SUNDAYS #7 vs. CHIEFS:

(vol. 26S, no. 7; newsletter by h.s.)
Bob Brooks was assessed his first fine as a Coastal Pirate; the “streak” is dead; and Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson have split. All-in-all it was a pretty big weekend for news.

After dramatically beating the Red Stars last week, the Pirates headed into the seventh game of the season still unbeaten. Although victorious in the previous meeting against the Chiefs four games back, this time the Pirate bench was considerably more sparse: Absences of Kevin, Ralz, and Brooks left the Men In White with only seven skaters (Brooks would eventually arrive 10:00 minutes — and a three-beer “fine” — late).

Ironically, the game that is most newsworthy because it snapped a six-game winning streak, couldn't have begun much better: On the first shift Gucci gracefully bobbed-and-weaved throughout the entire Chiefs line-up and gave us the 1-0 lead. Just as surprising as the quick lead was the Pirates inability to find the twine for another 34:00 minutes — much of that due to the numerous blocked shots by the Chiefs. Still, Gucci's solo effort gave the Pirates the 1-0 lead for most of the 1st period. In fact, it wasn't until the 4:00-minute mark that the Chiefs finally took advantage of a snafu at middle ice and drove in with a 2-on-0 for a breakaway tally to tie things up. Although the Pirates pressured intensely for much of the first 22:00 minutes, at the break the teams were gridlocked at 1-1.

The opening 8:00 minutes of the final period featured more of the blocked shots that were the trademark of the Chiefs' defensive corps. Showing a lot more offensive zip this period, the Chiefs were able to keep it behind the Pirate net long enough to find an open man in front (ironically #67) — who was able to bang in the one-timer from “the edge” of the crease (I'm putting “the edge” in quotes because I think he was actually within the crease, but ...). That 2-1 Chiefs lead was shortlived, because on the next play Brooks shot a linedrive (assist to Russ) to even things up 2-2. Unfortunately about :90 seconds later some nice stickhandling by a Chiefs forward paid-off; he was able to maneuver behind the Pirate net and throw a beautiful backhander towards the far post that banged-off two posts before finding the back of the net. Unable to close the one-goal gap, the Pirates put the extra skater on in the final minute. When a bouncing puck somehow found Scott LeMatty all alone with :07 seconds on the scoreboard, it looked like one more miracle was within reach. But alas when the buzzer sounded the Pirate winning streak was finished at six — the same number of years that Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson were married.
date of game: 8.13.06