Lightning Strikes Thrice!

Thursday, May 6, 2010
The game started out rather slowly. For the first four minutes, it was a defense lover's dream skate. Both teams did manage to attempt a few shots, most veering wide of the opponent's net until 8:05 when the big semi-truck looking guy on the Lightning trickled the puck by Big Chris for the game's first goal. Another Lightning goal quickly followed merely seconds after the face off at 8:31. Trailing 2-0, Pat Henninger skated the puck into the Lightning zone, flipped it off the wall by the oncoming defender and beat him to the puck to shoot off the back off the Lightning goalie's skate for a goal (9:36). Still ahead 2-1, the Lightning pelted Chris with an onslaught of shots in the final minutes of the period, only to be turned away each time. To reward Chris for his duties, the Dodos tied the game when Jason Hibarger dished a pass into the Lightning zone to Brian Silvey. Silvey beat the goalie over the shoulder to score (12:44, assist Hibarger).

With the score even at 2-2, the Lightning continued to bombard Chris with shots, amassing 14 total shots in the second period compared to just nine for the Dodos. Chris made two great saves in a row before surrendering a cheap goal to #0 (Frankenstein on skates). Not only was it a cheap goal, but Chris' stick also broke on the play. The Dodos would answer with almost three continuous minutes of pressure in the Lightning zone, but ultimately managing only one shot on goal. The Lightning added a fourth goal (11:28) before #12 shoved Henninger into the boards, drawing a two-minute penalty for boarding. The Dodos would keep the puck in the Lightning zone for most of the power play, however, they only took one shot on goal. Again. Down 4-2 with 27 seconds remaining in the period, Hibarger was nabbed for a holding penalty.

The Lightning capitalized on the power play to start the third, scoring a mere 29 seconds into the period. The Lightning would chip in two more goals (4:00, 4:33) before the Dodos would score their third goal, which was setup when Matt Marsh stole the puck, passed to Silvey, who deeked the defender before sending a wrister into the net (10:59, assist Marsh). The Lightning would score again at 13:06 to close out the game, dropping the Dodos to 0-4 for the season.

Fantasy Performances of the Day: Henninger 1G; Silvey 2G; Hibarger 1A, 1PEN; Marsh 1A, Big Chris 30SV