Feb 01, 2016 | gfilice | 1176 views
Bandits surprise NH 1 in first playoff game
The Bandits got the sweetest revenge from a Regular Season blowout loss to New Hamburg 1, winning 6-4 in their first game of the A division playoffs.
The Bandits that took the ice last night in no way resembled the team that lost 11-1 just four weeks ago. Sebastien Haazer, who missed the original game, was the catalyst, scoring three times and adding an assist. Josh MacDonald was dominant as well, with a goal and two assists, and a physical aggressive style that has become his signature.
Colin "Razor" Racz started the playoffs out right with a goal and an assist, which Ryan Hood also matched. Logan Galer had two assists, why Jex Tew and Jack MacPhee added single helpers. Karson Sherwood may not have picked up a point, but his aggressive back checking and hard work in the offensive zone were just as important to the Bandits win as tallying points on the stat sheet.
The defense was strong, able to keep up with the Huskies best skaters and winning one on one battles. Stephanie Laidlaw was a beast out front of her own net, tying up New Hamburg forwards and giving Luca Filice a clear sight at shots from the point. Jack MacPhee was big at both ends of the ice, winning many one on one's, skating back to catch streaking forwards, and setting up the offense coming out of the zone.
Noah Main again made several great plays at the offensive blueline, holding in pucks and getting quality shots to the Huskies net. Adam Burnett dug in his defensive corners hard, and did a great job of getting the puck up the boards and out of the zone.
Ice Man Luca Filice came up big early and late, with his biggest save coming deep into the second period, robbing dangerous sniper Logan Daer on a partial breakaway. Overall, Ice Man made 18 saves against 4 goals scored, stymieing the team that ended up number 2 in that category during the regular season.
These Bandits now move on to a showdown with Beverly #1 on Monday night. If both teams play as they did against NH 1 in their playoff games; the battle of Beverly will assuredly be a classic.