Playoff Game 3

Fingers were crossed heading in to tonight's game against the Gross Ile Islanders. After suffering a narrow defeat in their previous playoff game, the Storm players needed a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Islanders players were on the small side in comparison to some of the teams that we have faced this year, but that typically means that they are also fast skaters, so no matter what we knew the kids were in for a battle...

The first period got off to a pretty even start, with both teams feeling each other out and trading chances here and there. It was the Islanders who broke through first, grabbing the early 1-0 lead. Despite some good play, the Storm team just couldn't "break the ice" and score to tie things up.

Thankfully the second period started off in favor of the Storm. They scored the first goal of the period to tie things up at one all. Moments later the Islanders regained their one goal lead, but two more Storm goals erased that lead and put the Islanders down one heading into the third at 3-2.

The Storm team extended their lead in the third, opening up a 5-2 that seemingly meant that they were going to secure their first playoff victory. An Islanders goal narrowed that gap back to 2 goals, and neither team was willing to go away easily. The Storm players fought back, scoring once more to restore the 3 goal differential. Again, the Islanders refused to give up, scoring another goal to narrow the deficit once more. They were hoping to keep the momentum on their side, but the Storm team quickly raced back down the ice and scored the final goal of the game, to make the score 7-4 and to give them a desperately needed win.

On a personal level, Drew didn't have his best game of the season. He was on the ice for all four of the Islanders goals, which was somewhat made up for by being out for three of the Storms goals, making him a -1 for the game. He looked to be just a step slow on defense, at least until the third period when he seemed to turn things around a bit. I understand that he is still learning the position after being moved there with only a couple of games left in the regular season, and there will be learning to go along with that, so we are trying to find the bright spots when we can. Regardless of his individual play tonight, the team played well enough to get the "W", and that's all that matters!

'05 Lapeer Storm LCAHA Playoffs Game 3 - vs. Gross Ile Islanders
	Drew and his Lapeer Storm teammates listening to their coaches prior to the opening faceoff.
	Drew playing the puck along the boards behind his own net.
	Drew reaching back to deflect the puck from an opposing player.
	Drew playing the puck behind the net.
	Drew challenging an opposing player for the puck.
	Drew passing the puck across to a teammate.
	Drew gathering in a pass...
	...and firing the puck at the net.
	Drew keeping the puck in his offensive zone along the boards.
	Drew playing the puck at center ice.
	Drew skating with the puck at center ice once again.
	Drew playing the puck at the side of his net.
	Drew keeping the puck in the offensive zone along the boards.
	Drew playing the puck along the boards once more.
	Drew watching as a pass by the Islanders sails in front of him.
	Drew chasing after an opposing player, steering him away from the net.
	Drew keeping the puck in the offensive zone...
	...and firing it towards the net.
	Drew knocking the puck away from an onrushing offensive player...
	...before the two collided.
	Drew moving into position as an Islanders player heads towards the net...
	...before knocking the puck away from him.
	The final score of today's game finally had the Storm on the positive side of the scoreboard with their 7-4 victory.
	Drew and his teammates going through the postgame handshake line.
	A closer look at Drew in the handshake line.

'05 Lapeer Storm LCAHA Playoffs Game 3 - vs. Gross Ile Islanders

Drew and his Lapeer Storm teammates listening to their coaches prior to the opening faceoff.

Drew playing the puck along the boards behind his own net.

Drew reaching back to deflect the puck from an opposing player.

Drew playing the puck behind the net.

Drew challenging an opposing player for the puck.

Drew passing the puck across to a teammate.

Drew gathering in a pass...

...and firing the puck at the net.

Drew keeping the puck in his offensive zone along the boards.

Drew playing the puck at center ice.

Drew skating with the puck at center ice once again.

Drew playing the puck at the side of his net.

Drew keeping the puck in the offensive zone along the boards.

Drew playing the puck along the boards once more.

Drew watching as a pass by the Islanders sails in front of him.

Drew chasing after an opposing player, steering him away from the net.

Drew keeping the puck in the offensive zone...

...and firing it towards the net.

Drew knocking the puck away from an onrushing offensive player...

...before the two collided.

Drew moving into position as an Islanders player heads towards the net...

...before knocking the puck away from him.

The final score of today's game finally had the Storm on the positive side of the scoreboard with their 7-4 victory.

Drew and his teammates going through the postgame handshake line.

A closer look at Drew in the handshake line.