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A thrilling playoff series for UConn Hockey

Posted by Josh on March 5, 2012 in Hockey, Sports |

This past weekend, my dad and I watched both UConn’s first round playoff games on the computer.  The first game was the best and the most exciting game I’ve ever seen.  The game didn’t start off promising, because Canisius, UConn’s opponent, scored only four minutes into the game.  A Golden Griffin player took the puck from the faceoff, and deked around UConn’s goaltender Bartus, and scored.  However, UConn responded just over a minute later, on a power-play goal from Billy Latta to tie the game at 1.  Latte received a pass from Cole Schneider, and he blasted a slap shot into the top right corner.  UConn took the lead before the end of the period, when Brant Harris tipped home a rebound to give UConn a 2-1 lead.

Canisius however, took the lead with two unanswered goals to grab a 3-2 lead.  Canisius scored on a one-timer shot past Bartus, and on a rebound in front of the net.  UConn later evened it up with a Cole Schneider breakaway goal to tie the game at three, with his 19th goal of the season.  Jacob Poe passed the puck ahead for a clean break, and he faked shot to the side and fired it into the top of the net.

In the third period, it looked like it would go to sudden death overtime, but Billy Latta attempted a wrap around but it stopped on the goal line!  After some debate, the call remained, and the game ended up going to overtime!

At almost half-way through overtime, every UConn player and fan got a scare.  A Canisius player attempted a rap around, and it too stopped on the goal line!  However, the referees gave a Canisius player a penalty shot because he said an UConn player tripped him, and luckily Bartus stopped him!  Just over three minutes later, UConn got a power-play.  They are 4th in the nation on the power-play.  Only seconds into the power-play, Alex Gerke scored the game winning goal to give UConn a 4-3 OT win, for a 1-0 series lead in the series!  Sean Ambrosie passed the puck straight across the goal to Alex Gerke who put it how and the players rushed out from the bench to let the celebration begin!

In game two, UConn came into the game with some breathing room with a 1-0 series lead and only one win away from the quarterfinals.  UConn scored early, with Cole Schneider putting home a bouncy rebound to get a surprisingly quick 1-0 lead.  UConn surprised me even more when Ryan Tyson scored on a shot over the right pad of the opposing goalie for a 2-0 lead for UConn (my dad missed the goal because he had to get the telephone, but he realized they scored when I jumped up and started clapping)!

In the second period, Uconn had some quality chances, but never scored.  However, Uconn maintained a good defense in the neutral zone, keeping Canisius off the board going into the final period.  In the third, UConn sealed the win with Jordan Sims tapping home a rebound into the wide open net for a 3-0 lead.  UConn added on when Brant Harris scored on an empty net tally to seal a 4-0 win!  My dad and I cheered jubilantly, knowing they had swept Canisius and booked a ticket to play Air Force in the Quarterfinals.  UConn received a standing ovation from the crowd in the final ten seconds and they had a team celebration at center ice.  Bartus had his fifth shutout of the season, and was named AHA goalie of the week going into the quarterfinals.  I was exuberant about the sweep!!

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