Post by Old Bucks Admin on Apr 17, 2011 6:24:23 GMT -5
Week 11 really put the “old” back in Old Bucks. Everyone seemed to skate at least a step or two slower than normal. Whether it was the effect of shoveling too much wet snow, or whether it was the absence of frenzy-inspiring firebrands like Kevin Saunders or Steve Hendershott, or whether it was just the inevitable lull that would follow 10 grueling weeks of hockey, the game lacked pizzazz. Still Blue hit the ice with their egos slightly more inflated than usual, with a two-game winning streak under their belt and both Thomas brothers on hand vowing to make it three. The game followed a simple scenario at first: Blue would go up by two while expending as little energy as possible, Red would scratch and claw their way back to within one, and Blue would nonchalantly return the favor and extend the lead again. This happened until 5-4 when things went suddenly awry. Red was on the brink of scoring when Rich Cerbone jumped on a loose puck in the crease and covered it up, repeating the same underhanded move Blue used in Week 10. Red demanded a penalty shot and Blue responded with hoots of laughter, just like in Week 10. But unlike Week 10 Blue did not dodge the piper, who was now demanding his money up front. In other words, Blue was contaminated with bad karma—a force so prevalent in sports that not even the New York Yankees can escape its thrall. For on the very next play Kenny, playing defense for Red, pinched and scored—his second goal of the game. That’s not just bad karma—it’s atrocious. Then Eddie and Dave Major converted on potshots from the point, and Bill MacDowell delivered the “coup de grace” game-winning goal—something so unlikely it requires not only bad karma, but the intercession of the Three Fates, two saints, and Elvis. Duly humbled, Blue slunk off into the locker room and laughed off the whole fiasco over beers. No doubt they’ll be back flopping on loose pucks in no time.