Blue Tongues Clutch Victory

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With a huge win over The Bears in their season home opener, the pressure was on the Blue Tongues to once again prevail over the league leaders. Having been introduced to the smaller rink and hard checking style of play produced by Gold Coast, The Bears were expected to hit back, and fast, against the Blue Tongues in their second game of the double header.

The Bears did not disappoint, coming at the Blue Tongues early in the game and changing their tactics to not only start playing a physical game, but also stamping their authority over the control of the game. Both teams seemed to lack the energy they had during Saturday’s game, and some simple rookie errors caused a line change for the Gold Coast team, starting to run two lines instead of three. Despite The Bears claiming control of the puck for majority of the first period however, it was Dave Upton of the Blue Tongues who netted the only goal of the first.

Tempers flared in the second, with roughing calls on both teams, and it was clear that neither team were giving up on their race to be the next to pot a goal. Both Sydney’s goaltender John Daugulis and Gold Coast’s Simo Mustonen had their work cut out for them in net as each team made shot after shot on goal. However, once again the Blue Tongues made some silly mistakes, costing them dearly on the penalty kill. It was The Bears that led going into the third, winning the period 3 goals to the Gold Coast’s lone goal, ending the period 3-2.

Excitement ruled the third, as the Blue Tongues tied up the scores on 3 a piece, before The Bears took advantage of a lapse in concentration and took the lead once more at 4-3 with little more than 8 minutes left in the game. The Blue Tongues never gave up, and with just under 2 minutes left, tied the game 4-4.

Anticipation was high in the stands as the teams took to the face off after a penalty was called on The Bears, giving the Blue Tongues a powerplay with a minute left in the third. Their fans behind them, Gold Coast focused on the job at hand and with 46 seconds left in the game, defenseman Ross Howell netted the game winning goal. The Bears failed to even up the scores in the dying seconds of the game, giving the Blue Tongues their third victory in the last three games.

The first star of the game was Blue Tongues Captain and centre, Billy Crumm. Second star of the game was Blue Tongues Defenseman, Don Burke and third star of the game was Bears’ Roberto Franchini.

Next weekend, the Blue Tongues face the Newcastle North Stars on June 21 & 22 at Gold Coast Iceland, Bundall. Games start at 3.30pm.

Article Source: Gold Coast Blue Tongues

Tags: IceHockey, AIHL, Blue Tongues, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney Bears, Gaetan Royer, Brian Lachance

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Ron Wilson to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs

A month after being fired from the San Jose Sharks, Ron Wilson has a new job, one that to many, could be considered a promotion.

It was announced today that Ron Wilson has been hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’m the happiest person in the National Hockey League today,” Wilson said. “I’m fulfilling a dream.

“Obviously if you lose your job in the league you often wonder if you’ll get another opportunity,” he said. “The furthest thing from my mind at any point in my hockey career was that I would have an opportunity—ever—to coach a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs with their incredible history.”
- NHL - Yahoo! Sports

When talking about the Maple Leafs as a team, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying;

Ron Wilson, who’s coaching career in the NHL stands at 518-446-127 has coached for the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks before heading to his last post in San Jose.

Tags: sanjose sharks, toronto maple leafs, ron wilson, nhl, national hockey league, head coach, coach

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Penguins clinch Atlantic Division

The return of Sidney Crosby.  The skills of Evgeni Malkin.  The wall that is marc-andre Fleury.  If you ask the Pittsburgh Penguins what the secret to success has been this year, they will probably tell you that hard work, determination and a never say die attitude has been the recipe for success.

Todays win, a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, a possible first round opponent  gives the Penguins home ice in the Playoffs.

“It’s huge. To win at home and win the division against a rival, I’ll bet everyone in here will say it’s our best win of the season, and Sunday could even top that,” defenseman Ryan Whitney said. “It’s exciting in here right now.”
- Yahoo! Sports

From team captain Sidney Crosby…

 “We knew going in it was going to be an emotional game, an intense game with them needing to play desperate hockey and us wanting to play well here down the stretch, with the division in mind,” Crosby said. “For me personally, that’s probably the most intense game we’ve played since I got back here the second time.”
- Yahoo! Sports

That success blossomed today as the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched the Atlantic Division.  It’s been 10 years since the Penguins last won their Division, and the team today is vastly different from that in 1998.

In 1998 the Penguins lost in the first round to the Montreal Canadiens 2 games to 4.

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