TEAM V DROPS THE INDIANS

After losing two consecutive games by a goal, one in a shoot-out, 9-8 to Pappas Indians, and the other, 7-6 in regulation to La Nova, Visualeyes looked to erase the demons of the 2012-2013 season against a team they have yet to beat in three meetings this year. Team V relied on strong third period play and defeated the Pappas Indians on Wednesday, December, 5th at the Buffalo State Arena for their 6th win on the year.

Visualeyes got on the board early when league scoring leader, Eric Schottke beat one of the top goaltenders in the EMHL, Kyle Gunn-Taylor, on passes from Donald Borsuk and Adam Bellows. Struggling to find his game this season, Drew Leberer added the second tally of the game when T.J. Cooper found the nimble defenceman wide open in the high slot. Leberer laced a wrist shot bar down over Gunn-Taylor's glove. Team V jumped out to a 3-0 lead just one minute later as Schottke feathered in a back-hand for his 19th of the season.

Sloppy defensive play by Leberer in his own end allowed the Indians to break the goose-egg on Baudo with 5 minutes remaining in the first. The Indians added one more goal in the period to close Team V's lead to just one goal.

Jim "Dust-Pan" Dunnigan opened the second period scoring, tallying his 10th goal on the season when goaltender Matt Baudo made a quick break out pass to centerman Borsuk. Borsuk moved the puck up ice and hit a streaking Dust-Pan in neutral ice. The rest was history. Then Indians did not back down, matching Visualeyes' offensive prowess with five goals in the second frame. Visualeyes found themselves down 7-6 with under two minutes in the period until call-up Kevin LaRocque assisted on Garren Reisweber's first of the evening. The back door bury by Reisweber tied the score at 7 heading into the third period.

The "Big Veazy" sets the tone

The third period has been the most difficult for the boys in white, red and blue so far this season, blowing leads in the last two losses in the final period. Making sure this didn't happen once again, power forward Andy Valint, who played on the back line against the Indians, relayed a simple message in the second intermission, "We win the third, we win the game." Max Bonito, T.J. Cooper and Reisweber took the big Veazy's advice, scoring on the opening shift of the third period. Reisweber's second of the night and 10th on the year proved to be the difference maker in the game. Dust-Pan Dunnigan added an insurance goal off the stick of Schottke and Valint with 4:44 remaining in the game, showing off his Mario Lemiuex-esque poise and patience with the biscuit.

"I'd love to give you some prolific statement bit let's face it, it's not rocket science. The guys let their balls drop and just went out there and grabbed the victory in the third." said Valint after the win.


NEWS AND NOTES:

-Visualeyes sits at 6-5-2 at the halfway point of the EMHL season and will face the first place Winter's Whalers next Wednesday, December 12th at 10:50PM and Buffalo State Arena. The Whale are undefeated in regulation and dominated Team V earlier in the season 11-5. Tickets are going fast for this match-up.

-Kevin LaRocque's solid defensive play and helper on the tying goal turned some heads in the Visualeyes' organization. LaRocque could be a nice addition to the back line in the final stretch of the year.