Archive for the ‘Weekly Previews’ Category
Week 11 Preview
Thursday, June 18th, 2009Don’t Take Filthy Gorgeous Lying Down
GAME OF THE WEEK
HOCKEY NIGHT IN TOMPKINS
Filthy Gorgeous (6-2-1) vs. LBS, Inc. (6-3)
Location: Tompkins East, 6:30 PM
All-Time Series: Filthy Gorgeous leads 3-1-1
Game Notes: Hockey Night in Tompkins has been blessed with a great matchup this weekend, courtesy of the Schuie-tron 3000. After a red hot start to the season, Filthy Gorgeous has stagnated in the past few weeks, winning only one of their last four games. During this stretch, the offense has averaged just one goal a game, but on the strength of two shutouts from Dan “D.O” Owens, the team has managed to salvage a win and a tie. LBS, Inc. has now won three games in a row and is once again looking like an elite team after a sluggish start to the season. The Corporation is second in overall scoring, mainly due to its lethal duo of Karsten Pichon and “The Alpha Male” Ken Poulin, who both have double-digit goals (13 and 10, respectively). With Pichon and Poulin playing at such a high level, “D.O.” will once again have to be at the top of his game for Filthy to break out of its slump.
Keys To The Game:
1. Filthy Gorgeous’ defense has given up only 12 total goals this season, placing it second in BTSH. The most the team has allowed in any one game is a scant three goals.
2. LBS, Inc. defender Sam Anthony remains one of the best dual threats in the league. In addition to being one of the top pure defenseman in BTSH, he has also chipped in six goals, putting him third on the team.
3. It is no secret that Filthy Gorgeous defender Becky Antar Novick is one of the league’s biggest fan favorites. With a raucous crowd expected for Hockey Night in Tompkins, her cheering section should be loud and boisterous.
Eli’s Pick: LBS, Inc. The Corporation is clicking on all cylinders right now.
Derek’s Pick: LBS, Inc. I’ll call the two defenses a wash in this game, but LBS, Inc. has the advantage on offense.
Week 10 Preview
Thursday, June 11th, 2009Meredith Should Chew With Her Mouth Closed
GAME OF THE WEEK
Rehabs (6-2) vs. What The Puck (8-0)
Location: Tompkins East, 4:00 PM
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 8-5
Game Notes: The Rehabs were riding high prior to last weekend, as they had won five games in a row and showed no signs of slowing down. However, with the team potentially looking ahead to this week’s matchup with What The Puck, the Rehabs had their streak snapped abruptly and unexpectedly at the hands of the Happy Little Elves. Despite this setback, the team remains only four points behind What The Puck in the overall standings and one point behind the Denim Demons in the Rubens Division standings. As the Rehabs prepare to face their toughest opponent to date, they are happy to welcome back beloved veterans Jon “Dinner Plate” Feldman and Stacy Kehoe. Their inpirational presence will help bring back the Rehabs’ $wagger, after the embarrassing loss last week. At this point, it’s old news that Larry’s dream team has been unstoppable this season. What The Puck is yet to lose, and only one of their games has been decided by a single goal. However, the Rehabs won the 2008 matchup between these two teams, so Mad Dog will not take this game lightly.
Keys To The Game:
1. What The Puck leads the league with 48 goals, 11 more than the next closest team. They currently boast three players in the top ten goal scorers: Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta (10), Tom MacDonald (8), and Salvatore Malguarnera, Jr. (8).
2. According to highly questionable statistics, Rehabs defender Gina Hackett averages eight blocked shots a game. Eight?! Eight, Bob.
3. What The Puck defender Ant “Father Time” Ventolieri has made no secret about his wishes to keep fiancée/Rehabs star Chantel Arroyo off the court. Ironically, Chantel has made no secret about her wishes to keep fiancé/team cancer Ant on the court.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. I’m not picking the team that just lost to the Elves.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. There’s really no reason to pick against them.
Week 9 Preview
Thursday, June 4th, 2009Unicorns Aim To Devour Filthy Gorgeous
GAME OF THE WEEK
Filthy Gorgeous (5-1-1) vs. Unicorns (5-2)
Location: Tompkins West, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Filthy Gorgeous leads 2-1-1
Game Notes: After winning their first five games of the season, Filthy Gorgeous has gone winless in the last two weeks, losing to the Dark Rainbows and then tying the Denim Demons. Their potent offense, which averaged six goals a game during their five-game winning streak, has been held to just two goals in the last two games. However, the defense remains staunch, as Filthy has allowed only 10 goals all season, including a shutout against the Demons last week. The Unicorns have won their last three games, although each has been by only one goal. Despite this impressive run, their loss against the Happy Little Elves remains a puzzling dark cloud to their season. Although they clearly have the potential to play at an elite level, they also have the potential to lay an egg every now and then. Which version will show up on Sunday when they face their Woodsworth Division rivals Filthy Gorgeous?
Keys To The Game:
1. While “Gentleman” James Pereira leads Filthy Gorgeous with nine goals and has received most of the fanfare for his accomplishment, Sunny Mehra has quietly chipped in seven of his own. He remains an underrated force on the team.
2. Although Susanna of the Unicorns has only two goals this season, she has come through in the clutch multiple times. She scored the only shootout goal in their win against the Mathematics and tallied the overtime goal to beat the Corlears Hookers.
3. Though the game’s existence is questionable, Filthy Gorgeous defeated the Unicorns 4-2 in a tight week 5 battle. Although Filthy wore their electric lime throwback jerseys for that game, captain Monica Russo has ruled against breaking them out a second time.
Eli’s Pick: Filthy Gorgeous. A win will give them some momentum for their showdown with the Corlears Hookers next week.
Derek’s Pick: Filthy Gorgeous. Although they didn’t get the result they wanted last weekend, their level of hockey was playoff caliber.
Week 8 Preview
Thursday, May 28th, 2009Mungo Gives This Matchup One Thumb Up
GAME OF THE WEEK
Corlears Hookers (4-1-0-1) vs. Fresh Kills (2-4)
Location: Tompkins East, 6:30 PM
All-Time Series: Corlears Hookers lead 2-1
Game Notes: For the first time since the 2008 BTSH championship game, these two Rubens Division rivals will square off in Sunday’s prime-time matchup. The Corlears Hookers have performed as expected this season, as they have continued to dominate most of their opponents. However, they have been plagued by low attendance nearly every week, which has been a contributing factor in their two losses. Fresh Kills’ season has been a bit of a disappointment thus far. After splitting their first two games on the road, they returned home to raise their championship banner and gain a much needed win against the Tuques. Since that day, however, they have lost three games in a row and sit at 13th in the standings. Although Fresh Kills is the clear underdog here, they have thrived when counted out in the past, as they were in a similar position entering last year’s championship game.
Keys To The Game:
1. Corlears Hookers forward Jason Eitel is tied for the league lead with nine goals. He was not present for the 2008 championship game and is planning to make amends for that.
2. Fresh Kills defender turned forward Bob “Olmec” Weyersberg now has two goals on the season and won’t shut up about it. He boasts, “No one can stop me. I have the most accurate outside shot in the league and my presence near the crease cannot be matched.”
3. In order to combat his team’s pereceived negative image, Corlears Hookers captain Peter “Purple Rain” Putka has introduced a series of promotional days throughout the season. This Sunday, the first 20 fans under the age of 12 will receieve a free Albert “Al” Huang Trapper Keeper, which will hopefully showcase the Hookers’ commitment to education.
Eli’s Pick: Corlears Hookers. A big game is expected out of Huang on his promotional day…that is, if he’s allowed off the bench.
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers. Revenge will only be temporarily sweet as Fresh Kills still holds the more important win.
Week 7 Preview
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The Mathematics Will Pickle Cobra Kai
GAME OF THE WEEK
Mathematics (1-2-1-1) vs. Cobra Kai (1-3-0-1)
Location: Tompkins West, 5:30 PM
All-Time Series: Mathematics lead 5-1
Game Notes: Last week marked a turning point in the season for the Mathematics. After going winless in their first four games, Math found itself down by two goals with ten minutes remaining against the Tuques. However, with three quick goals they were able to turn the game, and potentially their season, around. Their opponent this week, Cobra Kai, also had a slow start to the season. After losing its first three games, the Dojo has responded with three points in its last two games, including a win against Mega Touch. With both teams having shaken off the early season rust, this bitter rivalry has all the potential to be a classic.
Keys To The Game:
1. After missing the Mathematics’ first four games with a lower body injury, Bradley Schmidt returned last week and assisted on their first goal. His playmaking ability makes him dangerous whenever he touches the ball.
2. Rem “Canadian Strongman” Garavito has an innate knack to deliver in the clutch for Cobra Kai. A late goal of his forced overtime with the Happy Little Elves last week, earning an extra point in the standings for his team.
3. League officials have been working around the clock to book Mathematics great Sharif “The Chocolate Buzzsaw” Corinaldi and Cobra Kai icon Peter “Ski” Oblamski to drop the ceremonial first ball. It remains to be seen which team will draw more inspiration from its respective legend.
