SUNDAYS #1 vs. DUCKS:

(vol. 35S, no. 1; newsletter by h.s.)
Half-empty: After the first 44:00-minutes of the new season the Pirates tied the number of games the team lost all last season.

Even though signs look favorable for the Pirates at the beginning of the game (such as Kevin's return after ten stitches and our full, ten-men crew vs. their six-man bench), the Pirates posted what everyone later agreed was a lackluster performance. A Duck powerplay goal (capitalizing on a “too many men” penalty) would start the night's scoring. That, combined with two more odd-man rushes would give the Ducks a healthy three-goal lead halfway through the 1st period. The Pirates seemed to buckle-down after that and Mike would finally get us on the board on quick shot that pinged-off a post. Both teams played aggressively and had their share of opportunities, but the 3-1 score held to the break.

In the final period, we continued to pour it on and much of the time was spent in the Duck zone. An errant pass after a defensive-zone faceoff proved costly however, and the Ducks regained their three-goal lead. The Pirate rushes increased dramatically after that goal, but so did the physical nature of the game: last season's Sunday and Wednesday Lady Byng winner, Joe Baio, would head to the box after a scuffle; then Scott LeMatty — who was dropping bodies like an undertaker — would head there as well on another “roughing” call. (All tolled the Pirates accumulated 8:00-minutes of penalty time, but in what we've grown accustomed to many of those were offsetting calls.) Scott would later be awarded a penalty shot after he was taken down at the tail-end of a breakaway, but goalie Jon Hoenge — who played solidly all evening — was up to the task. In an attempt to find some chemistry, Russ changed-up the offensive lines halfway through the period, but between blocked shots, posts, and Jon, nothing could find the twine.

Half-full: Next week we look to start a seven-game winning streak that will enable us to match last season's impressive 7-1-0 record.

FOR THE RECORD
Attendance (players): DiPierro, LeMatty, McLaughlin, Gucci, Farkas, Farrell, Nicolosi, Serkin, Baio (sub), Maccanico (sub). Net: Harris.
Scratches: Toscano, Hand.
Scoring: 1st period: 2-1 Ducks: Goal by Farrell (Gucci). 3rd period: 4-1 Ducks.
date of game: 9.28.08