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Doo-ing what it takes

Even as his team struggled with a five goal deficit, Velma knew they could still Doo it.

The Mystery Machine linemates found their goal scoring touch late in Sunday's game to lead their side to a comeback 24-22 win in quadruple overtime.

In fact, Doo's game winner, a high wire shot over Gump's shoulder, was the culmination of the long road back for the team that had to play from behind since the game's earliest moments.

"It really gets to you mentally to have to play from behind that long," said the young speedster, who first showed his comeback chops in last Spring's dramatic Stanley Stick championship series when he almost single-handedly sparked his team's resurrection from the brink of elimination.

Reeling and disorganized at the low end of a 16-11 score, Velma rallied his mates, determined to avoid the ignominy of another slaughter like he suffered in last week's game.

"I didn't want that to happen again, it was embarrassing," said the rookie winger. "I think we knew deep down we had a team equal to theirs or better than them, and if we dug down, played hard, we knew we could take them."

With the advantage of the extra player to spell off tired teammates, Velma and his mates started to gain the advantage in the offensive zone, winning battles in the corner, gaining the upper hand in crease clashes for bouncing rebounds. Even the Living Legend pitched in with two goals after being stoned by Gump's outstretched pad on a breakaway earlier in the game.

"Them having the extra sub really made a difference," said Gump. "We were playing in the heat for the first time, it really takes a lot out of you."

"If you have the extra sub, especially when you get into overtime, you just have that little extra jump," said Doo. "When the teams are this close, sometimes it's all that separates you."

"We had a couple of fast guys and they only had Kid, so that extra rest certainly helped me and Doo, especially for the overtime," said Velma.

They took full advantage of their advantage, forcing overtime and then taking their first lead, 22-21. Three times in the extra period the teams traded the advantage. Just as one team seemed ready to go home, they'd dig down to prolong the game even further.

"We just couldn't seem to get that last goal," said Gump. "The other team worked hard, they were winning all the little battles down low, they fought for their breaks."

"I was just thinking get the next goal, get the next goal, make the defensive play," said Velma.

With Twizzler getting on top of his game as the game wore on, his teammates were able to charge deep into the offensive zone, confident he could take care of any defensive lapses. Velma, Doo, and the Colonel seized the momentum.

"We got some great saves from Twizzler," said Velma.

"When your goalie makes a great save, it gets the momentum going the other way," said Doo. "It's also a huge mental boost when you get the confidence because your goalie is holding the fort."

Posted by jaysuburb at March 22, 2009 09:56 PM