NAHL Day 4 - Shootout City

Isca Town Captains warming up before their game against DC, image credit to AirBnB

Three(!) shootouts today, two new teams tie for first, and a winless team gets its first win!

Isca Town Captains 0, DC Oilers 0 (4-3 SO): This game was definitely played more to Isca Town's liking than the Oilers', as no goals were scored in regulation or in overtime. Both teams managed a decent number of shots 30 for DC to 27 for Isca Town, but Ted Carpenter stopped them all for DC and the Captains' Justin Smith matched him. There were two penalties apiece, but the penalty kill for both sides was fabulous, including Isca Town's top pairing of Tremblay and Gross. In the shootout, everything seemed to go out the window until Carpenter stopped Isca Town's Robbie Reid on the fourth shot to keep the Oilers up 4-3, which was the final margin. For DC, this is their third shootout and first loss. They remain tied for first place, while Isca Town, following their opening loss, has won three straight to climb one point back of the leaders.

Pons Aelius Steelers 0, Mancunium Raiders 0 (1-3 SO): Shock in Pons Aelius as 65 minutes of excellent defensive hockey comes to nothing when the Raiders prevail in a shootout. As much as the Steelers locked down the Raiders, allowing only 22 shots through regulation and overtime, much credit must be given to Raiders defensemen Troy Buchanan and Jack Green. The two combined for eight blocked shots and harassed Pons Aelius forwards all night. For a team not known for its defense, they put up an impressive performance. On the Raiders' fourth shot, they led 2-1, and needed to score to put the game away. Matt Harmon faked left and went right, sneaking the puck by McQueen, the Steelers netminder, and putting the game away.

Newfield Rangers 3, Aquae Sulis Bears 3 (1-2 SO): The third shootout didn't involve any top teams, but it did feature some actual goals before the shootout. Aquae Sulis showed up in Noviomagus and put the Rangers in a 2-0 hole before ten minutes had elapsed, getting goals from center Cal Malone and winger Darin Drake. However, the Rangers potted two in the second period to tie the score, including a nifty wrister from Brady Dowell. Both teams traded goals in the third before the Bears prevailed in the shootout. The Bears have won two straight while the Rangers are going in the opposite direction, now on a three-game losing streak.

Londinium Royals 1, Sept-Iles Whalers 0: Disappointment for the Whalers fans who traveled to the capital for this game, as they saw their team fall 1-0 yet again. At this point, they have not scored in 188:12, a staggering time to be scoreless for a team that scored five goals in their opening game. Is this their true talent level and the first game a product of an unprepared Aquae Sulis team? Maybe not, but there is going to be a lot of frustration in the Sept-Iles locker room as they return home. For Londinium, this was a closer than expected game, but it vaulted them into a four-way tie for first. Ben Malone, a second-year player who debuted with just 13 points a year ago, had the only goal, outhustling Whalers players to score on a breakaway in the second period. For the moment, these two young teams seem to be going in opposite directions.

Labrador Caribou 1, Eboracum Sharpshooters 0: Of all the teams tied for first, Labrador is probably the biggest surprise. DC and Pons Aelius are perennial playoff teams, and Londinium is usually close to a playoff spot, but the Caribou usually find themselves in the bottom half and out of contention. It's early, but could this be a sign of things to come? After all, they have now held their own against some usually competitive teams, losing in a shootout to DC and beating Portus and Eboracum. For the Sharpshooters, this is not only their second loss in a row, it's their second shutout in a row. Eboracum's team prides itself on its goalscoring ability, but Wade Hamilton's second of the year for the Caribou was the only scoring to be had in this game. They will look to regroup and find what they've been missing at home against Londinium, a traditional rivalry game for them.

Vinovium Lumberjacks 1, Portus Abonae Privateers 2: In this matchup of previously winless teams, it's the Privateers who finally get a win. Looking visibly relieved after the game, Portus Abonae's head man, Ken Keller, said, "It always feels good to get that first win of the season and to snap a losing streak. Took a little longer than we'd hoped, but a win is a win. Hopefully this will start something for us." The Privateers scored both goals in the first period, getting a heavy slap shot from defenseman Doug Dixon and a surprising goal from fourth-line center Tony Boykin on a rebound. They would hold on from there. For the Lumberjacks, it's progress; back-to-back games with goals and they played much better after the first period, racking up 19 shots and 26 for the game. Still, they have to win at some point and for that, play has to improve.