The only thing more exciting than playoff hockey? Overtime Playoff hockey! The first round of the playoffs lived up to expectations, and the games were intense, competitive, and thrilling.
In the first game, two-time defending champions ET Lustiger (G), Sam Gelman (C), and Team Cup faced off against the Commissioner, Tzvika Poleyeff (C) and Team Napkin. While the game remained scoreless for most of the time, Tzvika fired a goal from the point late in the third period to put Napkin up 1-0. As Cup fought hard to punch in the tying goal, it was to no avail, and Napkin would hold on to win 1-0, preventing the rare three-peat. The remaining games would prove to be even more tense than the first. While Knife took a 1-0 lead over Fork in the first period, Fork would tie the game on a one-timer in the second. After a scoreless third period for both teams, the game headed to OT. Captain Josh Fagin would wrist in a put back shot off the rebound halfway through OT to defeat Knife 2-1. While the game between Bowl and Spoon was more of a scoring fest, the game continued to shift back forth, both teams scoring 3 goals through the regulation time. After two exhausting, intense periods of OT, Zev Markowitz fired a slap shot that found the back of the net for a 4-3 victory for spoon. In the final game of the first round, Table proved to be too much for Plate to handle, and soundly defeated them by a score of 4-0.
With the Semi-finals being played tomorrow, be sure to check back and follow the updates!