Stars Cap off First Round
The Junior Varsity Stars finished the first round off on a strong note. With the first meeting between the two teams ending in a tie, this game meant everything for the final standings. Whatever team would win this game would finish ahead.
Once again the Stars had a great first period. Even though 7 players were being sat for disciplinary reasons, the rest of team came together and carried the play. But it was the Caps who would score first on the first shot of the game. After wrestling with some pucks the night before, it would be a great test to see how Dominik Dieber would handle the pressure. 4 minutes after the Cap goal, Florian Baltram over powered David Vogt with a wrist shot to tie the game.
The second period was again a little sloppy, much better however than the last two games, but with the long change we seem to have some problems getting tired guys off the ice. The Caps would take the lead 2 minutes in and the fans were thinking here we go again. But this time it would be the Stars with a double pack a minute apart. First Nikolaus Krauss Slap shot was too much for the glove of Vogt and then with great speed Garrit Blume went end to end and centered on the tape to Vlad Rodnov who scored with his Mother from Russia looking on from the stands. 3-2 lead after 2 and more excitement to come.
7 minutes in 3 LA Stars players were caught making stick checks allowing the Caps player to sneak through everyone and go in on a breakaway to tie the game at 3. A little breakdown, but on the bench everything was still very positive. 3 minutes later after Hugo Jansons found a wide open Vlad Rodnov for his second of the night, the boys went crazy. "C'mon boys!" was all you heard as everyone pulled together to take this lead to the end.
With 6 minutes left to play the Caps went on the power play. Some great killing and a great save by Dieber relieved some of the pressure and the penalty kill was successfull. But with 2 minutes to play in the game another penalty and another power play for the Caps. They pulled their goalie to make it a 6 on 4. The Stars stayed tight played tough and got the pucks out and deep. With only 4 seconds left and the puck in the corner, Goalie Dieber deliberately pushed the net off to relieve the pressure. This however in the last 2 minutes of a game is an automatic Penalty Shot. So with 4 seconds on the clock it was up to Dieber.
They say the penalty shot is one of the most exciting plays in hockey, but with only 4 seconds left and a win riding on the line it was terrifying. Everyone is the rink was holding their breath and Dieber came through with a big save to give the Stars the Win.
LA STARS:EAC 4:3 (1:1,2:1,1:!)