Evergreens vs Eurekas

The Evergreens, oh the woes, the close games, the losses, the heartbreak.  It seems like they can’t catch a single break.  But the thing about rough patches is: eventually they end.

The Trees were taking on the Eurekas and hoping their fortunes would change on Tuesday night.  Well, despite some early pressure by the Evergreens, they wouldn’t manage to register their first shot until nearly 5 minutes had elapsed, though with only 4 at the time, it’s not like the Eurekas were threatening very much themselves.  

Less than a minute later, the Evergreens caught a break.  Michael Finlayson put a puck on goal in what history will show was the slowest shot ever put on goal.  As the puck slowly approached the goal, Ashton Speight was at his post and had just moved his glove to the ice to grab the puck when the ice made its move to be the player of the game.  The puck hit a little bump and took a hop up and just over the glove and pad of Speight as it went into the goal. The Evergreens had a rare lead, and they gave zero fucks about how, the hockey gods were smiling on them and they were revelling in the moment.

Dylan Warren nearly setup Carter Nickerson with the equalizer 10 seconds later, but Jamie Wutke stopped him in tight.  Then second later they combined once more but Wutke stuck his right leg out and stopped the Nickerson deflection.

Back up the ice and Luke Levangie had a great chance in the slot but got too much on his shot, sending it well over the crossbar.  David Lacey smiled and nodded.  This game was getting exciting.  Pucks weren’t going in, but chances were coming, and a goal constantly felt imminent.  It would not be until the end of the period that the goal light would go on again.

Dylan Warren dangled Wutke and put the puck into the crease where Carter Nickerson had the easy tap in, which he missed, putting it off the post.  George Murray, on a high from being a social media darling, poked the puck in with one hand.  There were just 4 seconds on the clock.

Being outshot 19-12, after 1, the Evergreens started the second strong, spending much time in the Eurekas zone, but no goals came.  It was at the hands of the hockey gods once more that saw the Evergreens take a lead.  Cobee MacNaughton threw a harmless puck in front and Speight misplayed it, the puck going off his pad and somehow in.  2-1 Evergreens, but 14 minutes left to play.

Eurekas players said “Ashton, we got you”, George Murray potting his second on a rebound just seconds after going down.  The Hockey Gods took their man Michael Finlayson and sent his shot off Connor Slaunwhite’s shin pad and in to once more elevate the Evergreens.  A win was on the horizon. The whole crowd could feel it, but they could also see the dark cloud hanging over the forest.  There was 12:16 left.  

For 10 minutes the win felt more and more real, until Josh Beitel’s wrister tied the game and stole the hope from the Evergreens.  This game looked destined for the shootout.  With 10 seconds left, the Eurekas broke out.  Dylan Warren makes a behind the back no look pass to Jake Rankin, he’s in all alone, and he shoots.  The puck goes between Wutke’s pad, no-one sees it, at first, then the puck is in.  The ref blows the whistle and throws his arms up.  The two officials speak, they point at the net.  Goal!  The hockey gods are pricks.  Once more, with just 4 seconds left in the period, the Eurekas have scored.  They video review proves the call was a correct call and a good goal, the Eurekas win, the Evergreens sniff at victory a painful one, but hope still remains.