After 46 rounds of sheer awesomeness it is time for things to get real. With the help of my favourite website in the history of the universe (for this week), WhatIfSports.com it is time for a showdown.
For those of you unfamiliar with this site let me fill you in on a few things. First off, it is AWESOME. Secondly, it is a fantasy sports simulator where you can choose any two sports teams of all time and have them have a showdown. Naturally, I spent a lot of time simulating various hockey games (note: the ‘76 Habs win the most). Thirdly, you can draft your own dream team, which naturally we did to simulate our NOlympic teams. Fourthly, this site is AWESOME.
The rules of this were very simple. We set a seven game series with Olympic rules (i.e. Shooutouts) for all non-elimination games when we agreed to set it for massive overtime. Clearly the stakes were high. It went down as follows:
Game 1, emenating from the Winnipeg Arena. Powered by a 3 point night from Jay Bouwmeester Team Glenitoba wins 4-2. The shot totals were roughly equal with Glenitoba holding the advantage.
Game 2, a high scoring affair. Martin St. Louis nets 3 goals, and Mike Green counters with 1 goal and 2 assists. After 60 minutes the game is tied at 5. After another 5 minutes the teams are still at a stalemate, sending both teams to a nightmare situation. The dreaded shootout. In the second round Shane Doan lifts one pass Cam Ward. The rest of the shooters come up blank, and it ends 6-5 for Trontario. The series is tied at 1-1 as we move to Maple Leaf Gardens.
Game 3, all Glenitoba. The Dallas connection of James Neal and Mike Riberio prove dynamic, each of them scoring 2 goals. With both Brad Stuart and Patrick Sharpe adding 3 assists, the defensive juggernaut proves to be an offensive threat. The final score was 5-1.
Game 4. Henceforth refered to as: “The Game”. Troy makes a controversial decision to start Carey Price after he was yanked in Game 3. Who does he think he is, Bob Gainey? His team in front of him seems to respond to this vote of confidence in his starter. His team jumps out to a huge lead, going up 4-1 part way through the second period. When it looks like it is going to be another blowout things change. Before the second period is over Glenitoba adds 2 more goals and early in the third they add another 2, making the score 5-4. It looks like all will be lost for Trontario. They don’t want to go back to Winnipeg down 3-1. But then late in the third, Ryan Smyth adds one, tieing the game up, the third period ends in a tie. Another 5 minutes of overtime solves nothing and we are heading to shootout once more. The first round goes by scoreless, and in the second round, history repeats itself and Shane Doan scores, making the game 6-5 once more.
Game 5. Troy pulls a shocker and changes goalies. After allowing 5 goals in the last three games it is decided that the Price is wrong, and Marty Turco gets the nod. Turco shuts the door but so does Ward. A goaltending affair comes up Glenitoba, who wins 3-2, a score that matches the series (something Glen and Troy both love). As an aside, Mike Riberio, the scorge of Troy’s existence got an assist, bringing his point total to a series leading 8.
Game 6. Maple Leaf Gardens. It’s all on the line for Troy, it goes like this…
The first period goes by without a goal. Glenitoba outshoots Trontario 13-11, but both teams persevere. Surprisingly there are no penalties. Both teams realize the importance.
The second period starts and 8:27 in Mike Riberio, the star of the series (pun intended) gets a 2 minute penalty for holding. Could the be the turning point? Trontario keeps pushing, but fail to capitalize on the powerplay. Still momentum is on their side when Riberio leaves the box. However, Milan Lucic gets a roughing penalty 4 seconds after the penalty expires. Still, Turco holds strong and the penalty is killed. The period ends with no score.
The third period rolls around and the tension is palpable. Mike Green breaks the stale mate and gets a goal for the visitors at the 3:24 mark. Keeping with the pressure Patrick Sharp gets another one within 40 seconds (assisted by Ribero of course).
This can’t be good.
Thankfully for hte home team, Jordan Staal breaks the goosegg a minute later. This is getting good. However, a minute after THAT Jeff Carter gets one, putting it at 3-1. Crazy, four goals in less than 3 minutes.
All hope seems lost as 10 minutes go by without a goal when Martin St. Louis ends his scoring drought making it 3-2. Can they score with under 4 minutes to go?
Insanely 13 seconds later Alex Tanguay adds another tieing it up!
Both teams press, however the clock winds down and we’re heading to OT. For the first time with no shootout….
For the first time, this game could go 10000 minutes. However, 3 minutes and 4 shots into it…Mike Green nets a goal.
The series ends 4-2 Glenitoba.
Final Thoughts: I certainly didn’t see that happen. I thought Troy’s offensive firepower would be too much for my defense to handle. I did several “test games” before involving both of our teams against different teams, and he had a better record than I did.
Also, this does give some credence to the ultimate hockey cliche “we have to play our game”. Whenever it was a high scoring shootout, it went to Troy, but all low-scoring games ended up going for my team. Makes me think that even dumb hockey players are right.
After this I have one regret. Too bad I couldn’t simulate Yzerman’s team because then I could beat them too.
And Troy buddy, I know that you didn’t want to comment here, but I have one more thing to say to you. See you in 4 years…
Until next time,
G
