Another game, another win for Team Visualeyes, as the boys in red, white and blue knocked off the Peace Frogs 8-6 in EMHL action Friday evening at Buffalo State Arena.
Max Bonito and Matt English-Gunning led the way for Visualeyes with two goals and two assists apiece while strong play from call-ups Dan Hunter, Justin Corio and Matt English Sr. helped reinforce the victory. "Last night we brought together a veteran group. We had some key injuries and the guys in the room did everything that needed to happen in order to walk out of that game with a win. We've been doing that all season and that's why we are sitting in first place. But this team doesn't measure success by regular season wins. We evaluate the success of our club based on championships, and that is what we are gearing up for." said iron-man Ryan Donnelly after the game.
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| BONITO LEADS THE WAY WITH 4 POINTS |
Visualeyes never trailed Friday night, netting four goals in the first period from Bonito, Gunning-English, Mike Denz and Justin Corio. Mike Denz had a highlight reel end to end rush that began off the stick of the wily old vet Matt English Sr. "Carrying the mail from behind your own net is always a nice pressure reliever for your defense, but to finish those once in every hundred rushes or so is a chance worth taking."
Dan Hunter opened the second period with an incredible individual effort, banging home the fifth goal of the game on his fourth rebound in front of the net. The pesky Peace Frogs kept the game close, bringing the score within one goal at one, but Max Bonito added his second of the night 15 seconds later to keep the buffer at two. Team V held on to that lead for the third period on goals from Denz and English-Gunning. With 1:30 left in the game the Peace Frogs pulled their goalie. Team V had two opportunities to score on an empty net, but chose not to. Andy Valint even had a breakaway, but took the puck, skated behind the empty net, and waited for time to expire.
"I should've ripped a clapper through the empty net but I knew Jerry "The King" Crowe would have been very disappointed in me." said the hulking power-forward Andy Valint early Saturday.
The win marked the 12th straight game Team V has earned at least a point, and continues their winning streak to four games.
NEWS AND NOTES:
-Visualeyes' next opponent is the Pappas Indians. The two teams have only met twice this season. The first game won by Pappas 10-2, and the second by Visualeyes 14-4. The puck drops on Monday the 13th at 10:50 PM at Buffalo State Arena.
