Blue Fin's Bistro Hockey

The Boys-in-Blue tried to avoid a 10-game losing streak when they played the Competition Bulldogs. 

Since their last game, 18 days and probably the same amount of Turkey had passed for the Fins – so breaking this record streak would not be easy.

 After one period – the game was close – the Fins were only down 2-1, thanks to an unassisted goal by Mike Meehan. 

But in the second period, the wheels fell off for the Fins.  Four straight Bulldog goals got by Joe ‘I’m Not Allowed Shoe Laces’ Durant, which put them down 6-1. 

The Fins defense consisted of three amigos – Matt ‘Balance’ Pusateri, Dan Fahey, and Mike Meehan.  The defense played well in their own zone and also erected a virtual wall at the other blue line and kept their team on the attack.

Meehan continued jumping in from the defense by scoring two more unassisted goals at the end of the 2nd period.  He completed his hat trick with two top-notch shots – the first a hard wrister and the latter a hard backhander that squeaked through the five-hole.  (6-4)

After another fluke goal by the Bulldogs, the offensive line of Dave ‘GodFather’ Berent, Mike ‘Traveling Salesman’ Hofmeister, and Bill Rusin worked hard for the Fins first offensive goal:  Berent got the puck as he crossed the blue line and shot it hard on net.  Hofmeister and Rusin charged in for the rebound, and Rusin flipped a shot in over the sprawling net-minder. 

A few minutes later, the same offensive line beared down again, and after a series of shots by Berent, Hofmeister, and Rusin – Rusin shot the puck off the goalie’s arm and into the net.  (7-5)

With the refs taking a short break, the game got physical.  After Matt Pusateri was boarded, Adam Hoover, Mike ‘SchoolTeacher’ Englert, and Wes ‘Hothands’ Gyure played two rough shifts.  They gave the Bulldogs all they hard hitting they could handle.  This line found an extra gear in the 3rd period – especially Gyure, who skated hard on both ends of the ice.

With a few more flukies, the Bulldogs closed out the win and handed the Blue Fins their 10th loss. 

The next game for the Blue Fins Bistro is Wednesday at 9:15 pm.

Tonight, the Chiefs were Chiefs, and the Blue Fin’s were just Indians.

The Blue Fin’s losing streak continued as the Chief’s tallied a snowman and won 8-0.

Not much can be said for these types of games…..

 The Chiefs passed well and the Fin’s chased. 

The Chiefs forechecked and the Fin’s couldn’t clear the zone.

 Individually, the Fin’s had a lot of mediocrity.  Together, they were about the same.

So the losing streak is up to nine….

On the bright side – the Fin’s have nearly 3 weeks to mull this over and ‘Get in Shape’.

Their next game is November 25 against the Bulldogs.

No GodFather – no problem. 

No Teacher – no lessons lost.

But without a NetMinder, the Blue Fin’s were merely fish in a barrel to the attacking Badgers.

The Badgers, like their brethren Car Salesmen – had no class Sunday night.  Even without a goalie, the Badgers took aim and sent many-a-slap-shot in on the Blue Fin’s net.  The Fin’s traded victims between the pipes – nearly three-fourths of the team took their turn.

But with hard, chest-high slap shots, the Badgers held nothing back.  It’s one thing to blast a shot when the goalie is fully protected, but when it’s a skater with a fraction of the pads – there is no excuse.  With as little class as these shots, they celebrated after every goal.

After the first period, the Fin’s were down 6-0.  The Badgers offered up their cross-eyed goalie, but Captain Mike McGee doesn’t ever give up a game – and politely refused.

In a hard fought 2nd period, the Fin’s notched a point on the board, and more than that in respect.  Mike Meehan’s power-play goal gave the Fin’s the period by a score of 1-0.  The various netminders for the Fin’s did an admirable job of holding the Badgers.

In the 3rd period, the Fin’s held the Badgers to just 1 goal – but the Fin’s were running on fumes. 

Always displaying leadership – Captain Mike McGee stood up for his team after a completely blown call by referee Brian “Hellen Keller” Linzer.  With bad positioning, eyesight, and lung capacity - ’Shrek’ as he is fondly known – called Wes ‘Faceman’ Gyure for an interference minor, right in front of the Fin’s bench.  After the call was made, McGee approached ‘Dopey’ and complained about the call – resulting in McGee’s ejection from the game. 

Captain McGee is by no means a hot-head.  Always displaying a wealth of hockey knowledge, restaint, and interpersonal savvy, he leads by words and by example.  In this case, the referee knew he made a bad call.  When McGee complained – the referee was too embarrassed to be a man and retract the call. 

The Fin’s lose a tough game – one which they should have won.  It was their largest margin of defeat.

Although Joe Durant wanted to be there, the Fin’s don’t blame their goalie – he tried his best and it couldn’t be helped.

What else doesn’t help?  Well….the goals were tallied against Durant, as if he was there himself.  (That will help pad the stats……)