TEAM V LOSES TO TAP ROOM IN SEASON FINALE

 TEAM V BLOWS 5-1 LEAD

With first place of the EMHL and home ice in the playoffs secured, Visualeyes finished off their regular season in odd fashion, losing to last place Third Street Tap Room, 6-5, allowing five unanswered goals.

Kevin Rogers slid in the first two goals of the game for Visualeyes on back to back shifts. Rogers regained rebounds on both attempts and beat Third Street's diving goalie along the ice. Visualeyes continued to cruise when Adam Bellows-Morrison ripped home his 19th goal of the year on the power play.

"MMA" Preps for Playoffs

Matt Baudo kept the score at 3-0 with several spectacular saves and odd man rush stops until halfway through the second period when Tap Room finally cracked Baudo's code. Team V bounced right back with two goals just one minute apart. The first from EMHL leading scorer, Eric Schottke, who buried his 30th of the year from Matt English-Gunning and Bellows-Morrison. Matt Mesi found the back of the net when the "MMA" (MAX (Bonito), MATTHEW (Mesi), ANDREW (Valint)) line combined for Visualeyes' fifth tally.

What happened after Mesi's goal, no one knows because the wheels fell right off the wagon. Tap Room scored twice in the final minute of the second period, and eventually tied and took the lead in the third while their goalie stood tall, rejecting 16 Team V shots. "Some people were really bad out there." said Bob Simpson-Corigliano.

"My play was just poor for a stretch that cost our team the game. I need to own that, get better, be better and contribute to this teams success, and not be a hindrance to the greatness of this organization." Ryan Donnelly added after completing his team leading 26th game of the season.

"We looked past them and I blame Bob and his stupid suggestion to play "line survivor." I hate losing bottom line and I intend on winning 4 more games this year." said goaltender Matt Baudo.

Whether it was overlooking an opponent, or just poor play Team Visualeyes now looks forward to defending their EMHL title in the Playoffs. Visualeyes will face the winner of Winter's Whalers vs The Peace Frogs on Friday, March 30th at 10:20 PM at Buffalo State Arena.



Donny Borsuk kept things positive after the final regular season game. "Short hard shifts worked for two periods and then we got a little selfish and went too long. Coach has to be better managing matching lines will be key. Coach needs to make sure we have our best defenders against their best scorers. On a positive note, Jantzi was kept off the score sheet and did not enter our locker-room after the game so when you really think about it, did we really lose that one? I don’t think so..."

NEWS AND NOTES:

EMHL SCORING CHAMP, ERIC SCHOTTKE

-The Tioga Terror (Eric Schottke and Duffy Dunnigan) finished 1,2 in EMHL scoring. Schottke with 62 points (30G, 32A) and Dunnigan with 58 points (21G, 37A). Adam Bellows-Morrison led all EMHL Defensemen in scoring as well as all rookies with 42 points (19G, 23 A). Ryan Donnelly led all EMHL players with games played, not missing one all season with 26. "I couldn't have done it with out Donny Bones and the other half of the Tioga Terror...I would also like to thank the rest of my teammates and our wonderful owner and dozens of loyal fans." said Schottke after receiving word of his EMHL scoring title.

-Tickets are on sale and great seats are still available as Team Visualeyes skates towards their second straight EMHL Classic Division Title. Game 1 of the best of 3 Semi-Final begins Friday, March 30th at 10:20 PM. All games will be played at Buffalo State Arena.