Pirate Boat Boarded

The Pearl River Pirates took the ice at Sport-O-Rama after a two week absence from competitive play to face league rival, the Rye Rangers. Our Squirts never appeared to get fully untracked against the Rangers who were more successful than most in curtailing the free skating ability of our wingers and mobile defensemen. After a scoreless first period CJ Greco opened (and unfortunately closed) the scoring for the Pirates with a deft deke on the Rye net minder to give the Pirates the lead mid-way in the second period. Greco capitalized on one of many neutral zone turn overs committed by both squads to display his speed and decision making with the puck. The hooting, rabid Pirate fan and this grandma were crest fallen as the period closed when Rye defender Hynson lugged the puck from his defensive zone with 8 seconds left on the clock to put his deke behind Sammy Coughlin. Damn, the dreaded last minute, no make that LAST SECOND backbreaker. More heart break was to come. Three minutes into the final stanza, with the Pirates pressing in the offensive zone, Pirate aggressivity came back to bite them. A skater was sent to the sin bin for slashing at the goalie in a controversial quick whistle by the referee. Shortly thereafter Rye converted the power play to make it 2-1. Less than two minutes later the deficit went to 3-1. With time winding down the Pirates became rattled trying to generate offense as their defenders joined the attack. The task became too much for our troupe of troopers when two Squirts took concurrent minors. The hooter opined to fellow Pirate PHANATICS as they left the rink, "No big deal, it was not in the cards...and I'm bringing a new deck to next weekends games!"