Renegades - on to the second round...

After winning the first playoff game against the Panthers 5-4, we played the second game on Friday, March 17th.  None of the young guys on my team were crazy about having a game scheduled on St. Patricks Day.  But they all showed up for a 10:30 ice time at Coronation Arena.  We got the first goal, but the Panthers, with their backs to the wall, pushed back.  They got a couple of quick ones, built up a lead, and never looked back.  Our entire team played one of the worst games we've played in a long time.  The game finally ended at midnight and we were handed a 10-2 defeat.  None of us were very pleased with our effort.

This brought about game three of the best of three series.  The game was last night at 9:30 at Confederation Arena.  I wish we played here a little more often as it is a nice rink and only about six blocks from my house.  With this being an elimination game I expected both teams to be playing desperate hockey.  The game started with a really quick pace and it stayed that way for the entire game.  We seemed to want it more than the Panthers did and perhaps they were expecting another easy victory.  We were up three goals to none at the end of the first period.  They scored in the second to make it a little closer, but then we quickly responded with two more, and never looked back.  The effort by my team was a lot better and I think we showed our true ability as we coasted to an 8-1 victory.

We now advance to the second round of the playoffs.  There will be four of the eight teams in our division remaining.  The first place Griffins easily knocked off the 8th place Rack Monkeys to advance.  The 7th place Moose Heads surprised the 2nd place Clansmen and swept them out in two straight.  The Griffins and the Moose Heads will now meet in the second round.  The 4th and 5th place teams, the Ducks and the Ice Kings are still playing and will have their third and deciding game tonight.  The winner of that series will advance to play us beginning on Wednesday.  Eventually it will get down to two teams in the division final, and then a best of five conference final against the winner of Division 7 in the north conference.  Lots of hockey left to be played but for now we need to focus on the next round and not get ahead of ourselves.  Its been quite a while since my team has advanced beyond the first round and I'm really savoring this again....