Early Game – Portugal vs Italy

Portugal held 1st place for months but a season-ending skid pushed them into 2nd on the last night. Italy had their own troubles late in the season but managed to eek out a single win in Round 5 — against Portugal. So both teams looking to turn the ship around now that things count.

Italy’s Dave Wodar opened up the scoring six minutes in and it took Portugal almost 10 minutes to respond with a Murray Russell goal. Wodar took offence and potted his second a minute later, but Al Robb turned Art Senkowski inside out to make it 2-2 late in the second. Then Ciro Napolitano beat Tony Cioffi once more before the buzzer to make it 3-2 for Italy after one period. A little tension on the Portuguese bench, but no panic.

Panic set in early in the second when Kevin MacDougall made it 4-2 for Italy, this one starting to slip away again for the red team. But Portugal got things back under control when Robin Flumerfelt added two before the period ended to make it a 4-4 tie going into the third.

Both teams fans biting their nails as their squads pursue this all-important victory in round 1. Murray Russell looked like the hero as he dashed in and solved Senkowski for the second time on the evening, but Steve Davis evened it up moments later. BACK AND FORTH FIREWAGON HOCKEY!!!

Joe Peacock then lifted a neat backhander from the point that went BARRRRR down to make it 6-5 for his Portuguese squad, and his teammates did their best to baton the hatches and give Peacock a Playoff GWG, but veteran D-man Jay Cummings had bigger plans. With two minutes to go he found net on a sharp wrister and that’s how this one ended. A dead tie. 6-6. One point each.

Portugal’s player of the game goes to Murray Russell with his pair of ginos while Steve Davis takes the honours for Italy, scoring 3 points on one leg, one of his skates malfunctioning early on.

Late Game – Scotland vs Ireland

Ireland finished the season strong, winning 3 of 4 in the final round, but they were depleted in this first playoff game, missing some key players. Scotland, on the other hand, had a full bench and a desire to prove in the playoffs that they are as good on ice as they are on paper.

Henderson and substitute goalie Frank Rispoli both looked sharp in the opening frame, turning away all chances until Scotland came alive in the final minutes. Rookie Todd MacDougall and grizzled veteran Tony Thomas scored less than a minute apart to give Scotland a 2-0 lead after one.

Both goalies shut the vault door again in period two. Scotland had two power plays, but couldn’t solve Rispoli and it looked like it was going to be a scoreless period until Ireland finally cracked the Hendersonian Hex — Patty Sharp finding twine for the leprechauns to make it 2-1. But the aforementioned grizzled veteran (Tony Thomas) returned fire almost immediately with his second of the night, restoring Scotland’s 2 goal cushion. 3-1 going into period three.

The third period was another goaltender’s duel, scoreless except for a strange blitz during which the Scots beat Rispoli THREE TIMES in 23 SECONDS. YIKES. Did someone leave a canoli on the back of the net?

Final Score: Scotland 6, Ireland 1.

The Irish will look to rebound next week with some key personnel back on the ice. Meanwhile the Scots will now have a three week hiatus until their next game against Portugal on April 10.

Irish POG goes to Patty Sharp, the leprechaun’s sole sniper, while previously referred to grizzled veteran Tony Thomas gets the honours for holding his team on his grizzled veteran shoulders.