SNES Fall 2006 A League underway!!

[The Deer]

After no games being played in the illustrious SNES A League on the first day of competition, Cajanek (Washington) and Deer (Quebec) decided they wanted the honour of being the ones to kick off the season. Home and home series, first game at the Capital Centre in Washington, rematch at Le Colisee de Quebec.

The first goal of the season was scored right away, 13 secs off the opening faceoff, as Joe Sakic one-timed home a harsh one. Washington countered quickly however as Peter Bondra potted the season's first powerplay goal, and the teams went into the dressing room after a hard-fought first period tied 2-2. In the second and third, however, Quebec seemed to find all the breaks, and Sakic and Nolan couldn't be stopped. The Nordiques won 11-5, with both Sakic (5-2-7) and Nolan (4-3-7) finishing with seven points.

The rematch at the Colisee was much closer. Quebec took a 3-1 second period lead but then seemed to kind of fall victim to some great neutral zone coverage by Washington, and couldn't get anything going. With some real persistence (banging in third rebounds etc), Washington clawed its way back into the game, and with just under three minutes to play in the third, took a 4-3 lead. Quebec hadn't even had a decent scoring chance since its last goal, and it just didn't look like they had the tying goal in them. They would not quit, however, and Mats Sundin - a guy whose grit has been questioned at times in past league play- found a way to sandpaper out the tying goal with just 20-some seconds remaining on the clock. The teams would go to OT, but not without a scare for Quebec, as a bad giveaway in the dying seconds led to a point blank chance for Bondra. It looked like he had Nordiques' goalie Ron Hextall beaten but Hextall got an arm down and just barely kept it from crossing the line. The season's first overtime session ended quickly, as Quebec won the draw, Sundin swooped in, cut towards centre, and fired a shot top corner glove side to end it. Quebec felt very lucky to win this game- it really felt like it was going to be one that got away.

Great home-and-home Washington, and good luck in the rest of your games this month!

[cajanek]

After no games being played in the illustrious SNES A League on the first day of competition, Cajanek (Washington) and Deer (Quebec) decided they wanted the honour of being the ones to kick off the season. Home and home series, first game at the Capital Centre in Washington, rematch at Le Colisee de Quebec.

The first goal of the season was scored right away, 13 secs off the opening faceoff, as Joe Sakic one-timed home a harsh one. Washington countered quickly however as Peter Bondra potted the season's first powerplay goal, and the teams went into the dressing room after a hard-fought first period tied 2-2. In the second and third, however, Quebec seemed to find all the breaks, and Sakic and Nolan couldn't be stopped. The Nordiques won 11-5, with both Sakic (5-2-7) and Nolan (4-3-7) finishing with seven points.

The rematch at the Colisee was much closer. Quebec took a 3-1 second period lead but then seemed to kind of fall victim to some great neutral zone coverage by Washington, and couldn't get anything going. With some real persistence (banging in third rebounds etc), Washington clawed its way back into the game, and with just under three minutes to play in the third, took a 4-3 lead. Quebec hadn't even had a decent scoring chance since its last goal, and it just didn't look like they had the tying goal in them. They would not quit, however, and Mats Sundin - a guy whose grit has been questioned at times in past league play- found a way to sandpaper out the tying goal with just 20-some seconds remaining on the clock. The teams would go to OT, but not without a scare for Quebec, as a bad giveaway in the dying seconds led to a point blank chance for Bondra. It looked like he had Nordiques' goalie Ron Hextall beaten but Hextall got an arm down and just barely kept it from crossing the line. The season's first overtime session ended quickly, as Quebec won the draw, Sundin swooped in, cut towards centre, and fired a shot top corner glove side to end it. Quebec felt very lucky to win this game- it really felt like it was going to be one that got away.

Great home-and-home Washington, and good luck in the rest of your games this month!

Haha. I just made a thread about this in the general forums.