I'm damn late in finishing and posting this article, but dammit I need the money.

Enjoy this recap of a game that really would have been better posted at the start of the week.

The ‘Cinderella Story’ that is the New Orleans Specters this season is rolling on as we march towards the Season 46 Challenge Cup Playoffs. The Specters have surprised many in the league by living up to the pre-season hype that they would be actual contenders in their first season. The story heading into the much-anticipated Expansion Draft is that New Orleans was expected to target veteran talent over less-seasoned up and comers in a bid to be competitive immediately, favouring short-term success instead of the alternative. The Specters also made a splash in Free Agency, landing the highly sought after forward Piotr Czerkawski by outbidding the likes of division rival San Francisco and the Tampa Bay Barracuda. The Specters started strong and have maintained that pace up until this point. The team is clicking and enjoying breakout seasons from many of its players, including starting goaltender Aleister Cain, who has seen minimal starts in the league since being drafted and has spent the past 4 seasons in the SMJHL with the St. Louis Scarecrows.

The past few days (in the sim) have featured key matchups for Specters, none bigger than the Day 69 (nice) matchup with the Los Angeles Panthers. The Panthers, who were 1-5-1 in their last 7 games and coming off a disappointing loss to the now Western Conference-leading Minnesota Chiefs, were looking to right the ship against the Specters with a 4 point swing on the line.

We begin just 20 seconds into the game in the Panthers zone. Max Mauldin is chased from the faceoff circle and replaced by Yuri Boyka Jr., who wins the defensive zone faceoff against the Specters’ Oisin Fletcher. An errant pass by Maurice Picard is intercepted by the Specters’ Joe Kurczewski as the Ghosty Bois keep up the pressure to begin the game. The Panthers begin a transition after James Johnson breaks up the New Orleans’ cycle but is quickly sent back into their own zone after losing the puck in the neutral zone. The cycle continues with Clint Eastwood, Karl Hefeweizen, Xavier Paquette and Joe K all touching the puck in Panthers’ territory, culminating in Joe Kurczewski’s 22nd of the season from Paquette and Hefeweizen at 0:39 of the 1st period.

1st Period

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Max Mauldin, LW Philipp Winter, RW Yuri Boyka Jr., D Maurice Picard, D James Johnson
NOR: C Oisin Fletcher, LW Joe Kurczewski, RW Xavier Paquette, D Karl Hefeweizen, D Clint Eastwood

Max Mauldin is ejected from face-off, Yuri Boyka Jr. takes his place.
Yuri Boyka Jr. wins face-off versus Oisin Fletcher in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Maurice Picard.
Pass by Maurice Picard intercepted by Joe Kurczewski.
Pass to Clint Eastwood. Pass to Xavier Paquette.
Pass by Xavier Paquette intercepted by James Johnson.
Pass by James Johnson intercepted by Clint Eastwood in neutral zone.
Pass to Karl Hefeweizen in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Joe Kurczewski. Pass to Xavier Paquette. Pass to Joe Kurczewski.
Shot by Joe Kurczewski.
Goal by Joe Kurczewski - Los Angeles Panthers : 0 - New Orleans Specters : 1

The Specters wouldn’t be finished in the 1st as they would strike again less than 6 minutes later. A textbook shot from the point through (perceived) traffic from Clint Eastwood nets him his 1st of the season from Hefeweizen and Andani at 6:28.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Shouta Aizawa, LW Lightning Jones, RW Geoff Higgins, D Matthew Leetch, D Willie Fisterbottom
NOR: C Alex Andani, LW Vasily Horvat, RW Nicholas Williams, D Karl Hefeweizen, D Clint Eastwood

Alex Andani wins face-off versus Shouta Aizawa in neutral zone.
Pass to Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood moves puck in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Karl Hefeweizen. Pass to Clint Eastwood.
Shot by Clint Eastwood.
Goal by Clint Eastwood - Los Angeles Panthers : 0 - New Orleans Specters : 2

The Panthers wouldn’t take this onslaught lying down of course and would answer back just 3 minutes later on the Powerplay following a Joe Kurczewski Interference minor at 9:44.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Max Mauldin, LW Sophia Bennett, RW Joshua Woodcroft, D Jon Toner, D James Johnson
NOR: C DeMaricus Smyth, W Piotr Czerkawski, D Karl Hefeweizen, D Sean Stevenson Jr.

DeMaricus Smyth wins face-off versus Max Mauldin in New Orleans Specters zone. Pass to Sean Stevenson Jr..
Pass by Sean Stevenson Jr. intercepted by Sophia Bennett in neutral zone.
Pass to Jon Toner. Jon Toner moves puck in New Orleans Specters zone.
Shot by Jon Toner.
Shot Blocked by Karl Hefeweizen.
Free Puck Retrieved by Joshua Woodcroft for Los Angeles Panthers.
Shot by Joshua Woodcroft.
Goal by Joshua Woodcroft - Los Angeles Panthers : 1 - New Orleans Specters : 2.

And again at 17:45, also on the Powerplay. A Clint Eastwood Roughing minor would shorthand the Specters at the end of the 1st and give the Panthers a chance of going to the room tied. The Specters PK started off strong with a key defensive zone faceoff win by Oisin Fletcher and dump in by Roman Augustus. And then Yuri Boyka Jr. got the puck...

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Matthew Auston, LW Philipp Winter, RW Yuri Boyka Jr., D Maurice Picard, D Toivo Kosonen
NOR: C Oisin Fletcher, W Roman Augustus, D Karl Hefeweizen, D Sean Stevenson Jr.

Oisin Fletcher wins face-off versus Matthew Auston in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Roman Augustus.
Pass to Karl Hefeweizen.
Pass to Roman Augustus in neutral zone.
Puck is dumped in Los Angeles Panthers zone by Roman Augustus.
Penalty Kill Forward Lineup #2 - Joe Kurczewski, Piotr Czerkawski are on ice for New Orleans Specters.
Free Puck Retrieved by Philipp Winter.
Pass to Yuri Boyka Jr. in neutral zone.
Yuri Boyka Jr. moves puck in New Orleans Specters zone.
Shot by Yuri Boyka Jr..
Goal by Yuri Boyka Jr. - Los Angeles Panthers : 2 - New Orleans Specters : 2.

Yuri Boyka Jr. walks into the Specters zone and fires one past Cain to tie the game late in the first. This would more or less wrap up the first - Shots in favour to the Specters: 15-10.

2nd Period

The Panthers looked to take advantage of their late equalizer and carry the momentum into 2nd on fresh ice. The LA Panthers’ top line and second defensive pairing would be up against the Specters second forward and defensive units to start the second frame. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they probably should have sent out Toner and Kosonen.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Matthew Auston, LW Sophia Bennett, RW Joshua Woodcroft, D Maurice Picard, D James Johnson
NOR: C Oisin Fletcher, LW Joe Kurczewski, RW Xavier Paquette, D Karl Hefeweizen, D Clint Eastwood

Matthew Auston is ejected from face-off, Sophia Bennett takes his place.
Oisin Fletcher wins face-off versus Sophia Bennett in neutral zone.
Pass to Joe Kurczewski. Joe Kurczewski moves puck in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Xavier Paquette. Xavier Paquette loses puck.
Free Puck Retrieved by Clint Eastwood for New Orleans Specters.
Pass to Oisin Fletcher.
Pass to Xavier Paquette.
Pass to Clint Eastwood.
Pass to Joe Kurczewski.
Pass to Xavier Paquette.
Shot by Xavier Paquette.
Goal by Xavier Paquette - Los Angeles Panthers : 2 - New Orleans Specters : 3.

The Specters get things rolling early once again, this time just 29 seconds in. Paquette’s 13th of the season from Kurczewski and Eastwood. The Specters wouldn’t be done in this frame either.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Shouta Aizawa, LW Lightning Jones, RW Geoff Higgins, D Jon Toner, D Toivo Kosonen
NOR: C DeMaricus Smyth, LW Piotr Czerkawski, RW Roman Augustus, D Adam Kaiser, D Richard Physt

DeMaricus Smyth wins face-off versus Shouta Aizawa in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Piotr Czerkawski.
Pass to Roman Augustus.
Roman Augustus moves puck in neutral zone.
Pass to Richard Physt in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Roman Augustus.
Pass to Piotr Czerkawski.

Time : 5.

Pass to DeMaricus Smyth.
Pass to Roman Augustus.
Pass to Richard Physt.
Shot by Richard Physt.
Shot Blocked by Toivo Kosonen.
Free Puck Retrieved by Roman Augustus for New Orleans Specters.
Shot by Roman Augustus.
Goal by Roman Augustus - Los Angeles Panthers : 2 - New Orleans Specters : 4.

Augustus finds the back of the net just 4 and a half minutes after Paquette’s goal and restores the Specters’ two-goal lead just over 5 minutes into the second. Roman Augustus scores his 21st of the season from Physt and Smyth at 5:10.

The Panthers would have to respond if they wanted to stay in this game, and they did.

But Cain said no.

(This is a constant stream of events from the Full PbP)

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Matthew Auston, LW Sophia Bennett, RW Joshua Woodcroft, D Jon Toner, D Toivo Kosonen
NOR: C DeMaricus Smyth, LW Piotr Czerkawski, RW Roman Augustus, D Adam Kaiser, D Richard Physt

Matthew Auston is ejected from face-off, Sophia Bennett takes his place.
Sophia Bennett wins face-off versus DeMaricus Smyth in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to Jon Toner.
Jon Toner moves puck in neutral zone.
Jon Toner moves puck in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass by Jon Toner intercepted by Richard Physt.
Pass by Richard Physt intercepted by Matthew Auston.
Pass to Jon Toner.
Pass by Jon Toner intercepted by Adam Kaiser.
Pass by Adam Kaiser intercepted by Sophia Bennett in neutral zone.
Pass to Toivo Kosonen in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Joshua Woodcroft.
Shot by Joshua Woodcroft.
Stopped by Aleister Cain with a rebound.

Free Puck Retrieved by Matthew Auston for Los Angeles Panthers.
Shot by Matthew Auston.
Shot Misses the Net.
Free Puck Retrieved by Matthew Auston for Los Angeles Panthers.
Shot by Matthew Auston.
Deflect By Joshua Woodcroft.
Stopped by Aleister Cain without a rebound.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Max Mauldin, LW Philipp Winter, RW Yuri Boyka Jr., D Matthew Leetch, D Willie Fisterbottom
NOR: C Alex Andani, LW Vasily Horvat, RW Nicholas Williams, D Sean Stevenson Jr., D Patrick Brumm Jr.

Max Mauldin wins face-off versus Alex Andani in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Matthew Leetch.
Shot by Matthew Leetch.
Stopped by Aleister Cain without a rebound.

Normal Forward Lineup #2 - Oisin Fletcher, Joe Kurczewski, Xavier Paquette are on ice for New Orleans Specters.
Normal Defense Lineup #2 - Karl Hefeweizen, Clint Eastwood are on ice for New Orleans Specters.

Max Mauldin wins face-off versus Oisin Fletcher in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Philipp Winter.
Max Mauldin is hit by Clint Eastwood.

Time : 9.

Pass to Willie Fisterbottom.
Pass by Willie Fisterbottom intercepted by Karl Hefeweizen.
Pass to Joe Kurczewski.
Pass by Joe Kurczewski intercepted by Matthew Leetch.
Pass to Philipp Winter.
Pass to Willie Fisterbottom.
Pass to Max Mauldin.
Shot by Max Mauldin.
Deflect By Philipp Winter.
Stopped by Aleister Cain without a rebound.

Aleister Cain is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year Goalie of the Year, and this is just an example of how he’s taking the league by storm. The Specters likely wouldn’t be where they are without him.

We fast forward 5-ish minutes now where the Panthers are deep in Specter territory with their top unit on the ice.

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Matthew Auston, LW Sophia Bennett, RW Joshua Woodcroft, D Jon Toner, D Toivo Kosonen
NOR: C Alex Andani, LW Vasily Horvat, RW Nicholas Williams, D Adam Kaiser, D Richard Physt

Matthew Auston wins face-off versus Alex Andani in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Toivo Kosonen.
Pass to Sophia Bennett.
Pass to Toivo Kosonen.
Pass by Toivo Kosonen intercepted by Richard Physt.
Pass to Adam Kaiser.
Adam Kaiser moves puck in neutral zone.
Adam Kaiser moves puck in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Adam Kaiser is hit by Jon Toner and loses puck.
Free Puck Retrieved by Sophia Bennett for Los Angeles Panthers.
Pass to Matthew Auston in neutral zone.
Matthew Auston moves puck in New Orleans Specters zone.
Shot by Matthew Auston.
Shot Misses the Net.
Free Puck Retrieved by Toivo Kosonen for Los Angeles Panthers.
Pass by Toivo Kosonen intercepted by Richard Physt.
Pass to Nicholas Williams in neutral zone.

Time : 13.

Nicholas Williams moves puck in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Puck is dumped in Los Angeles Panthers zone by Nicholas Williams.
Normal Forward Lineup #1 - DeMaricus Smyth, Piotr Czerkawski, Roman Augustus are on ice for New Orleans Specters.
Normal Defense Lineup #3 - Sean Stevenson Jr., Patrick Brumm Jr. are on ice for New Orleans Specters.
Free Puck Retrieved by Jon Toner.
Pass to Toivo Kosonen.
Pass by Toivo Kosonen intercepted by Roman Augustus.
Pass to Piotr Czerkawski.
Shot by Piotr Czerkawski.
Shot Misses the Net.
Free Puck Retrieved by DeMaricus Smyth for New Orleans Specters.
Shot by DeMaricus Smyth.
Shot Blocked by Toivo Kosonen.
Free Puck Retrieved by Piotr Czerkawski for New Orleans Specters.
Shot by Piotr Czerkawski.
Shot Misses the Net.
Free Puck Retrieved by Piotr Czerkawski for New Orleans Specters.
Shot by Piotr Czerkawski.
Goal by Piotr Czerkawski - Los Angeles Panthers : 2 - New Orleans Specters : 5.

A block from Toivo Kosonen would slow Piotr down, but not stop the Polish Machine. Lucky number 13 from Czerkawski with Smyth and Augustus assisting would put the Specters up by three midway through the 2nd.

That would pretty much do it for the second, Joe Kurczewski would head back to the box late in the period for Roughing but nothing would come of it for the Panthers.

Shots in the period go to the Specters again: 9-7.

3rd Period

Another early goal to start this period as well… Can you guess who scored?

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Shouta Aizawa, LW Lightning Jones, RW Geoff Higgins, D Matthew Leetch, D Willie Fisterbottom
NOR: C Oisin Fletcher, LW Joe Kurczewski, RW Xavier Paquette, D Adam Kaiser, D Richard Physt

Shouta Aizawa wins face-off versus Oisin Fletcher in neutral zone.
Pass to Geoff Higgins.
Pass to Lightning Jones.
Pass to Geoff Higgins in New Orleans Specters zone.
Shot by Geoff Higgins.
Goal by Geoff Higgins - Los Angeles Panthers : 3 - New Orleans Specters : 5.

The Panthers’ third line gets it done against the best Specters have and cuts the deficit to 2. Geoff Higgins gets his 6th of the season from Lightning Jones and Shouta Aizawa at 3:35.

The 3rd would carry on with minimal scoring, something this game certainly hasn’t lacked. The teams would trade penalties with nothing doing on either Powerplay; Yuri Boyka Jr. at 4:34 for Interference, Alex Andani at 7:29 for Hooking, and Yuri Boyka Jr. again at 18:34 for Hooking as well. But before that second Boyka penalty, a goal!

Players On The Ice:

LAP: C Max Mauldin, LW Philipp Winter, RW Yuri Boyka Jr., D Maurice Picard, D James Johnson
NOR: C DeMaricus Smyth, LW Piotr Czerkawski, RW Roman Augustus, D Sean Stevenson Jr., D Patrick Brumm Jr.

DeMaricus Smyth wins face-off versus Max Mauldin in New Orleans Specters zone.
Pass to Piotr Czerkawski.
DeMaricus Smyth is hit by Philipp Winter.
Pass to Roman Augustus in neutral zone.
Pass to Piotr Czerkawski in Los Angeles Panthers zone.
Pass to DeMaricus Smyth.
Shot by DeMaricus Smyth.
Deflect By Piotr Czerkawski.
Goal by Piotr Czerkawski - Los Angeles Panthers : 3 - New Orleans Specters : 6.

Czerkawski connects with DeMaricus and Roman again late in the third to put the nail in the coffin for the Panthers this evening. His 14th of the season, Smyth gets his 26th apple, Augustus his 22nd.

And with that, we conclude game 330 of Season 46.

Shots for the 3rd go the Specters again: 13-8.


Post-Game

The Specters pick up a huge win late in the season over the Panthers, a 4 point game between the division rivals and a big swing in the race for the Southwest division title. The Panthers will get two more opportunities this season to make up ground on the Specters in games 383 and 397 - the last game for both teams and a potential barn-burner depending on the lead up to the final day of the regular season.

Aleister Cain gets the win, his 22nd of the season. He stopped 22 of 25, good enough for a .880 GAA.
Ben Holtby takes the loss in his 6th appearance of the season, stopping 31 of 37 (.838 GAA).

Three Stars

3: DeMaricus Smyth - 3 Assists
2: Piotr Czerkawski - 2 Goals, 1 Assist
1: Roman Augustus -  1 Goal (GWG), 2 Assists


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