Lightning Strikes Twice!

Dodos Roller Hockey played their season opener last night when they visited the defending Division 4 champions. The Lightning defeated the Dodos to begin the season on a sour note. While the Lightning bench was stocked full with a whole other 4-man line, the Dodos had to substitute a goalie (Big Chris was out) and were also missing three other players, Kevin Hewitt, Pat Henninger and Shane Linnenberger.

The shorthanded Dodos were off to a rough start, surrendering a quick goal to the Lightning (wasn't paying attention to the scorer, I apologize) at the 13:01 minute mark. Let's not go into details, but it was a fairly uneventful first period for Dodos Hockey, save the Jason Hibarger broken stick incident (his stick hit the crossbar and strangely broke in half, weird) and a 2-minute penalty by Brian Breithaupt for slashing. The Lightning scored two more goals (#10 CCCP jersey, 2:40; #90, 1:20) towards the end of the period to put the Dodos in the hole 3-0 with two periods to play.

With a 3-0 lead, the Lightning stormed into Dodos' territory and rained several shots on Sub-Goalie. He made a great on a shot by #10 CCCP, but the rebound was promptly backhanded over a sprawling Sub-Goalie (12:12). Following the next face off, the Dodos stole an errant pass and broke towards the Lightning zone. Dylan Mlcoch was tripped (no-call) and managed to push the puck to Brian Silvey, who wristed the shot into the net for the Dodos' first goal of the season (11:34). The Dodos had several more fast breaks, including one with a nice Breithaupt backhand which was somehow saved by the goalie (must have hit his nose). Dodos would however score a second goal with 3:32 remaining in the period when Silvey found himself with a shot attempt, which was blocked and flipped about four feet in the air, only to be batted in by Mlcoch. Lightning would add another goal at 1:52 to lead at the end of two periods 6-2.

This sure is a lot of typing, but I digress. Apparently the Dodos had some Gatorade during the second intermission, as they began the third period with a little rally as Silvey stole the puck at center court and rifled a breakaway goal at 13:20. Just over a minute later (12:02), the Dodos were pressuring the Lightning zone. Mlcoch passed the puck to Silvey, who's shot was deflected to the right of the goal, then swooped up and scored by Matt Marsh.

After two unanswered goals, Lightning scored again (10:52) to take a 7-4 lead. While there was a bathroom break, Mlcoch scored somehow at 9:34. Gotta go, you gotta go. Anyway, Dodos' Sub-Goalie faced a ton of tough shots all night, but the heartbreaker was the next Lightning goal. which hit his shoulder, flipped over his back, hit the crossbar, hit his back, then rolled into the goal (#91, 8:24). Ouch. Now down 8-5 with 5:25 remaining in regulation, Hibarger skated down court (?), passed the puck to Marsh, who then shot but was denied. Mlcoch tapped the rebound in to close the gap. Feeling a second wind, Jeff Hewitt found himself with the puck and proceeded to put a good shot on net, which was blocked, but once again Mlcoch was there to put in the rebound over the goalie's shoulder (4:34). That's as close as the Dodos would get, as #91 would score his second goal of the game at 2:53 to seal the victory. Dodos lose 9-7.

Fantasy Performances of the Day: Mlcoch 4G, 2A; Silvey 2G, 2A; Marsh 1G, 1A; Hibarger 1A, hilarious broken stick moment; J. Hewitt 1A, Breithaupt 1Pen. 2 min. Slashing