roadhockey.net

Confidence booster

Six unanswered goals in the second period gave the underdogs their first lead in Sunday's game. But, more importantly, it gave them the confidence to romp to an unlikely 20-10 win.

Lined up against a potent offense led by the speedy snipers, Lak Attack and Kid, and powerful pointmen, Unabomber and Wink, the underdogs struggled early to find their own scoring touch as they emerged from the first period lucky to be down by only a goal, 5-4. But then the breaks started to go their way. Elvis' relentless forechecking created opportunities for his linemates, Wendel and Nibs, who didn't miss. And when the Living Legend was able to convert a couple of seeing-eye passes, the romp was on in earnest.

"Everyone just sorta got on that same winning vibe," says Elvis of his side's second period turnaround. "Everyone was playing well, everyone was feeling good out there, and you know things are gonna happen your way."

"I think you could see our confidence growing as a team," says Paul One. "You could see we were able to just hold the ball for that extra split second to look for somebody in the open rather than panicking and just firing it away."

Instead it was their powerful opponents who pushed the panic button. Unable to exploit their superior speed and playmaking ability in the slippery conditions, they peppered low-percentage shots from difficult angles at Lobsterboy, who was equal to the challenge.

"On a wet day, it's a lot harder to get your shot off sometimes," says Bird of his side's offensive frustrations. "We hit a lot of posts, we didn't get many breaks. We were demoralized."

"They just looked rattled," says Paul One of his fumbling foes. "You could see it in their eyes, they just didn't think they had it today."

"The other team seemed to get deflated too quickly," says Lobsterboy. "Once we got the lead, we held onto it. Our guys never let up."

With their confidence growing, and momentum on their side, the underdogs went for the jugular. Beetle Boy regained his scoring touch that had eluded him so far this season while Billy Idol discovered his slapshot. Only a late goal by Lak Attack, who knocked home a rebound past a sprawling Lobsterboy prevented the ultimate humiliation, a shutout.

"Looking at the stick draw, you probably wouldn't have predicted such a lopsided victory," says Elvis. "Hockey is a game of momentum, and we were able to get a few goals, so suddenly the mountain wasn't looking so big."

"You can't call the game based on the drop of the sticks," says Paul One. "When the goals start going in and the goalie is making the saves at the other end, that's what determines the outcome."

Posted by jaysuburb at November 7, 2004 04:42 PM