Week 10 – Game Previews – Part 1
GAME OF THE WEEK
LBS Inc. at Fresh Kills
1:00 pm, Tompkins Square East
It’s another rematch of last year’s championship game and these two teams couldn’t be closer in terms of their 2013 performance.
LBS may have a loss on their record but they’ve only given up one more goal than the Killers.
Meanwhile, FK are the only unbeaten team in the league and Captain Dave Sokol is dreaming of a perfect season. If he can keep league commissioner Tim Brown from negotiating a transfer agreement with the KHL then he just might pull it off.
But beware Dominators. As Dustin has warned us before “regular season success does not guarantee playoff performance”. The Quids know the positive side of that rule as they parlayed a #7 seed in to a championship last year, so they may be inclined to tank this game and push themselves down the standings a little bit.
Or not. Karsten was promising a “Sittler” at “the bar the LBS go to after games that’s not the ACE” last Sunday. A ten-point game may seem ambitious but with Pichon’s current streak who are we to doubt?
Look for this one to head to a shootout. LBS. have a habit of pulling out super-tight games so we’ll give them the edge in this one.
Tompkins Square Riots at Mega Touch
1:00 pm, Tompkins Square West
TSR hasn’t had much go right for it this year. But at least they’ve got another game against a divisional opponent instead of serving as chum for the likes of the Hookers or Fresh Kills. Mega Touch is also just too nice to really administer a pounding.
But the Touch do play solid hockey and if the Bratta-Katz duo have a light social schedule on Saturday this could be another tough one for Jones’ Jobbers. Personally, we hope this one ends in a tie. MegaTouch never care that much about winning or loosing and it would be nice to see the Riots put one up in the points column.
Poutine Machine at Denim Demons
2:00 pm, Tompkins Square East
This year’s version of Poutine Machine bears a striking resemblance to this year’s New York rangers. And that’s bad news for the Cheese Fry Fanatics. Like the Rangers, they have one of the best goaltenders in the league. But also like the Rangers, they can’t find the back of the net. Their “D” looked solid in a 1-0 loss to the Rainbows last week. But once again they were held scoreless. What will their Captain Patrick Larsen do to right the ship?
Editor’s Note: No, seriously, I want to know, what will I do? Any guesses? Suggestions? Secret plans? Is Coach allergic to peanuts?
The Demons have a respectable record and always round in to shape in the middle part of the season. Look for them to bring their “A” game and give the Francophiles a major challenge.
In the end, this one will come down to who wants it more. Or a strategically placed jar of JIF.
SkyFighters at What the Puck
2:00 pm, Tompkins Square West
Relentless. That’s the only way to describe WTP’s performance against Filthy Gorgeous last week. Trailing for most of the game they kept storming back and finally won it in OT. The Fighters picked up a strong win themselves, cooling off the once hot Elves and looking good in the process.
Like the aforementioned Kill-LBS. match this one features teams that are almost identical in points and goals scored and allowed. It also wasn’t that long ago that these teams were battling for the league championship either.
So expect another tight match.
Maybe it’s time for the league to review the regular season overtime rule? We could see these two teams engaging in a thrilling double-quintuple overtime match with crying skateboarders and sleeping babies littering the sidelines. Runners could be sent to the ACE to shuttle free pizza to exhausted players and every team playing in the late afternoon slots would be surrounded by empty Bud Light cans. The game wouldn’t end until Monica Russo, in a display of impatience and sheer brilliance, gets her team to pay for Suz to take a cab home and get her hot dog costume.
C’mon Tim! Be the Commissioner that makes this happen.
Butchers at Cobra Kai
3:00 pm, Tompkins Square East
Is there such a thing as a rebound street hockey match? Because after having their hearts broken by the Hookers and Kills respectively, that’s what this game feels like to us. We envision Will and Ben shaking hands after every shift with comments like “Thanks for not being Danilo” and “Your Russian is a lot funnier than the last ones we played.” The refs will get in to the spirit as well allowing multiple do-overs and letting Gregg Allman play the “roaming goalie” position that he invented several years ago.
Yes bonhommie and a collegial atmosphere will rule the day.
At least until Ashley McMasters and Pete Lang (forced to play out thanks to Allman’s Roamer position) have to take a face off against each other.
Take comfort in each other, Misfits & Dojo. You may not be Mister (or Mrs.) Right. But you are Mister (or Mrs. Right Now. And in the middle of a long season, playing a team that won’t hurt you emotionally may be just what you need. Open a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, curl up on a blanket on the sidelines, and remember you can’t love another team unless you love yourself, first.