. "Maybe the boys need a night out together, get the team more comfortable."
