NM Division Final Game 2: Rebels/Nitehawks

(BV leads series 2-0)

Game 1: Rebels 1 - Nitehawks 4
Game 2: Rebels 4 - Nitehawks 5 - OT

 This just keeps getting better and better. Had the Hawks not come back and win game 2, I would STILL rave at how exciting and suspenseful that game was. But, alas, they DID! And now that I have found myself some time, I will TRY and give you the low-down.

If you had told me that BV was going to open the series with two wins at home, I would have been ecstatic but skeptical. Not that I have so little faith in the Hawks, but, more so, I am aware of  a strong Rebel game combined with arguably corrupt officiating. At best, I was banking on a split. What I got, was something I haven't seen a lot of this season and want to see more! The drive and determination they exhibited while playing from behind all night, for the most part, gave the entire barn cause to cheer and urge them on throughout the game. Had it not been for the unbelievably stellar net-minding of Jordan Gluck, it could have been an ugly, UGLY game for Castlegar!

For the 2nd game in a row, BV opened the scoring at 2:40 when Tyler Collins picked up a loose puck behind the net and walked out front and backhanded it bar-down over a sprawled Gluck. Rebels would get the first 2 opportunities on the power play and made no mistake on either to grab their first lead of the series before the 1st is half over. Henderson and Heinrich with the pp goals and its 2-1 CG. Christian Johnson would reply for BV, also on the pp, after picking up a rebound in front and blasting it past Gluck who wasnt quite fast enough. At the break, the game was tied at 2 with shots favoring CG, 12-11.


After both teams being 100% on the pp in the 1st, it would stand to reason that staying OUT of the box is going to be key in this game. With the amount of "crap" ignored, and the weak stuff being called, I figured we were in for a special teams show-down. Luckily, the boys kept things relatively clean until a boarding call on Perez just past the 10 min mark. I agreed, but also disagreed, with the call. Realistically, the ref has no choice but to make that call, but I still firmly believe that the players that put THEMSELVES in those positions should also be punished on a scale something akin to diving. Either way, once again the Rebels made no mistake and took the lead on a goal from Jones. So now, at that point, CG is 3 for 3 on the power play. It really doesnt take a genius to make the conscious effort to stay out of the box. BV did not disappoint and remained clean the remainder of the game. CG, however, could not. SURPRISE....not! Shortly after taking the lead, Henderson gets busted for a hold and the CCR line made some sick moves and had Gluck at their mercy. Chris Derochie tossed it out of the corner cross crease to Craig Martin who would have possibly been stopped on a blazing fast post-to-post move by Gluck, but instead tossed it BACK cross-crease to a waiting Ryan Edwards who had a mile of twine to shoot at. Effortlessly, he snapped the puck into the net and once again we are tied. BV out-shot CG in the 2nd 12-9 and headed into the intermission with the momentum tied at 3.

The third period was a testament tot he coaching of both these teams! Line matching was clearly evident although not always successful. CG pushed, but the Nitehawks defense was up to the task blocking more shots than could get through to a frazzled Perehudoff who didnt see a lot due to the constant traffic jam in front of him any time the puck was in the BV zone. 3:14 into the 3rd, the Rebels went ahead again on a scrambled play as Delong flipped a rebound over Perehudoff. When CG took two penalties :40 secs apart and gave BV a huge 1:20 2-man advantage, the arena was buzzing with the opportunity to tie and possibly pull ahead. Although they held good control, nothing would come of either penalty and the game would remain 4-3. Push as they might, Gluck stood his ground in all star fashion until 18:37 when Tyler Jones shot an errant puck out of play from the rebels zone. After conferring with his linesmen, ref Maniago (yes...THAT Maniago) called the penalty giving BV the late pp. Pushing even harder now, the Nitehawks had Gluck beat on a 5-hole slide play only to have it go through and out the other side of the crease. Gluck himself thought it had gone in and even hung his head in defeat, but only briefly. BV then pulled Perehudoff with just under a minute left giving  them a 6 on 4 advantage. With that many bodies, the scrambles were epic! Tyler Collins was the "Johnny-on-the-spot" taking a pass from Calvin and beating Gluck to tie the game with :38 left in regulation. Whew!! The tension up to that point was INTENSE!! To add to it, with mere seconds on the clock, Martin danced from the half boards and almost won it on a beauty shot that was equaled by Glucks save.

As if we hadnt seen enough rocking hockey, we now get the pleasure of OT! In the extra frame, it was ALL BV! With the scent of blood in their noses, they dominated the play and caused raucous scrambles in front of Gluck. At 5:31, Ryan Edwards would locate a puck that squirted from a scramble in front of the net and slide it neatly past an outstretched Gluck to win the game!!

Game Stars:

BV - Ryan Edwards - Not surprising with 2 goals including the Game Winner
CG - Jordan Gluck - For the 2nd game in a row he has been the backbone of the CG team
BV - Tyler Collins - Also no surprise with 2 goals including the game tying goal

I fully expected this game to be ridiculous when it came to officiating given the ref was were presented with. While the first period was a tooth-clencher, it got easier to bear as the game progressed as it became apparent that nothing 'serious' was going to be tolerated. Fair enough, and seeing Morriseau getting tossed for a few choice words at the ref wasn't disappointing either. In a nutshell, I still think poorly of the officials as many things still went unnoticed. I hear people say to me, "But he refs in the dub!" My response is this.... ITS STILL A BLOODY PENALTY THERE TOO!!!

Out Of Town - Fernie took a 2-0 series lead over Kimberley in an 8-7 slugfest, Sicamous and Kelowna both evened their series's at 1 with wins over Kamloops and Princeton respectively.

Next up for BV is Friday March 9, and Sat. March 10 at the Complex in Castlegar. I know that I will be there, will YOU? Feel free to hit me up on twitter before or during the game.