Early Game – Ireland vs Scotland

This game had HUUUUGE implications for Scotland and Slovenia. All Scotland had to do was tie or beat Ireland to set up a rematch on Sunday for GOLD! But if Ireland won, it would be an Ireland-Slovenia gold medal game.

The Scots came out BUZZING but Tony Cioffi has been the stingiest goalie in the league these playoffs and Scotland could not find a way to figure him out in the opening frame. Which gave Ireland’s Art Ross boss, Paul Riopelle, the chance to put Ireland up 1-0 after one.

Tight defence both ways to start period two until Scotland’s Dave Woodside finally beat Cioffi to tie the game. Scotland pressed and a few minutes later rookie Peter McKay delivered the mail to put the Scots up 2-1. Absolute mayhem on the Scottish bench as they only needed a tie to play for gold and McKay’s snipe gave them a one-goal cushion.

But Scottish nerves were a’janglin 50 seconds later when Tim Freeman returned fire — is Tim the one with the red hair? or the red helmet? — never mind, the Freeman family scored to tie the game 2-2 which is how the period ended.

One more period to go. All Scotland had to do was tie Ireland in this period and they would go for gold. Tight checking and stingy goaltending defined this nervous 3rd period with nary a dent in the scoresheet until less than 3 minutes to go. As Scotland hung on to golden dreams by their fingernails, Tim Randa found twine to put the leprechauns up by a goal!! The Scottish scrambled to tie the game, coming SO CLOSE in the dying seconds.

But this ain’t horseshoes and the valiant Scots couldn’t get it done this time. They will play for the Bronze while Slovenia and Ireland play for GOLD.

Ireland’s player of the game with the game-winning lamplighter and a smooth leprechaun mullet was Tim Randa, while Dave Woodside fondled the pipes for Scotland.

Late Game – Italy vs Portugal

The late game was also important for both squads. Winner played for Bronze. Loser’s season was over.

Italy won 4 out of 5 against Portugal in the regular season, but that and 50 cents will get you, ehm….that and 6 bucks will get you a soy chai latte with almond milk.

No scoring for the first 10 minutes of this one as the two teams felt eachother out. That is until Mike Russo decided enough was enough and made it 1-0 for Portugal. But Greg Platt, as Greg Platt will do, stormed right back and tied it less than a minute later. And that’s how the period ended. 1-1.

Italy’s Dwayne Tygesen put the Italians ahead early on but again, it wouldn’t last, because Rick Gunther was having none of it and scored less than a minute later to tie the game 2-2. And that’s how the period ended. 2-2.

All this tying business was making Italy nervous as they needed a win to keep their season alive. A tie would send them home and send Portugal to the bronze game. And so it was with trepidation that the Romans watched Johnny Annan pot one, putting two goals between them and the bronze game on Sunday.

They fought and fought, did these Italians, but with five minutes left their hope crumbled when Portuguese beauty George Letsos scored an absolute HIGHLIGHT REEL goal, blocking an Italian clearing pass, scooping it up and making a move on Nieminen reminiscent of Pavel Datsyuk. Faking the shot, sliding left past a sprawling goaltender, and ROOOOOOOOOFING it, top cheese, where the cookies are, the Portuguese bench going absolutely BERSERK!! 4-2 Portugal with less than five minutes to go!!

The Italians pressed but could manage only one goal off the stick of Robin Flumerfelt before tipping their fedoras to the deserving Lisbonites.

Portuguese Player of the Game goes to George Letsos with an assist and a highlight reel, turn out the lights the party’s over, goal for the ages. Italian Honours go to Paul Harty with two nifty helpers without which the game would not have been nearly as close.

Congratulations to the Portuguese who will face a feisty Scottish squad for Bronze.