Max Bonito caught a
breakout pass from T.J. Cooper near Team V's bench and carried the puck through
the neutral zone with just seconds remaining in the tied game versus Cozumel.
The left-handed shot skated over the Cozumel blue line on his off wing and
wired a wrist shop top shelf, over the glove of goaltender Dave Reed with only
5.6 seconds left in the contest. Bonito's snipe sealed a 7-6 victory for
Visualeyes, who gave up a one goal lead lead just 50 seconds earlier trying to
kill off a late penalty.
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| BONITO NETS GAME WINNER IN THRILLER |
"Hockey's a funny game. You have to prove yourself every shift, every game. It's not up to anybody else. You have to take pride in yourself. I wanted to win the game right then and there, and decided to do just that." said Team V's player of the game, Bonito after the win to the media.
Cooper's pass to Bonito
on the game-winner wasn't his only assist of the evening as he set up the first
two tallies for Visualeyes as well. Garren Reisweber notched his 20th goal on
the year, 90 seconds into the game from Cooper and Robert Simpson added his
16th of the year minutes later when Cooper found Simpson wide open to the left
of the Cozumel goal mouth. Visualeyes finished off the period up 2-0 with
strong net-minding from Matt Baudo.
Baudo took
a slap-shot off of his mask late in the period, breaking the cage but he finished the period before heading back to the dressing room to get assistance
with the broken cage to start the second. "I took three slap-shots to the head last night, I haven't blacked out like that since Super Bowl Sunday." said the goalie after the game.
Duffy Dunnigan broke his
goal scoring slump 52 seconds into the period on an assist by Simpson. Cozumel
answered back, breaking Baudo's shutout halfway through the second but Don
Borsuk responded, tipping home a great feed in front from Dunnigan.
Cozumel went on a three
goal terror after Borsuk's goal and tied the score at four, but Eric Schottke
finished off the period with his 32nd goal on the year to give Team V their
lead back.
Matt English's shot from
the point increased Team V's lead by two on a power play goal from Garren
Reisweber. English's shot had eyes as it ripped through traffic in front of the
Cozumel net. Cozumel refused to go down without a fight, decreasing Visualeyes'
lead by one once again just 40 seconds after the English power play goal. With
a one goal lead and nine minutes remaining in the game, Visualeyes clamped down
on defensive play and held off Cozumel until a late penalty on Bob Simpson.
Cozumel tied up the score at 6 on a one timer from the top of the circle that
went in off of Baudo's mask.
Bonito avenged Visualeyes' disappointing loss
just 4 days earlier to Cozumel by sending his shot over the glove of Reed with
5.6 seconds to go.
"Team V made a return back to playing simple hockey. The D played D, and the forwards scored goals. Sometimes you really want to jump in the play and generate offense from the back end, but that is high risk, high rewared. We have been leaving Matty, (Baudo) out to dry a bunch this season. As a team we played better team defense, and I think that Andy Valint set the tone by volunteering to play D last night. A real team guy," Said Donnelly about the win.
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| Simpson Returns after Suspension |
Bob Simpson played a strong game, scoring once and adding two assists after serving his one game suspension issued by his GM. After the game he added this, "I knew I had to change some things up in my game; become more of a team oriented guy. I think I took a very good step towards that and all indications from my coach seem very positive as well. I thought it was an all-around team win. Scoring and defense from both lines, just a very well balanced attack."
NEWS AND NOTES-
-Garren Reisweber is listed as day
to day with a bruised quadriceps as a result of Andy Valint's slap-shot
in the third period.
-Visualeyes has some time off and
will use it to rest up before their next meeting versus long time rival
Winter's Whalers on February 20th at 9:20 PM at Buffalo State Arena.
