Round 2 of the Western USPHL Premier playoffs is complete. Here’s a look at how things unfolded in the Northwest Division.
(2) SEATTLE TOTEMS AT (1) VERNAL OILERS
The excellent news to start this series was that Seattle arrived safely through a fierce winter storm – video evidence on their Instagram. We don’t give these bus drivers enough credit! As for the game, it was a smooth back-and-forth for the first half of the first period until Slovakian sniper Alex Bartakovics skated into the zone and buried a puck high over Totems netminder, Felix Flodman. Less than 3 minutes into the 2nd, Seattle was able to tie the game up on a powerplay goal by Jordan Murray before the Oilers took advantage of a late penalty in the period to go up 2-1. Early in the 3rd period, Seattle would strike back with Waltteri Kettunen putting it through the 5-hole of Oilers netminder Antonio Tarantino to tie the game. Seattle would take a penalty a few minutes later and Filip Lezzani would put Vernal back in the lead 3-2 on a shot from the blueline. An undisciplined penalty by Seattle late in the game allowed Vernal’s Braden Deck to bury the powerplay goal. Vernal would take Game 1.
The first period of Game 2 was entertaining but scoreless. Early in the 2nd period, the Totem’s Raine Hodge would give Seattle their first lead of the series on a powerplay goal and late in the period Seattle would go up 2-0 on goal by Kettunen. In the fading seconds of the period, Filip Molnar would breath life into Vernal’s hope, scoring a powerplay goal to cut Seattle’s lead in half. Action in the 3rd period heated up as it only took 21 seconds for Nahom Gashaw Teshome to reinstate Seattle’s 2-goal lead. Even though six minutes later, Jamil Zaid would put a loose puck past Flodman and pull the Oilers back with one, it only took 8 seconds for a controversial goal to be scored by Seattle off the skate of Hodge. Vernal would attempt to fight back, as less than 2 minutes later Molnar would get his second of the game, lasering a shot through the 5-hole and bringing Vernal back within a goal. Vernal kept applying the pressure but was shutdown by the goaltending of Swedish netminder, Felix Flodman. Seattle forced the decisive Game 3 with a 4-3 victory.
The first period of Game 3 saw no goals scored as netminders Tarantino and Flodman were just not having it. However, just over 3 minutes into the 2nd period, Bartakovics would open up the scoring for the Vernal Oilers and a few minutes later Presley Toth would put a rebound past Flodman for the 2-0 lead. Vernal kept applying the pressure, and a nice tic-tac-toe on the powerplay and Vernal was up 3-0 on a goal from Hugo Stålnacke, and just seconds later Toth would get his second of the game to give Vernal a 4-0 lead. Minutes into the 3rd period Bartakovics would score his second of the game and Vernal the 5-0 lead and it was all over from there. Vernal becomes the first ever USPHL Northwest Division Champions and advance to Nationals in New York.
Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast 3 Stars of Series:
1: (C) Alex Rene Bartakovics, 04-Slovakia (VO)
2. (F) Presley Toth, 04-Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (VO)
3: (G) Antonio Tarantino, 02-Fremont, California (VO)
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Author: CD, Host, Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast
Image courtesy: Trestyn Oldham
