Norwich 1
Middlebury 1
FINAL Shootout (Middlebury advances to finals with 2-0 shootout win)
1st Period: Mike Peters starts in net, continuing his stronghold on the Panther net (no other Panthers goalie has played this season). Matic Marinsek for the Cadets as Norwich hasn't played another goalie since the first game of the season. The notoriously shaky PrimeLink webcast continues to be shaky. A bit ironic that a tournament hosted by a communications company has such a crappy webcast.
Pretty evenly played period with a lot of neutral zone play. Middlebury has a chance with back-to-back penalties against the Cadets that give the Panthers a five-on-three for twelve seconds. Beaney's squad has some good opportunities during the first penalty but are mostly kept out of the offensive zone for the second. Shots in favor of Norwich 10-8 at the end of 1.
2nd Period: Shortly before the Panthers go on their third power play seven minutes in Brendan McGovern gets a great scoring chance that Marisnek kick saves away. In the waning moments of the ensuing power play on a Cadets tripping penalty, Evan Neugold chops down a high back hand, which Marisnek tries to jump on but the puck ends up free on the crease. Mike Longo pokes it in at 8:32 for the lead, assists to Neugold and Robbie Donahoe.
The Cadets get their first power play 11:20 in on a roughing call against Middlebury rookie Cam Romoff. Panthers have a two-on-one during the power play but a questionable offside call kills the opportunity. Later on, Derek Pimentel throws it across on a two-on-one to Louis Belisle, but Belisle can't get his stick on it. Pimentel then gets called for tripping and the Cadets go on their second power play. Norwich's Corey Hale shoots it in wide from the point and William Pelletier utilizes the no-look re-direct on a backhand for the equalizer.
Middlebury outshoots Norwich 7-6 for the period, Norwich has 16-15 edge for the game. More importantly, Ricky Martin's "Livin La Vida Loca" is played over the PA at Stafford Arena in Plattsburgh.
3rd Period: The Cadets are livin la vida tardy and the Panthers start the third period on the PP thanks to a delay of game call for Norwich coming out of the locker room too slowly. Middlebury can't get a shot on the man advantage and then the Cadets get a power play of their own at 2:41 after a tripping call on Jake Charles. Cadets get four shots but can't get it past Peters.
Shots in favor of Norwich, 9-3, which can be contributed to a combination of Middlebury's style of play in the third as well as the Cadets outplaying the Panthers. We head to a five minute overtime, and if needed, a shootout at the PrimeLink Shootout.
OT: Things get chippy both before and after the whistle during the extra frame, but the refs don't call any penalties. Loose puck in front of Cadet net near the end of OT but Norwich clears it and we are headed to a three round shootout to determine who goes to the final. Middlebury outshoots Norwich 5-1 in OT but Cadets take the game advantage 26-23.
Shootout: Belisle up first for Middlebury in the three round shootout. The senior from Quebec beats Marisnek blocker side and Peters stops Cadet leading scorer Chris Duszynski blocker side as well. Charles dekes the Slovenian goalie and goes high glove-side for the 2-0 Panthers lead and shootout victory. Peters then stuffs the Cadets second attempt and Middlebury advances to the finals with a shootout victory. The game official ends in a 1-1 tie for the record book with Middlebury advancing in the shootout.
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