Drew and his Riverview Ice Sharks teammates would take to the
ice for the second of back-to-back games this afternoon, and for the
final time during the regular season, as they faced off against the
Newsome Wolves at the Clearwater Ice Arena. The Wolves have the
superior record on the season, but it was the Ice Sharks who would
get on the scoreboard first, scoring on a shot to the left of the
crease that found the corner of the Newsome goal, giving them a 1-0
lead on the first shot of the game just two minutes fifteen seconds
in. Unfortunately, that would be the end of the positives for the
Riverview team. Having played a game earlier this afternoon started
to have an effect on the Ice Sharks legs, as they began to lose puck
battles and appeared to be a step slow as the period wore on. With a
little over six and half to play Newsome would tie the game up at a
goal apiece, thanks to a pass to the front of the net that had the
Riverview goaltender sliding across the crease. The Newsome skater
tucked the puck back in behind the Ice Sharks goalie. It was looking
like we might be able to make it to the first intermission tied, but
the Wolves found themselves on a breakaway with just over two
minutes remaining that they managed to bury through the Riverview
five-hole, making it a 2-1 game. That would be the score as the two
sides headed into intermission.
The second period was a back and forth affair on the ice, even if
it was one-sided on the scoreboard. Each team had some good looks,
but it was Newsome who was able to take advantage of theirs. They
would open the scoring just eighty-seven seconds in, driving a
rebound into a wide open net to make it a 3-1 game. With a little
under ten minutes to play the Wolves would make it a 4-1 score on a
shot from between the circles that went bar down, a tough break for
the Ice Sharks for sure. With a little under seven minutes to play
in the period, the Ice Sharks caught another bad break, this time
when the puck deflected in off of one of their own players, making
it a 5-1 game. Thankfully, that would be it for the bad luck in the
second period, as the two teams would head to intermission with the
score stuck at 5-1.
Despite a lot of shot attempts in the third period, there wasn't
a lot of action on the scoresheet. Newsome took a roughing penalty
two and half minutes in, but the Ice Sharks weren't able to take
advantage of their opportunity. It was the Wolves who would add to
their total late, scoring with just under a minute remaining on a
breakaway to make it a 6-1 game, which would be the final score. |