Having secured a seat to observe the playoffs, you know rather than actually play in them, I kept a running log during the finals with a few notes for the first round. Here's what transpired:
Play-in Game: TEG will say more in his weekly column about this game but will here not that both teams stopped breakaways in OT, both had in & out goals in the course of the game and both just missed connecting on some nice one-timers. In all, a very even game that was decided by nait's style of play being both archaic and back firing on him as he knocked the game winner in his open net.
Game 1, Todd vs. Khris: The Pass is back in full effect and wins 6-0.
Game 1, Dan vs. Kevin: I think the shots are setting in on both of these guys.
Game 2, Todd vs. Khris: The Pass still there, but Khris is beginning to defend it well and is feeding of the energy of the home crowd. But falls short, 3-2 in OT. Todd onto his third straight Cup.
Game 2, Dan vs. Kevin: This game lasted one conversation that I had. Dan loses the drunk bowl. Who ever thought those words would be uttered? Kevin versus Todd in the finals.
10:16pm, Game One...
...Todd gets the first goal with his Left Defenseman to go up 1-0.
...maybe he's just nervous even though he's been here, but for whatever reason, Todd is trying to play fast.
...two straight goals by Kevin's LD to go up 2-1.
..."2nd Period-9 seconds" Kevin with a big save
...2-2
..."3-16," The Pass goes up 3-2.
..."3-1," Todd with a HUGE save.
...TEG swears no allegiance to Fuccillo.
...but Kevin ties it up with no time left with a RD-C connection.
...both players make huge saves, Kevin even being stopped on a breakaway.
...three big saves in a row by Kevin. There's a reason why he's amongst the league's best in save percentage every season
...Todd tips in a goal to win 4-3 in OT and take a 1-0 series lead.
Game One was a great game. The game too quick for any real thoughts to be scribbled down by TEG, which certainly comes as a surprise considering the seemingly low-scoring that TEG has decried all season.
Game Two
..."1-18," Todd goes up 1-0
..."1-15," Todd goes up 2-0 already
...This Talking Heads song is one of those that I never can remember who plays it, don't really like but always feel the need to listen to the entire thing when it's on the radio. I can't confirm this, but I've always held the belief that "You may find yourself wondering why you're listening to this song" were the working lyrics to this song.
..."2-3," Kevin scores his first to make the game interesting.
..."2-2," Kevin liked scoring so much he decided to do it on himself. Not quite as good. 3-1 Todd leads.
..."3-6," Kevin scores his third straight goal, this time in Todd's net! But the goal was on a really sweet one-timer.
..."3-6," Todd 4-2.
..."3-1," Todd 5-2.
...Kevin finishes off the scoring to finalize the score at 5-3.
A methodical win by Todd that Kevin never really had much of a say in and leaves TEG wondering if Todd will be beaten in this series. The two take a break and TEG notices it's 10:25 meaning two games were just played in nine minutes. Christ!
10:35pm, Game Three
...TEG's thoughts in the nine minute break: "...[jukebox too fucking loud to even think at this moment]........" Thursday Night Bubble Hockey at it's finest!
..."1-19," face-off right to Todd and Kevin is already going uphill.
..."1-15," tied-up at 1-1.
..."1-12," Todd responds with a great one-timer for a 2-1 lead. Has the one-timer disappeared from the league or is it the goal has disappeared enough that it's just not seen as much because of the dip in scoring? If this game wasn't going so fast, these are the things that TEG would look up.
...but I do find the time to discuss my Sunday night with Dan. Turns out he didn't even know I was there...for the entire Bills game, the post-game celebration at Pat's (in which we played Wii bowling against each other) and the post-Pat's-place-party at Gabriel's Gate. No wonder this guy thinks I'm never out drinking as much as I used to: he doesn't remember when I do!
..."2-10," Kevin ties it up with a really nice pass play.
..."2-8," Todd will not go away and goes up 3-2 just past the half-way point. There is a lot more scoring in this series too than I thought it would be. Those Original Four can still entertain after all.
...well, the Original Four not named nait, or not referenced as "Dan in the playoffs."
..."2-5," Kevin scores on a breakaway and leaves TEG wondering if anyone is better on the breakaway than Kevin. I know Todd's entire game is the breakaway thanks to The Pass, but he just gets so many and buries enough of them that he eventually wins. But Kevin's entire game is to sit back and play defense and bury the chances he gets when he does get one. Just as much reliant upon the breakaway but even more reliant on burying them. Which he seems to do enough that he finished second yet again. TEG has had enough beers at this point in the night that he will not drunkenly argue himself on this.
..."3-9," 4-3 lead taken by Todd and his LD. Who knew Todd even knew he had a LD thanks to The Pass.
...TEG isn't bitter about The Pass. On a similar note, he's ain't drunk. Just drinking.
..."3-1," with time almost gone, Kevin scores on the short side to tie the game 4-4 and stave off elimination for at least one more goal.
..."4-18," and by "at least one more goal," TEG meant "at least one more game" as Kevin ends it quickly in Overtime.
What a game! What a game! This game was way more back and forth than TEG expected. Todd played aggressively, but Kevin matched it with nearly shot for shot (12-11 Todd) and it paid off in the end.
10:39, Game Four
...I'm looking it up now as I post this: Todd and Kevin have split their previous encounters in the playoffs, each having taken a first round series in a 2-1 final.
...How many comebacks have their been in these playoffs? I think that was the first one, right? TEG wants more!
..."1-11," Kevin 1-0.
..."1-1," Todd 1-1.
..."2-16," WOW! What a great shot from the LW by Kevin on the short side. And TEG can't help but feel that his standards have been lowered enough to be so excited about a goal that was previously routine. He takes back what he said about the one-timer: the winger goal is the goal that has seemingly disappeared from the game and its mindset. Is that because in the shorter game there is the feeling there isn't enough time to attempt such a precision shot. Is that even possible--that a meticulous shot isn't tried because of the feeling to hurry up--in such a meticulous league?
..."2-12," 3-1 Kevin. TEG didn't catch what happen.
...I think the shots are setting in.
..."2-2," Kevin, 4-1 with the LD after The Pass was intercepted. TEG's heart is warmed.
...Does Kevin go in a prevent mode here? Slow down?
..."3-14," or just maybe keep playing his game? Kevin shuts TEG up with his fifth goal that TEG didn't see. Again.
...TEG note to self: every time you look down to write something down, Kevin scores.
...TEG will be the first to admit that he expected to have the same feeling watching these games as Homer Simpson did when he watched baseball without drinking: "I never realized how boring the game really is." But these games have been fast and entertaining. Though TEG has no plans to take up permanent residence in this seat during the playoffs.
..."3-1," save on The Pass. TEG's heart is warmered.
...Todd gets the last goal to make it 5-2 but Kevin matches Todd's Game Two dominating performance to tie the series at two.
And Blue is 4-0 in the finals.
The two take another cigarette and TEG looks some stats up. Even though the home/away debate is only 128-118 on the side of home in the regular season, and red/blue were tied 24-24 this season, home (Blue up until this season) was 34-14 in the playoffs. And up to this last game they are once again as dominate, being 6-3. In fact, in Finals History Blue is 15-7 in a series that consists of the two best teams and one figures are the most even and thus would expect it to be a little more even in such a match-up.
Looks like TEG pulled a Mike Mularky and out-clevered himself in picking Red for his play-in game.
So with Todd getting Blue for the fifth game, he's gotta be the favorite, right? Well, TEG begs to differ and says that Todd's spasmania has to go against him in a game like this, right? Not to mention that Kevin has completely stolen the momentum and Todd's gotta be thinking about that too. TEG is guessing K-Gun.
10:55, Game Five
...In a surprise move by the league, Dan is the honorary puck (read: quarter) dropper for this game. Not only a class move bringing out the oldest of the Original Four to give him a glimpse of the Stanly Cup, there is also no telling what Dan might do here to bring attention to himself. Forcing the players to do shots before the game? Throwing the quarters and telling them to "fuck off?" I'm giddy!
...and let down. He just put the quarters in. This hopefully doesn't lead to a dud game.
..."1-16," Todd has a 3-0 shot advantage. Todd also has a 2-1 advantage in the missed breakaways department.
...intensity - in = this game.
..."1-8," well at least The Pass has also decided not to show up for this game.
..."2-20," still 0-0 after a turnover lead to two missed breakaways by Todd.
..."2-6," if TEG is going to be forced to watch the second ever 1-0 game here, he'd probably rather bang that bartender fatty who after only six full seasons of bubble hockey at Frizzy's finally gave him a couple of free shots. And fully redeemed herself by trying to have us do the shots to "The Sabres' eventual victory" five seconds after Boston just scored the OT winner.
..."3-19," Todd goes up 1-0. On The Pass of course.
..."3-14," 2-0 on a rebound put in...off The Pass of course.
...Kevin's time is running out and he's yet to even get anything started.
..."3-3," Kevin stops The Pass to hold onto whatever small chance he still has to win.
..."3-2"..."3-1"..."3-0"...game over and it's just a formality now.
...except that TEG completely forgets about the shutout streak Kevin has going (I think the shots are setting in)...
...but neither Kevin nor Todd do and Todd bargains for a 2-for-1 victory by scoring the last goal to become the first to shutout Kevin in league history.
Recap:
What a fantastic series. The fourth five game Finals series of the six played. And this one had scoring reminiscent of the Old Bubble Hockey League, back and forth play, great defense and games that were too fast to write. All in all, Todd outlasted Kevin in a convincing win in Game Five for his second championship in three seasons. And TEG once again gets screwed over by picking Red in Game Five. Will he ever learn? More on this in TEG's column.
Disclaimer: TEG not responsible for any misspellings in posting this.
