Bombers Fall to Preds In Playoff Stunner

The Bombers lost in the first round of the Spring playoffs to a team they beat by a combined score of 9-2 in their previous two outings. The Predators, who were down 1-0 after the first shift and 2-0 by the end of the first period, fought back and won 3-2.

"We peppered them in the third but their keeper played great." said Bomber Bob Calvano. "I feel bad because we got Mike (Rosenberg) back in the lineup in preparation for a big run and then we lose. Disapointing." added Tony D'anna.

So the Bombers will have to wait till next season to pursue another championship.

Good effort Bombers. See you in the summer.


Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

B.Auld (17)
Hoyer (14)

Assists:
D'anna

Bomber Season Ending Stats;

Points:

30- Bill Auld
23- Eric Hoyer
17- Tony D'anna
8- Rober' Auld
7- Brian Kostrowski
7- Mike Lonergan
7- Adam Lapinski
6- Bob Calvano
6- Mike Gilbert, Sr
5- Dave Bochner
4- Dave Smith
3- Mike Rosenberg
1- Mike Gilbert, Jr
1- Marc Mezzacca
1- Gary Simpson



Goals:

17- Bill Auld
14- Eric Hoyer
6- Tony D'anna
4- Mike Lonergan (all in 1 game)
3- Dave Bochner
3- Bob Calvano
3- Brian Kostrowski
2- Rober' Auld
1- Gilbert Jr
1- Adam Lapinski

Assists:

13- Bill Auld
11- Tony D'anna
9- Eric Hoyer
6- Rober' Auld
6- Mike Gilbert, Sr
6- Adam Lapinski
4- Brian Kostrowski
4- Dave Smith
3- Mike Lonergan
3- Bob Calvano
3- Mike Rosenberg
2- Dave Bochner
1- Gary Simpson
1- Marc Mezzacca


Penalty Minutes

22- Bill Auld
18- Brian Kostrowski
10- Tony D'anna
8- Dave Smith
4- Rober' Auld
4- Adam Lapinski
4- Mike Gilbert, Sr
2- Dave Bochner
2- Josh Burke
2- Bob Calvano
2- Mike Lonergan

Bombers to Face Preds in First Round

The third seeded Bombers will face the sixth seeded Predators tonight 9:50 pm at the Bridgewater Sports Arena in the first round of the Spring 2010 playoffs.

Bombers Shutout Spartans

The Bombers avenged an 8-3 loss to the the Spartans earlier in the season with a shutout performance from Josh Burke. "It felt good. When Mezz (Marc Mezzacca) went in for me those two games he played really well. I had to equal or surpass that when I returned. That was my goal and so far its working out."

The Bombers showed extra jump- inspired by the return of their all time leading point scorer- Mike Rosenberg. Playing as crafty and tenacious as #3 himself the Bombers used a balanced attack and took care of their own zone with spirted backchecking, never allowing the Spartans sniff the net. "We let up 8 in the previous game with them. I think we felt like we would be ok and eventually win. But they kept scoring and it was too late. Nice to see we kinda fixed that." said Bomber Bob Calvano who was forced to sit out the game with a lower body injury.

Tony D'anna provided all the scoring for the Organization on the night-netting both of the Bombers goals.

The win placed the Bombers in the Third Seed for the playoffs where they will face the Predators. The Bombers beat the Preds in both of their regular season matchups 4-1 and 5-1. The Bombers must be ready though as the Predators are coming off an impressive 2-1 shootout victory over the Second Seed Smoke.

State Electric Power Perfomers of the Game;

First Star:


Josh Burke- 24 save Shutout

Second Star:


Tony D'anna 2 goals

Third Star


Dave Smith


Bomber Box Score:

Goals:
D'anna (5,6)


Assists:

B.Auld

Senior's Redemption Ver 2.0

"It was like Braveheart out there" noted Eric Hoyer after the game on Tuesday referring to the manpower disadvantaged Crazy Eight Bombers who scored a 3-2 shootout victory against the fortified front of 15 Puck Pimp players

Mike Gilbert, Sr continued a season of inspired play during the win. Sr was the second shooter in the shootout and buried the puck past the Pimp goalie with his patented "forehand, backhand and 'don't blink now' I'm going back to the forhand deke move." Senior noted "I was glad to redeem myself. I felt I made a gaff at the blueline that led to their shorthanded goal." Bomber Cpt Bill Auld was glad Sr had the chance at redemption but didn't feel he needed to atone for anything. "That ice was $#**&, the puck just bounced over his stick on the blueline. Could have happened to any of us."

Bobby Calvano back from a few game hiatus started the scoring in the first redirecting a centering pass from #0 that found its way past the unsuspecting netminder. But the Pimps answered with 1:37 left in the first to even the score.

Superior backchecking was the order of the day for the second period and the Bombers held the Pimps scoreless. "Eric was a 'mad dog' skating machine, going from breaking up the play in the defensive zone to leading the rush" said Mike Gilbert, Sr.

And so the teams were tied at 1 going into the third but less than two minutes in Rober' Auld, continuing his stellar play of late, deftly won a faceoff quickly directing it too his boy who had snuck behind the Pimp blueliner. The redirect went in of the right post and the Bombers were ahead once again.

But the Pimps would not give up and managed the shortie described earlier with 5:51 remaining. The Pimps did not stop there though, peppering the Bomber net in the remaining minutes. Only a game saving, jaw dropping, pad splitting save by Josh Burke allowed the Bombers to get to the eventual shootout. The save had the Pimps shaking their heads in disbelief and may have put the seed of doubt about their ability to beat the crafty netminder in the shootout.

The shootout provided excitement as the Pimps scored first but could not add another. The Bombers countered with shootout goals by Sr and B.Auld to earn the 3-2 victory.

And with one game left the Bombers are making an impressive playoff run.

State Electric Power Performers of the Game; (as selected by the Redeemer)

1st Star:



Rober' Auld- 1a


2nd Star:
Eric "Mad Dog' Hoyer

3rd Star:



Bobby Calvano 1g

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

Calvano (3)
B. Auld (16)

Assists:

R.Auld
B.Auld

Rober' & Senior Teach Kids a Lesson

With a tenacity that has been culled from years of experience patrolling the ice, Rober' and Mike Gilbert, Sr exchanged more than pleasantries with the Cyclones from Centinal last Sunday during a Bomber 5-2 win. #14 and #7 were happy to introduce two of the younger Cyclone set to an all access prone position view of the ice. The experience proved to be too much for Cyclones Malchowski brothers who took the route of ejection rather than facing the fearsome duo any further. (They also were probably anxious to take off those silly powder blue jerseys.)

Bomber goaltender Marc Mezzacca went so far as to say "Rober' single handledly took them out of their game." referring to Rober's impressive put down of a charging Cylcone in the third period. Both Rober and Senior also added to the scoresheet, each notching an assist in the contest.

Bomber scoring was led by defensemen Dave Smith who tallied three assists. "Getting three points from one blueliner sure makes things easier." said Bill Auld. Defenseman Brian Kostrowski added to the defensive score machine notching a goal of his own on a well placed slapper. Tony D'anna, Bill Auld and two from Eric Hoyer rounded out the evenings scoring.

The Bombers also had this season's high water mark number of 10 skaters partly due to the return of Bomber left side legend, Gary Simpson. A characteristically loud "Hello Boys!!" could be heard from the locker room prior to game time.



So the Bombers continue the upward trend in the standings as they head in to Tuesday's rematch with the Puck Pimps.


State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

1st Star:




Mike Gilbert, Sr 1a 4mins in roughing penalties


2nd Star:


Rober' Auld 1a 2penalty mins


3rd Star:

Marc Mezzacca 25 saves


Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

Hoyer (12,13)
Kostrowski (3)
B. Auld (15)
D'anna (4)

Assists:

Smith-3
Sr
R.Auld
Simpson
D'anna
B.Auld

Game Notes:

Maybe you can get "those guns by raking leaves". Turns out the Brothers Malachowski work as landscapers for Centinal college when not taking classes and looking like asses.

Bombers Score Shootout Win

The Bombers faced the first place Smoke for the second time this season, coming out with a 4-3 shootout win. The Smoke have now lost only 2 games all season-both at the hands of Bombers.

Bill Auld was the only Bomber to score in the shootout, while Marc Mezzacca, filling in for the injured Burke in goal, closed the door on all Smoke shooters. "I was glad to score the shootout goal, but it was my fault we were in that position in the first place." reffering to a missed defensive assignment on the Smoke's game tying goal.

The Bomber defensemen were stellar in the contest especially the inspired play of Mike Gilbert Sr. But as is his nature, Senior deftly deflected praise to his D-mates Kostrowski and Smith. "Those guys played great!"

Eric Hoyer led the offense with 2 goals on the evening.

The Bombers-the highest scoring team in the league to this point- are working their way back up the standings.

Next game Friday 8pm v Cyclones. Standing room only tickets still available.

Bomber Box Score:

Goals:

Hoyer (10,11)
B.Auld (14)

Assists:

Gilbert, Sr
Smith
Mezzacca

State Electric Power Performers of the Game:

First Star:
Mike Gilbert, Sr 1a 5blocked shots

Second Star:

Eric Hoyer 2g

Third Star:

Brian Kostrowksi