SUNDAYS #5 vs. DIRE WOLVES:

(vol. 19S, no. 5; newsletter by c.g.)
These new rule changes seem to agree with the Pirates. As Harris said in the parking lot: “With as many games as we have lost in the last minute, a 44-minute game is a dream come true for the Pirates.” The other thing that agrees with the Pirates is the new overtime rule. So far, in both leagues, the Pirates have advanced to three overtime periods and have come away with wins in all three.

This week's opponent was the Dire Wolves. Scott Miller filled-in for the missing Kevin McLaughlin, which pushed Wildman back to defense. John was joined there by Russ, Scooby and Keith, while the forward lines consisted of #19-LeMatty-Ralz and Dan D.-Farkas-Scott M. The Dire Wolves jumped out to an early lead when they were able to net a shorthanded goal by Eddie Shea midway through the 1st period. Meanwhile, the Wolves big man (#82) was hitting anyone that moved on either team, and was involved in what seemed like every penalty on the rink; after he accumulated a 4:00 minute stay in the box he subsequently caused the Pirates to have to kill a number of retaliation penalties as he wrecked havoc around the rink. The Pirates kept the pressure on but could not convert as the period drew to a close. Then, with only :06 seconds remaining in the period, Dan corralled a puck near center ice and, instead of attempting a shot, dropped a pass to Keith who blasted a shot to tie the score 1-1 at the intermission.

In the final period, Russ got involved in the #82 penalty melee when he was called for not one, but two penalties on the same play (When asked by the refs why he blatantly committed the second infraction, he responded: “So you refs would get at least one of the calls correct.”). The Pirates successfully killed the 4:00 minutes of powerplay off as as the team rallied and all the killers played strongly. Soon after his return to the ice, Russ would net the second Pirate goal of the evening off of a feed from Glenn Farkas, but with just 6:00 minutes remaining the Wolves were able to net one also, so as the time expired the game was going to overtime. But in what would prove to be a fortunate break, #82 took another penalty when he plowed over Scooby with a minute left in regulation and sent his team into the overtime down a man.

In the O.T. Ralz won the opening face-off with a nice pass to LeMatty on the left wing; Scott took the shot wide and then wheeled behind the net and passed the puck out to #19 who fired a one-timer at the net — the shot was blocked, but Scott was able to retrieve the rebound and buried it for the gamewinner just :10 seconds into the overtime. Another exciting overtime win and one that keeps the Pirates perfect in the O.T.'s so far this season.