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NEXT STOP ... SEMI FINALS

By Joe Sindoni, 03/20/17, 6:15PM EDT

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JRFlyers Defeat Wizards in Three Games and are Headed to Semi Finals

 

After the JRFlyers defeated the Hartford Wolfpack in the first round of the playoffs, the JRFlyers hosted the East Coast Wizards in the Quarterfinals. The last time these teams met was in the beginning of the season back in September, and the JRFlyers won both games.

Game 1 Friday

In the 1st period Luke Benitez got the JRFlyers on the board with an angle shot that squeaked by (G) Chaisson giving the JRFlyers a 1-0 lead (Asst. Taylor/Kneedler). It didn’t take long for the Wizards to respond as they tied the game about two minutes later beating (G) Vail for a 1-1 game. In the 2nd period both teams had power play chances but couldn’t capitalize, the JRFlyers led in shots 30-25. Just :29 into the 3rd period the JRFlyers took the 2-1 lead as Bloomer fired a shot from the point and Manning sent the rebound by (G) Chaisson for the lead. The Wizards were looking to tie the game as they had a power play chance. Vail and the PK Unit stood tall and held the Wizards off the scoreboard. Late in the game the Wizards were looking to send of the extra attacker and pull (G) Chaisson. The JRFlyers played great team defense and didn’t allow the Wizards to setup as (G) Chaisson never made it to the bench and the JRFlyers came away with the 2-1 victory.

“We knew this series was going to be a battle. The Wizards are coming off a big series with the Warriors. We had to weather the storm late in the game and we did.” Josh Hinderliter

“From forwards to defensemen all the way back to Mac (Vail) everyone played strong especially in the final minutes. We were blocking shots to help out Mac (Vail) and we were sturdy on the blue line to take away their chances.” Tommy Dougherty

Game 2 Saturday

Just like Game 1, Taylor and Kneedler helped out Luke Benitez to put the JRFlyers in the lead    1-0 in the 1st period. Even crazier, Wilson for the Wizards scored to tie the game 1-1 as he did in Game 1. In the 2nd period Kubara slid the puck to Drew Platt and he fired it by (G) Chaisson giving the JRFlyers a 2-1 lead. After the midway point of the period the Wizards responded with two quick goals past (G) Vail. They came less than two minutes apart as the Wizards had a 3-2 lead. In the 3rd period the JRFlyers had some great scoring chances but couldn’t get the puck to the back of the net. The Wizards hung on for a 3-2 win snapping the JRFlyers 17 game win streak and forcing Game 3.

“It was an intense game. They’re fighting for their life and if they lose it’s the end of the season. They came out hot; we had a goal called back which hurt us a little bit. I thought we played well but we just couldn’t get one in the net.” Dougherty

“It was one of those games where we just couldn’t get a bounce to go our way. We kept fighting through it all, but just couldn’t score late.” Chris Butryn

Game 3 Sunday

Elimination Game, win or go home as a trip to the Semifinals was at stake. The JRFlyers got the start they wanted as Benitez won an offensive zone faceoff and Kneedler fired the puck through traffic giving the JRFlyers the 1-0 lead just :21 into the game. The Wizards answered back tucking a rebound chance by (G) Vail to tie the game 1-1. Just a couple minutes after that goal the JRFlyers were working in the neutral zone. Kubara gained the offensive zone and dropped a pass back to Dougherty. He sent a rink wide pass on the tape to Kneedler who buried the shot and his second goal of the game gave the JRFlyers a 2-1 lead. Late in the period Kubara and Bean were battling in the offensive zone. Kubara sent it to the point for O’Neil and he fired the puck through traffic, and it found its way by (G) Chaisson for the 3-1 lead. In the 2nd period the JRFlyers had a three on two chance into the offensive zone. Behind the net Kneedler sent a pass to Taylor. He knocked it down out of the air and sent a shot on net. Taking care of the rebound was Matt Manning and the JRFlyers had a 4-1 by the end of the period. In the 3rd period the Wizards were given a huge opportunity as the JRFlyers had a five minute major penalty called against them just two minutes into the 3rd period. The JRFlyers were killing the penalty and before it was over the Wizards were called on a slashing minor making it four on four. The penalties started to pile up in the 3rd period and it was rare to see five on five hockey for the rest of the game. All that power play time for both teams but neither team would score on any of them. It was a choppy way to end a great series, but the JRFlyers came away with a 4-1 win as Vail made 20 saves in net for the JRFlyers.

“We knew that we had to get on the board early. When Barry (Kneedler) scored less than a minute in, I think it deflated them a little bit and it got us pumped us up. We came back with an answer to everything they had.” Hinderliter

“We wanted to establish the pace right from the start and we did. We didn’t let up through the whole game. It was great to get the win and move on to the semifinals.” Butryn

“It was huge for us to get on the scoreboard first especially in a win or go home game. Barry (Kneedler) put in a couple for us which was big. Everyone played strong and blocked shots. We had some stupid penalties that we shouldn’t have taken but our penalty kill was top notch for us.” Dougherty

In Game 2 the streak came to an end as the Wizards won 3-2. It was an amazing run winning 17 games in a row, but the players talked about rebounding from it and moving forward.

“You always want to win, and for us we want to keep the streak going because it shows that we’re one of the best teams in the league. It takes a little pressure off us now and I think it helped us. It helps the team deal with adversity, and all that mattered was the result of game three. We came out strong and got the win and that was the top priority.” Butryn

We are down to the Final Four as the JRFlyers are headed to the Eastern Hockey League Semi Finals.  The JRFlyers will take on the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs at the Ice Line. The other Semi Final Series is the Philadelphia Little Flyers and the New Jersey Rockets. The JRFlyers met the Monarchs twice throughout the season and have split the game, but both games were Showcase Format. More about that later, as the Playoff Preview will be released later in the week so be sure to be on the lookout about the Semi Final matchup.

 

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play By Play Announcer