The Mastadons, a B2 team without a league, has run roughshot over its new B3 oppenents this season. 27 goals in victories over the Storm, Predators and fellow B2 castoffs the Vudoo. Rumor has it they have scored at a similar pace in the two other games they have played but its BSA and updates to the league website are done at a leisurely pace. Suffice to say the Mastadons are good, real good and the league engraver has already checked the correct spelling of their squad's nickname in preperation for a trophy presentation in April.
But the Bombers are no ordinary franchise. They are a most storied franchise and Tuesday night brought an opportunity for the organization to show that once again to their fan base.. The Bombers held their opponents to a 0-0 score after 1 period, utilizing a single forecheck, counter attack system that didn't allow the Mastadons to skate freely through the neutral zone. "Our team D was great." said goaltender Josh Burke who was simply stellar during the entire contest, adding, "we forced them to take most of their shots from the perimter-point shots that I could see pretty easily."
The Bombers were presented an opportunity to take a lead late in the second period when they were given a powerplay after the Mastadons took a silly roughing penalty. But as is the case with numerous Bomber power plays they may have been better served to decline the penalty as the Mastadons scored two shortys and headed into the third with the 2 goal lead. "The power play took away our momentum really. We stopped playing the system and had too many guys low." said defenseman John Zimnoch.
The third period would prove interesting as some of the Mastadon fringe players, accostomed to riding the coattails of their much higher skilled team mates began to get frustrated. Midway through the third Johnny Z confounded the Mastadons with tenacious hustle, zigging and zagging his way free of an on coming player. The player's reply- a slash, cross check rough combo that although uncalled by the officials did catch the ire of the all the Bomber players. The adreniline from the play was palpable-adding a bit more purpose to the Bomber skaters and in the 5 minutes that followed they were able to tie the score off two goals by Bill Auld assisted by Rober' Auld and the aforementioned John Zimnoch. Hoping to get to a shootout, where they would clearly have the advantage with Burke in goal, the Bombers ragged the puck as they had done much of the game in an effort to kill the last 4:55 of regulation play.
The solid play of the entire team against an oppenent that was playing down a few divisions made it all that more dissapointing when the Mastadons pounced on a loose puck that squirted between the feet of the Bomber defenders en route to the back of the net with 30 seconds remaining. An empty net goal 9 seconds later finished off the Bombers by a 4-2 score.
State Electric Power Performers of the Game
1st Star: Josh Burke
2nd Star: John Zimnoch 1a
3rd Star: Dave Smith
Bomber Box Score:
Goals:
Bill Auld (3,4)
Assists:
Rober'
JZ
Penalties:
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