DUBLIN, OH - The Arrowhawks couldn't overcome a depleted roster, losing 3-2 to an improved Mamas and Papas Friday. 7 people watched as only two lines of Arrowhawks took to the ice just after 10:00pm. Despite being short benched, the Hawks started fast, registering shot after shot and looking like they were going to control play all night.
"We had the puck in their zone the entire first shift," said RW Jason Torsok. "I think I had 5 shots in that shift alone." he said after the game.
The hard work paid off. The Hawks scored first on a beautiful bang bang play from Mensel to Monahan, who drilled a high wrister in the back of the net. The Mamas looked deflated, despite excellent goaltending. The Hawks momentum ended quickly.
The minute their best defenseman showed up, it was a different game. The Mamas scored 3 unanswered goals through the next 2 periods and nursed a 3-1 lead late into the third. Nick Lantot, at the tail-end of his shift, went coast-to-coast and blasted a goal past the Mamas netminder, to close the gap to one, with 4 minutes to go.
"It was a laser," said Mike Gauthier. "It reminded me of when we used to play flashlight tag and I could never outrun the light. Fast thing, that light is." the profound philosopher added.
With a minute to go, the Hawks pulled their goalie -- Ted, a handsome fella with a quick glove hand and active stick -- sending Oleg "I only need one minute to get ready" Chetverikov to the ice for the extra attacker. But it didn't matter. The Hawks couldn't penetrate the Mamas tight defensive coverage around their net.
"They did a great job clogging the interior and not giving up rebounds. They weren't loose defensively at all," said Hawks Captain Mark Monahan. Suddenly I thought of Jensen for some reason, but I digress. "They were tough in the neutral zone and had 3 or 4 very good skaters we didn't plan for. They played a good game."
Terry Walker played solid in the defensive zone, clearing many pucks. Jason Jensen got stuck on the pot at his swanky Dublin home and nobody would drive out and help him. His own wife declared, "If he wants to stay in there all night then hell with him! He's eaten everything in the house and keeps talking about how much he loves the Steelers to cover. Then he complains of stomach cramps like a sissy!" Barry Snow was scheduled to be the emergency goalie, but luckily the Hawks grabbed Ted on emergency recall. Snow played defense and was able to play the entire game without insulting the ref, assaulting another player on his own team or breaking his stick in anger.
"I came close," he admitted in the locker room after the game.
Nate Mensel replaced Tom "I love Pink Floyd" Morgan on the top line. He dangled and did well paired with Monahan and Torsok.
John Kenyon played with the flu. A legless Titus looked like he had the flu (feels weird typing in third person) leaving Oleg to fend for himself on all the scoring chances for the line. "I think we had a shot in the third period," Kenyon recalled.
The loss moved the Hawks into a six-way tie for fourth/last place in the division. They'll play current league champion Big Pucks on Friday.
"I don't remember the last time we were 1-3," said Monahan. "I think it was three years ago. We better get it together this week."
