Early Game – Slovenia vs Scotland

And here we go! No point in even mentioning end-of-season standings here because as anyone who’s been in this league for a while knows, regular season standings mean very little come playoff time.

The early game featured Scotland, whose players have four Art Ross trophies (most points), four Rocket Richard trophies (most goals), two Conn Smythe’s (Playoff MVP) and an Art Ross (season MVP). Vegas oddsmakers see this undervalued franchise going deep in the playoffs.

For the first round they went up against the vaunted Slovenians, with some snipers up front and a stingy goaltender. A big match for both teams.

Rispoli the goalie and Tony Cioffi dueled it out in the first, with only Johnny Fasulo bulging the twine for Slovenia. 1-0 after one.

Team Sponsor David Dodic put the Slovenians up 2-0 halfway through the second, but Alan Robb brought Scotland within 1 before the second period ended.

Seven minutes into the third period Scotland fans went INSANE when David Cassidy lookalike Jodie “The Rockstar” Young slipped one by Cioffi to tie the game at 2, setting up an exciting end to this one.

Slovenia turned up the heat with two quick ones halfway through the period by smooth-skating Dwayne Tygeson and the versatile Dave Skingley, but it took the Scots a mere 12 SECONDS to return fire on a goal from Mike Paciuc to bring them within a goal. They battled mightily, but Cioffi and Co. were having none of it and that’s how this one ended: 4-3 for Slovenia.

Scotland’s player of the game was Mike Paciuc while Slovenian honours go to Tony Thomas.

Look for the Scots to come back hungry for redemption next week against Italy, while Slovenia plays the late game against Portugal.

Late Game – Ireland vs Portugal

The late game featured Ireland and Portugal, two teams looking to establish themselves early before they meet the first and second seeds.

Ireland’s main task was to shut down Portugal’s juggernaut Greg Platt. Lot’s of chalk talk before the game on how to do this. But talk is cheap. Platt opened the scoring, and the taps, seven minutes in. That goal was followed by three more to make it 4-0 for Portugal after the first period. Platt scored two and assisted on another pair by handsome Frank Arruda, with Russo picking up three apples. This line is a triple threat.

Absolute devastation for the Irish in period 1, not only giving up four unanswered goals, but losing league-leading goal scorer Chris Deware for the game and perhaps the season with a knee injury. Hoping the best for Chris, and a gentle reminder to our members that the refs will be penalizing even unintended sticks between the legs. We are responsible for our sticks and as Mike Rukavina and Chris Deware have shown, unexpected falls can have serious consequences.

Tim Randa and Aggie Falcone scored in the second, but were matched by two goals from Russo (for a 5 point night) making it 6-2 after two.

Senior PCOHL statesman Bruce Freeman ripped a sweeeeeeet one over Art Senkowski’s shoulder in the third — top cheddar — to make it 6-3 but that’s how this one ended. Ireland won the second and third, but could not recover from the explosive start by Portugal with four unanswered first-period goals.

Portugal’s Player of the Game was nice-guy Murray Russell, while Ireland’s POG goes to the human highlight reel, Bruce Freeman.

Always lots of camaraderie between these two teams with friendly banter and socializing after the game.