Russotti Continues Streak of Big Bomber Debuts

Greg Russotti debuted as a Bomber foward on Monday scoring the game's first goal.  Russotti, the original Bomber netminder added another goal in the second period to continue a streak of goalscoring performances for Bomber newcomers.  Mike Lonergan started the trend, scoring 4 goals in his debut back in 2010.  Mark Poltorak had 2 goals in his first game and 5 in his first 3 games in 2011 and Dan Scerra and Kyle Kappmeier both had hat tricks in their 2012 debuts while Adam Rayho netted 2 of his own.  That's a lot of great debuts.  Must be the adreneline rush of playing for the most storied franchise in NJ adult ice hockey history.

The 2 goals for Russotti were not enough as the Bombers fell to the Admirals by a 6-5 score.  It was the 3rd time this season the Bombers have lost to the pesky Admirals and the ninth game in a row overall.

Next up for the Bombers- a playoff match up versus . . . you guessed it . . . the pesky Admirals.

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

Russotti (1,2)
B.Auld (5)
Kappmeier (4)

Poltorak (1)

Assists:

B.Auld 2
Hoyer' 2
Zimnoch
Kappmeier
Burke

PIMs:

B.Auld -2

Bombers Right Ship

The Bombers handed the Predators a 6-2 defeat in what was a much needed well played victory.  Falling down 2-0 in the first the Bombers feared they were on the road to another defeat at the hands of the Predators who were 2-0 vs the Bombers this season.  But 6 unanswered goals- 2 by recent call up Adam Rayho and 1 each from JZ, Dave Bochner, Bill Auld and Eric Hoyer helped erase the memory of the Bombers recent defeats.  "This was a good solid game.  We got to go into the Admiral game and come up with a win there.  If we do, no matter what our record we would have beat every team in the league.  And that will set us up well for the playoffs." said some guy named Bill trying to point out to the team reading this post that, eh-it could be worse.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:


1st Star: Superstar Johnny Z 1g 2a

2nd Star:  Loop Poltorak 2a

 

3rd Star: Uncle Adam Rayho 2g

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
Adam Rayho (1,2)
Eric Hoyer (6)
Bill Auld (4)
Junior (4)
D.Bochner (2)

Assists:
Zimnoch-2
Junior-2
B.Auld-2
Polorak-2
D.Bochner

PIM

B.Auld-2 min roughing

Bombers Bullied by Storm

The Bombers got smushed in a 9-1 thrashing at the hands of the Storm. Playing without their captain who is usually the voice of reason, the Storm bashed the Bombers both on the scoreboard and with their bodies.  The Storm look as though they wanted to beat up the Bombers not only defeat them.  And they did, body checking their opponents and sending their all-star A league defensemen into the attacking zone with a 6 goal lead and little time left.  A stick to the throat of goaltender Josh Burke by an aggressive Storm player trying to make it a 9 goal victory with 2 minutes remaining was enough for Bombers Loop Poltorak and Bill Auld who each got 10 minute misconduct penalties ending their evenings. 

The Bombers fall to 1-5 with the loss which is an unfamiliar record for the storied franchise for at least the recent memory.  Next up, another chance at the Predators on Monday.

Bombers Try to Win One for Ulfie

The pesky Admirals were the opponent for the Bombers at Tuesday's contest at the Bridgewater Sports Arena.  But the Bomber organization had much bigger things on their mind forced to go into the game with a heavy heart.  The team learned pregame that Bomber legend Neil "Ulfie" Van der horn would face a complicated surgery the next day to address an unexpected health issue. The Bombers, shocked at the news chose to use it as motivation as is often the case in sport.   "Let's win this one for Ulfie!" yelled Neil's brother-in-law and friend Rober' Auld.  "Let's win this one for Ulfie!!" was the reply back from the Bomber squad. 

The game was a barn burner and one that Neil would surely like to take part in.  The backhanded slap shot was open all night and he most certainly would have cashed in.  Playing from behind the entire game a well stocked Bomber squad relied heavily on the Bochner Boys, Mark and Dave.  Perhaps inspired by the pregame emotion, Mark tallied 3 goals and Dave had 1 goal to go along with 1 assist. 

Finally the Bombers were able to tie the contest off a goal from Mike Gilbert, Jr and unlike the previous game vs the Predators the Bombers were able to reach the OT shootout.  And what a shootout it was as neither team could break down the opposing goaltender.  The initial 3 shooters all came up empty forcing the sudden death rounds to begin.  After 8 rounds the Bombers again found themselves on the losing end of a 7-6 defeat. 

"Hey, at least we got a point.  Neil would be proud.  We needed his shootout skills.  If we had that we wold have won."  noted Bill Auld.  So even though they were not able to win this one for their friend the Bombers were able to look at the positives.  And to a man they asked that the faithful Bomber fans carry that same optimism for Ulfie's surgery.  "Keep sending out your positive mojo to Neil." asked Rober'. "He can use all you can muster."

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st , 2nd and 3rd Star: 

Neil "Ulfie" Van der horn- Get well soon!!!

Comeback Foiled

The Bombers were put themselves in a bad spot allowing 4 goals in the first period against a Predator squad that is finding its legs in the B3 division.  Down 6-3 late in the third, the Bombers decided to make a push and as they have done many times in their history bounced back to tie the game off a Bill Auld shot with 42 seconds left.  Overtime looked to be a nice destination as the Bombers had dominated the game since the slow first period start-outscoring the Preds by a 6-2 score from there on. 

And then it happened.  The Predators did not give up on a play in the neutral zone, stealing the puck with seconds left.  The opposing attacker sensing time was thin, flipped a wild seemingly harmless puck towards the Bomber end.  2 seconds then 1 then . . . a deflection of Bomber defender Loop Poltorak . . . goal Predators.  No overtime, no point and no chance at the victory.  Bomber captain Bill Auld took the blame saying "I should have dumped the puck into their zone and played for the shootout.  They stole it and then anything goes.  It was a fluke goal but a good effort on their part.  I feel bad for Loop.  Wrong place wrong time."

So the Bombers will look to change the summer's fortune against the Admirals-a team that has given the organization fits in recent memory.

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
Hoyer (4,5)
B.Auld (1,2)
Scerra (1,2)

Assists:
Hoyer-4
B.Auld -3
JR

PIM's:
Scerra 15
B.Auld 2
Poltorak 2