Login

FinnRhys · 07-05-2019, 03:22 PM

St. Louis Scarecrows 1 - 5 Detroit Falcons Falcons

It was a rough night for the Gateway City as the hometown St. Louis Scarecrows were shellacked by the Detroit Falcons in a matchup between two of the top teams in the SMJHL. The game, with significant playoff seeding implications as both teams fight to maintain their position in the standings and earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs, was thoroughly dominated from start to finish by Detroit. Indeed, the Scarecrows were nearly blanked completely from the scoreboard as they picked up their lone goal with only seconds to go in the game to make it 5-1.

First Period: Detroit started the scoring off early with their first goal coming less than five minutes into the game as third line winger Jagger Fouquette was able to take a pass from Skao Anazibf along the defensive blue line and turn it into a breakaway chance. Fouquette, using his elite speed, was able to take advantage of a poorly timed line change and rifled a wrist shot through the five-hole of a defenseless Justin Willis.

Jagger Fouquette @Waters

Second Period: With only one goal in the first period, it looked like it would be a relatively close game going into the second. Looks were deceiving, however, as the scoring flood gates opened seven minutes into the frame with the first of three goals in the period. After a nice fake past defenseman Noah Brusky, third liner Skao Anazibf found his way on the doorstep of the crease and snuck the puck past Willis to make it 2-0.

Skao Anazibf @nour

The onslaught on the St. Louis defense continued five minutes later as winger Savoli Tankovic freed his hands from deep on the left wing and uncorked a zinger through traffic that made it 3-0, and just like that the rout was on.

Savoli Tankovic @ItssYoBoiDaLegend

To add insult to injury, only a few minutes later fourth-liner, yes you read that correctly, Marc Palicka Jr. scored the third goal of the period off a lucky throw to the net from a low-angle position that bounced off the skate of Willis and into the back of the net to make it 4-0.

Marc Palicka Jr. @BaseScoutX1

With the defense in disarray and confidence shattered, it was only fitting for the Scarecrows starting netminder, Justin Willis, to be benched after making only 12 saves on 16 shots. It would be easy to lay the blame on the poor defensive showing on Willis, however, he wasn’t helped in any way, shape or form by the members of the third line who, as a unit would give up four of the five goals.

Justin Willis @IamJustin

Third Period: The final period of the game was slow for the first 17 minutes, with St. Louis futilely attempting to salvage some respect, and Detroit taking their foot off the offensive gas. With only three minutes left to play, Savoli Tankovic, collected a rebound off a Kalvins Zvejniek shot and buried it in the back of the net for his second goal of the night to make it 5-0.

Savoli Tankovic

Mercifully, the Scarecrows were able to avoid the shut-out with an amazing effort goal by Nicolaj Muller who, from his knees, gathered the puck and backhanded it over Emiko Spector’s right pad to end the match with a final score of 5-1.

Nicolaj Muller @esilverm

It will be interesting to see the next steps for both of these playoff bound teams. Will Detroit build off this obliteration to become the king of the league? Will St. Louis be able to regroup from such a stunning defeat and salvage their position? Only time will tell.

On assignment in St. Louis, I'm Quentin Roschambecler for the Raiders Review.

(words = 599)