On the heels of a dissapointing and shorthanded shootout loss to the Red Dogs just two nights earlier, the Bombers faced an equally daunting task, as they took to the ice versus the Smoke with just 7 skaters. Behind a stalwart defense, featuring Super Star John Zimnoch and Brian Kostrowski, the Bombers held the Smoke to just four goals despite being at a severe disadvantage in manpower. Josh Burke backstopped the Bombers to an impressive 7-4 victory.
Leading a balanced scoring effort, John Zimnoch tallied three goals, opening the scoring in the first and sealing the victory with an empty net goal to cap off his hat trick. Mark "Little Lupe" Poltorak chipped in two goals of his own, while both Jean Eric Hoyer and Mike Gilbert Jr. finished with a goal and two assists each.
The story of the game, though, was the resilient and all 'all hands on deck' attitude of the Bomber Hockey organization. Despite playing with just two extra skaters, the Bombers managed to dominate and out-hustle the Smoke for long stretches of the game. A clearly bewildered Smoke skater was heard saying, "They just have too much talent".
The Smoke went with the game plan of dump and chase, forcing the Bomber defenseman Zimnoch and Kostrowski to make long trips back to their zone. Clearly an attempt at tiring out the shorthanded Bombers, this method gave them an early advantage on a shot that appeared to catch Bomber goalie Josh Burke a bit flat-footetd. Skating to Burke's left, the Smoke player Hands O'Toolihan fired a shot that beat the Bomber keeper. This seemed to awaken Burke, though, and the Bombers' offense.
Taking a feed from Jr. Puff & Stuff, John Zimnoch tallied to even the score. Just minutes later, off a slick defensive maneuver in the neutral zone by Brian Kostrowski, the puck landed on the stick of Jean Eric Hoyer. In tight traffic, Hoyer was able to push the puck to Gilbert Jr., who fed the puck to a hustling Little Lupe. Just over the blue line, Poltorak drove a hard shot that eluded the Smoke goalie for a 2-1 Bomber lead.
Entering the second period, fatigue appeared to set in a bit for the Bombers, as the long shifts began to take their effect on the Bomber skaters. The Smoke tied the score midway through the period and then, off a missed shot, they took the lead as the puck caromed off the dasher board behind the goal, out front to a waiting Smoke player. Despite Josh Burke's efforts, the puck squirted through and gave the the Smoke their final lead of the evening at 3-2.
"At that point, we realized we were still very much in the game and needed to re-establish our game plan of outworking the Smoke", remarked Mark Poltorak, as he finished his post-game burrito. No further goals were scored in that second frame. A lengthy rest between the second and third periods seemed to help the Bombers, as the referees discussed nuclear physics near center ice. After agreeing to disagree - and after 8 minutes of discussion - play finally resumed.
In what seemed like a set play, the Bombers took control off of the opening faceoff, as Mark Bochner used his superior speed to elude two Smoke defenseman, cutting wide to the left of the goalie. A slight mishandling of the puck seemed to catch the Smoke defenders off guard, as Bochner recovered and fired a low, hard shot at the net. The Smoke goaltender made the initial save, but Mike Gilbert Jr. was standing there to immediately backhand in the rebound, as the Smoke defender lagged behind. This tally came just 21 seconds into the period.
The Bombers would take the lead for good just moments later, as Super Star John Zimnoch tallied his second goal of the game on a play that was a result of his own effort. Stealing the puck at mid-ice in the midst of a Bomber line change, Zimnoch skated around the Smoke defenseman and fired a low shot that beat the Smoke goaltender. The Bombers took a 4-3 lead, a lead which they would not relinquish. The Bombers scored again to push the Smoke deficit to two goals, as Little Lupe Poltorak took a feed from Jean Eric Hoyer and beat the goalie for his second of the night.
The Smoke pushed back, cutting the deficit to one with 9 minutes to go in the game. This was the closest they'd get, though, as Jean Eric Hoyer buried a goal off of a pass from Brian Kostrowski to restore the two goal Bomber lead. The Bombers even managed to kill off a Kostrowski penalty with just 2 minutes left in the game, as the defenseman was whistled for a 'X' checking penalty on a play that saved a would-be Smoke goal. With just 15 seconds left, off of a steal, Zimnoch finished the scoring with his third goal of the game on a long shot from the Bombers' own blue line that slid into the Smoke's vacated goal.
A rousing Bomber victory, with just one more game to go before the playoffs begin.
Game notes:
Josh Burke was seen after the game drinking girl beer.
Bill Auld was not available to play in this game, as he was visiting Mickey Mouse and Pluto.
Tony D'Anna, stashed on the injured reserve has resumed Flan de Coco preparation. He hopes to have desserts available by the end of July, though no clear timetable has been established for his return to the Bombers.
Bombers 3-Stars of the Game:
1 - John Zimnoch:3 goals, tough defense, 43 minutes of ice time
2 - Brian Kostrowski - Tough defense, an assist and played nearly the entire game
3 - Mark 'Little Lupe' Poltorak - 2 goals, Encouraging words on the bench in Spanish
Goals:
Zimnoch - (5,6,7)
Lupe - (4,5)
Hoyer - (14)
Gilbert, Jr. - (5)
Assists:
Hoyer - 2
Gilbert, Jr. - 2
Bochner - 2
Kostrowski - 1
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