SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2004 • HNA
BEGINNER LEAGUE
PHANTOMS vs. COBRAS
Cobras 3 – Phantoms 1
[One of our hockey special correspondents filed the following
report, as our normal reporter was unavailable at the time.]
ADDISON, IL – At least once during the course of a season,
a hockey team, no matter how good, has one game "that just
wasn't their night." Well, the Phantoms 3-1 loss to the
Cobras on Sunday was that night. Whether it was the mid-summer
temperatures outside, or the loss of key winger Greg Rolnick
due to a family emergency, the Phantoms just couldn't get the
bounces to go their way all night.
The first period was relatively uneventful with even play, scoring
chances about the same, and an unsuccessful power play awarded
to each team.
It wasn't until halfway through the second that the evil nature
of the bad night would begin to surface. During a Cobras line
change, goaltender, AJ "Who knew the big guy could spell"
Brandt, sent a dump-in back up to the Phantoms left wing, who
then sprung the right wing on a breakaway. On this glorious
chance the winger proceeded to trip over the curving face-off
circle line, spoiling any chance at a shot. On the next shift,
the Cobras sensed a change in momentum and pinned the Phantoms
deep in their zone for the better part of two minutes. When
the pressure was finally relieved it proved only to be a temporary
fix, as the next line for the Cobras smelled blood and dug the
puck from behind the net to a wide open forward in the slot
who jammed it home.
The Cobras didn't let up at the beginning of the third period,
getting their second goal on a breakaway after the Phantoms
defense got caught deep in the Cobras' zone. They followed up
minutes later with another pass from behind the net to an open
forward in the slot for an easy goal.
But as the clock wound down, the game got tight as the Phantoms
refused to be shutout. Picking up a loose rebound, the Phantoms
put one home with 1:53 to go. With Brandt pulled for the remainder
of the game, things grew even more tense and physical, as a
couple of Phantom players were hauled down in the final seconds
without penalty. This obvious official oversight will definitely
serve as a uniting force for Phantom vengeance during their
next two games against the Cobras this season.
Next Game: Sunday, April 18 @ 8:10pm in Addison vs. the Icemen
GAME NOTES: Defenseman Tedd Vanadilok took all of his shifts
despite pain from a hip injury sustained against the Icemen
on the 9th. He has unfortunately since been placed on IR...The
Phantoms have not dressed all 14 players on the roster for any
game this season...Nutella celebrates their 40th anniversary
this week. A Nutella sandwich is the favorite pre-game meal
of goaltender AJ Brandt. |