HOW THEY ROLL

PUCK HOGS GET SECOND STRAIGHT SHOOT OUT WIN
MARCH 6, 2009 - The battle between two teams fighting for third place played out as it should.  The Hogs and Norcal Crossover A played a veritable chess match of a game.  For the second week in a row, the Puck Hogs would win in the shootout, holding on to third place.

The two teams had played three close games during the season, although the Hogs came out on top of the season series against NCA with two wins and a tie.  The third and final game between the two teams jockeying for third spot (and only separated by a point) during the regular season promised to be a close one as well.

The first period was a testament to that promise, as both teams held close in shots but neither team was able to score.  The Hogs had two man advantage opportunities, but NCA negated both of those chances.

It wouldn't be until half way into the second period when forward Winty Singh found Jon Kinney in the high slot.  Kinney wrist a roofer and put the Hogs up 1-0.  NCA would answer back minutes later on their own powerplay opportunity, and the second period would end as the first - with both teams tied.

The Hogs would regain the advantage when a pinching Steve Berkson converted a James Reece centering pass to give the Hogs a 2-1 lead.  The Hogs held this lead until three minutes left in the third, as the technically sound NCA squad evened up the score at two goals.

The Hogs fought off the pressing NCA team for the final minutes of the game, despite being called for two penalties with less than a minute left to go.  However, despite the odds, the Hogs almost went up by a goal again, had the NCA goalie not shut the door on a shorthanded breakaway by Cody Besler (while the Hogs were killing the 5-on-3).

For the second straight week, the Hogs would find themselves in a shootout.  NCA elected to shoot first but were denied by Hogs goalie Jake Bradt.  The Hogs would then take the lead in the shootout on a deke by Singh.  Bradt held off the remaining two shooters for NCA and as such the Hogs would win this game 3-2.

The outcome of the game gave each team a point in the standings for the regulation tie, with the extra point going to the Hogs.  This put the Hogs two points up on NCA in the standings with three games left in the season. 

For these two teams and the rest of the league, the next week's double header will clarify much as the season heads to the playoffs.

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