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WEDNESDAYS #5 vs. CANADIENS:

(vol. 3W, no. 5; newsletter by h.s.)
The Canadiens did some rebuilding in the off-season and their new acquisitions — Eddie Gesior (a former Coastal Pirate) and Scott LeMatty (a Sunday Coastal Pirate) — were their biggest threats. In the opening 90 seconds, Eddie stickhandled into our zone and “roofed” a breakaway to give the Habs a quick 1-0 lead. About five minutes later, Brian Newcomb (wearing #67 now) recovered a puck off the boards and somehow wrestled to the net with a Canadien hanging on him and scored to tie things up 1-1. Later on, Brian's pass from behind the net to Russ in front, gave us a 2-1 lead which we took into the period break.

The Canadiens had a lot of opportunities in the second, but Dave had a great game in the corners and Big Jim (back in the lineup) made it very clear that Canadiens were unwelcome in the crease area. Midway through the 2nd, with Scott Miller being pinned down in the crease during a scrum, Russ banked a shot from behind the net off their goalie's back to make it a 3-1 game. Then, in the closing seconds of the period, Russ fed a breaking Scott in the left face-off circle who blasted a one-timer high to give us a comfortable 4-1 lead at the second break.

In opening minutes of the 3rd period, Roger scored on a 4-on-4 and later on another Russ pass found the blade of Scott for yet another goal. Other notable performances were by Chris — who again proved invaluable in the waning minutes by not allowing the Habs to get control of the puck at our blueline (he had two great one-timers that he was robbed on as well) and Glen Chambers (back from a bout with the flu) who took a lot of punishment against the boards, but kept his cool and got us a powerplay opportunity in the 3rd.